Lesley Bonell, RM

​My name is Lesley Bonell (She/Her). I was born and raised in North Bay, Ontario.
After high school, I aspired to a career in clinical psychology. I earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo in 1993. As I approached completion of this degree, however, I realized this was not the right career path for me.

Newly married, my husband and I returned to our hometown and started a family. Career goals and aspirations took a back seat to finding work that allowed me a predictable, family-friendly schedule. As our children grew older and more independent, I began to re-examine my career goals.

Watching friends go through midwifery care reminded me of the many questions that arose during my own experiences as an obstetric patient. In 2004, I was accepted into the Midwifery Education Programme at Laurentian University, and earned an Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery in 2008.
I spent my first year and a half of practice with Birth Care Midwifery Services in Powassan (just south of North Bay). In time, it became clear that the obstacles to gaining hospital privileges in the area were insurmountable. In 2010, I joined Community Care Midwives, and I have been happy to make Durham Region my home. It is a privilege to witness and participate in the growth of our clients’ families.
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I am extremely fortunate to have the unwavering support of my husband, Dean, and our two grown children. My off-call time is often spent indulging my lifelong love of music as a member of several a cappella groups.