March 21, 2024

‘CHRISTINE’S PLACE’ FILLING A GAP WITH MUSKOKA’S SECOND FREE PREGNANCY CARE SUPPORT CENTRE IN GRAVENHURST

GRAVENHURST — Jenn Armishaw met her birth mother “one time.”

And was “right with her at the very end of her life.”

That’s how Armishaw named the “Christine’s Place” free walk-in pregnancy resource centres after her mom.

Yesterday she opened a second office in Gravenhurst after 14 years in Huntsville at 12 High Street near the library.

“In this very community is where my life started,” the adoptee and founder of this new life women’s help hub told me at the official afternoon opening on main street at 225 Muskoka Road North. It’s across from Trinity United Church.

Armishaw was in her 20s when she sought out her biological beginnings.

“My birth mom was an active addict. She got pregnant by a much older man for whom she babysat, which was a very tragic situation. And then she fell in to some very serious addiction and she died a year after I met her.

“I met her one time. She was very sick with addiction. I was with her right at the very end of her life.”

The free service is for all women of child-bearing ages and their families who unexpectedly find themselves with child.

**Christine’s Place cut the ribbon yesterday on its second Muskoka pregnancy support centre on Gravenhurst’s main street across from the United Church.**

“We get everyone from 15 years old to 40 years old,” Armishaw said — adding there are no similar services government or otherwise.

“Nothing, nothing, nothing. No. We identified that gap 14 years ago when we started Christine’s Place. There was no support like this. Nothing.”

This is for “pre-birth, not pre-pregnancy — we don’t do that.”

“We also do a lot of post-abortive care here. Women who have had abortions, who have PTSD from that and are managing grief. We also have programs for them as well.”

Including post-partum depression support,” she said.

**Executive director Cathy Birnie, left, Gravenhurst centre manager Sheryl-Anne Nudd and founder Jenn Armishaw accepted an ‘Open’ sign from the Town of Gravenhurst.**

“Everything. People don’t realize the impact of the loss. Because it’s a loss. Just like a miscarriage is a loss. So we do pregnancy loss as well.”

After the opening, last night Armishaw shared her own journey further in a social at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Gravenhurst.

Dave Armishaw and his wife Cathy (Harbridge) talked about not being able to have children.

“My dad will share from his perspective of infertility and then being gifted with a child.

“In this very community is where my life started.”

**Town councillor Penny Varney, left, and Nudd listen as Armishaw welcomed dozens of supporters to the grand opening.**

Armishaw, who lives in Huntsville — with a daughter 17 and son 13 — is a psychotherapist.

“I just finished my Masters degree inside the therapy. So I will be practising in Huntsville-Bracebridge area.”

She said she saw the demand for service back when Christine’s Place opened almost a decade and half ago.

“Six hundred clients have been served since we opened our doors in Huntsville.”

Many of them from south Muskoka who have trouble finding and getting transportation north.

So this is where, she said, a group of south Muskoka citizens asked her to provide Christine’s Place pregnancy services besides Huntsville.

“We desperately need community support in Gravenhurst — by local businesses, individuals, monthly support. Monthly donations are our big driver right now.”

**Dozens of supporters showed up to browse the second location.**

Wednesday night’s small gathering wasn’t so much a big fundraiser as a kick-off.

“There’ll be a little auction. It will be small. There will be an opportunity to give.”

It costs about $200 a day to operate.

In the lovely, newly renovated, compact office space in Gravenhurst, with its large lobby, three small private consulting rooms, admin office and common hallway, clients and staff can feel at home comfortable in a setting that makes discussions both professional and friendly.

Dr. Karen Mason, of Bracebridge, a British Columbian physician who retired to Muskoka six years ago is new to the Christine’s Place board of directors after decades delivering babies out west.

She worked with a similar centre in B.C. and is happily looking forward to helping out here as one the volunteers providing supportive services. She’s willing to also be a “client advocate.”

“It allows women to take time, catch their breath and make wise decisions” at a time that can suddenly be overwhelming, emotional and stressful — too often surprisingly without little regular support.

For many clients that means just having a doctor or health care.

But Christine’s Place is not meant to replace those services and doesn’t provide any of medical services.

**Board member Dr. Karen Mason says: “It allows women to take time, catch their breath and make wise decisions.”**

What they do is counsel and help the mother and/or father and family navigate whatever number of weeks before and after the due date they have.

Together they explore all options available.

Armishaw says there is no official affiliation with any church group — though the faith community has been very supportive.

Muskoka’s Algonquin and Cottage family health teams and Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s two hospitals are also aware of their services and work with them. A member of MAHC was present yesterday.

Christine’s Place is affiliated with the Pregnancy Care Canada, an umbrella group that supports smaller private centres like the two in Muskoka. Its executive director Dr. Laura Lewis, of Huntsville, is also a member and supporter of Christine’s Place and was happy to be on hand and also taking many photos.

**Chamber of Commerce manager Meghan Pratt, right, congratulates Christine’s Place volunteers to town.**

**The large lobby offers a welcoming atmosphere for those coming in off Gravenhurst’s main street.**

A fundraiser last September at Grandview’s Mark O’Meara Golf Course in Huntsville raised $65,000 for the pregnancy support centre. Golfers can go back there again July 10 this year for another fundraiser.

Christine’s Place opened a month ago in Gravenhurst and is open Monday to Wednesday; and in Huntsville Monday to Thursday.

Sheryl-Anne Nudd, the Gravenhurst office manager, says women and their families can go, get information and chat. And if they want fill in an intake form to get the free service and arrange an appointment for further free consultation.

There is no time limit for how long the relationship can last through and after the pregnancy if needed, weekly or monthly, Nudd said.

“We’re here as long as they need us.”