News

September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in Canada. This important day honours the children who never returned home, the Survivors of the residential school system, and the families and communities who continue to feel its impacts.

A September 2025 publication evaluated the consistency of birth-related data between the BORN Information System and the Canadian Institute for Health Information’s Discharge Abstract Database (CIHI-DAD), which collects administrative, clinical, and demographic data on all hospital discharges.

The Champlain Maternal Newborn Regional Program (CMNRP) has expanded their Leadership Team to include a Regional Clinical Lead in Midwifery, a valuable addition to the regional network. Sylviane (Mico) Devos, R.M., has joined the CMNRP team as the first Regional Clinical Lead in Midwifery. Mico embodies strong leadership abilities and an exceptional commitment to high-quality perinatal care.

The Independent First Nations Alliance (IFNA) is a First Nations-led Tribal Council that provides customized support to five member communities in northwestern Ontario: Whitesand First Nation, Lac Seul First Nation, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Pikangikum First Nation, and Muskrat Dam First Nation. These communities, three of which are fly-in only, face unique challenges in accessing healthcare services due to their remote locations.

For Mila Olumogba, something as ordinary as watching her 22-month-old son, Adeyemi (Yemi), fill a bucket with sand at the beach fills her with gratitude – “I just love watching him live”.  Life takes on new meaning when you’ve seen it slipping away. Yemi was only 10 weeks old when he contracted Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and almost died.

Colonization has played a significant role in the decline of Traditional Birth Practices - with profound physical, cultural, and spiritual implications for Indigenous communities. The IFNA is actively working to change this by reclaiming Indigenous midwifery, restoring traditional knowledge, and building pathways for culturally safe birth experiences within their communities.

At Trillium Health Partners’ Credit Valley NICU, experienced nurse Urszula Mazur noticed a concerning pattern—some of the smallest and most vulnerable babies were arriving with low body temperatures.

Drawing on her 25 years of neonatal experience and data from the BORN Information System, Urszula helped spark a collaborative initiative to improve thermoregulation practices during the critical first hour of life. 

BORN is pleased to share a new podcast episode, Can AI Help Identify Babies at Risk of Autism?, featuring research led by Dr. Christine Armour using data from BORN Ontario.

In Northern Ontario, geography and limited healthcare resources present unique challenges for maternal and newborn care. The Northern Maternal Child Network (NMCN) is working to better understand and address these barriers by using high-quality data from BORN to identify service gaps, track health indicators, and advocate for improvements.

BORN Ontario congratulates Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass on receiving the SOGC Mentorship Award, recognizing her outstanding national leadership and commitment to mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals.