Fort Smith (Feb 09/04) - Before recent moves to integrate midwifery into the Fort Smith health system, a birthing centre was proposed just across the Alberta border.

The society that promoted the idea now hopes there will be a free-standing birthing centre right in Fort Smith in the future, said president Andrea Steed.

"We're not giving up on that dream yet," she said.

The goal of the society's 65-70 members was to have midwifery care in Fort Smith and the NWT.

They therefore support the latest steps to integrate the service into the health care system, she said. "We are very excited and pleased about that."

The centre had been planned for Alberta because midwife is already a legislated profession in that province.

Designs had been prepared for the Nik'e Niya Community Birth Centre. It needed to raise $700,000 for construction.