Education and Experience
Marita has worked as a Registered Nurse for over a decade in pediatric emergency care. She has held a variety of roles over the years including clinical instructor for paramedics, clinical research assistant, and care facilitator. For much of her career she also worked as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, providing care and guidance for patients and their families as they navigated a wide variety of complex physical, social, and mental health challenges.
Working with patients and families after experiences of sexual assault or abuse made clear the many gaps and barriers faced by victims and survivors in our communities. One of the things that quickly became clear was the need for basic sexual health, consent, and healthy relationship education. And not just for clients; many providers within the health system who feel unprepared and lacking the necessary knowledge to support patients & families in these complex situations.
This experience and the significant gaps drove Marita to pursue sexual health education training which complemented her clinical knowledge and skills developed through the work as a SANE and has enabled her to build a unique educational service for multi-disciplinary health professionals as well as individuals and families. This education offers health providers the tools they need to give trauma and violence informed care, and supports parents and caregivers be empowered to support their children in knowledge of bodies, consent and safety.
What people are saying about Marita’s work:
On health care provider presentations:
“Marita’s presentation was excellent! She spoke very articulately and with so much expertise about caring for children and youth who have been sexually assaulted. The information that she provided to help guide care was very practical and thought provoking.”
On sex ed workshops for LGBTQIA+ youth:
“After talking to all the participants who were present for your workshop, the feedback was unanimous, everyone loved your workshop and learned SOO much at it! ...one participant in particular expressed that they gained more from your talk than all years of school sex education combined.”
On the Empowering Patient Centered Care course for paramedics:
“ SANE’s {Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners} and TVIC {Trauma and Violence Informed Care} were not something I was aware of before taking the course. Trauma is not discussed in-depth in my paramedic program to the degree of learning done through this course...the in-depth look into trauma in Chapter 2 was very informative. The website was really easy to navigate and there was not too much going on at once. This {course} was very well thought out and put together. ”
Identity
I am a settler of European and Scandinavian heritage living on unceded Algonquin Anishnaabe territory
I am a cis woman partnered to a man who I love deeply
I’m working to queer my politics, perspectives and ways of relating*
Therapy and embodiment practices are integral to my healing and wholeness
My partner and I adore our two cats, Felix and Freya
I’m a photographer - all the nature photos on this site are my work**
My role as Auntie is by far my favorite
**All photos of Marita taken by the brilliant Christina Dube @tinadube
My work as a nurse and educator are a big part of who I am as a person. Here are some other important aspects of who I am that I bring to my work:
*In the words of Black queer feminist and poet Alexis Pauline Gumbs:
“Our definition of queer is that which transforms our state of being and the possibilities for life. That which is queer is that which does not reproduce the status quo.” - Revolutionary Mothering: Love on the Front Lines
“I have arrived, and I am always arriving”
I work from an intersectional, person centered approach which includes
Body autonomy & pleasure as basic human rights
Healing as integration of the whole self
Recognition that support of an individual requires a community approach
I seek to build reciprocity & interdependence
I work to de-colonize my practice and thinking
I value curiosity & ongoing learning including diverse ways of knowing
Values
Note: As a Registered Nurse practicing in Ontario I am accountable to and abide by the Code of Conduct and Independent Practice Standards set by the College of Nurses of Ontario.
Disclaimer: I offer education only and do not offer counseling, consultation or collect health information.
“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”
— Fannie Lou Hamer
“I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different than my own.”
— Audre Lorde