About the Team
What makes us different?
Doulas are paraprofessionals who provide non-clinical physical, emotional, and informational support, mainly for privileged families who can pay for this service. Grassroots Doula Services takes a radical and holistic approach to doula services. Offering both radical mental health doula and/or end-of-life doula services to marginalized people and their families who are seeking non-medical mental health support, end-of-life care, or both.
Michelle Martel
About Michelle
Michelle is an indigenous certified End-of-Life Doula from Douglas College and a Radical Mental Health Doula from the University of Calgary. She has over 20 years of experience and knowledge working as a palliative health care aide, licensed funeral director, certified embalmer, recreation coordinator, mental health support worker, and hospice volunteer. Michelle will tailor her services to meet your needs and support you through your unique emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental health and/or end-of-life Journey.
Ian Kinney
About Ian
Ian Kinney has one book of poetry, Air Salt: A Trauma Mémoire as a Result of the Fall (University of Calgary Press, 2019). He holds an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Calgary and was awarded the Literary Kaleidoscope Prize. His work has been short-listed for the Robert Kroetsch Award for Innovative Poetry. Ian is a member of the LGBTQ community and is a settler poet who lives in Calgary with a Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injury. He works as a Caretaker, a Drum Circle Facilitator, and a Radical Mental Health Doula. Ian also helps to care for his family’s off-grid home and free-range farm on the traditional Kainai territory between Lethbridge and Vulcan Alberta, Treaty 7 land.