In late 2012, our office was awarded the opportunity to work with Sara Wolfe and Cheryllee Bourgeois of Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto to create an Aboriginal-focused, Midwife-led Birth Centre – the first of its kind in an urban centre. This pilot project, launched by the MOHLTC / HCIB and IO, is part of an initiative to shift health services out of the hospital setting and into community-based centres. The primary objectives of the Toronto Birth Centre are to provide a culturally-sensitive setting for out-of-hospital births and related services supporting maternal-child health specializing in care for Toronto’s urban Aboriginal families, as well as a Midwifery education program. The ground floor is organized into Birthing functions – featuring family waiting areas, triage & reception space; an assessment room; and three birthrooms The second floor houses Clinical and Administrative functions such as exam rooms, gynecological exam rooms, family interview rooms, offices and a multipurpose room that doubles as a classroom and community gathering space