Our Vision
Red Canoe Pediatrics is a consultative care clinic that seeks to streamline youth and family services for medical and mental health needs in Nanaimo and neighbouring communities.
Our ongoing focus is to improve collaboration between primary care, allied health providers, and community partners. We intend to minimize barriers and improve access to multidisciplinary care through coordination and by locating service providers in a shared space at an accessible location.
Through team-based family-centered care, we strive toward a unified, shared vision in order to build community support and resilience in families in need.
The Story Behind Our Name
[Red] Canoe: A canoe has symbolic meaning from diverse cultural backgrounds. It embodies our group pursuit toward a common goal with the aim of healing, reconciliation, and sharing of cultures. In Indigenous teachings, a canoe is an object that carries, holds and transmits memories, is a source of sustenance and function (permitting exploration and adventure), and enables prosperity in spirit, community strength, and sustainability. Red is also the colour for happiness, vitality, and good luck in the Chinese culture.
Meet Our Team
Dr. Francine Ling
General Pediatrician
MD, FRCPC
Dr. Ling is a general pediatrician providing consulting care for infants to adolescents. She has a special interest in Pediatric Eating Disorders and is involved with the Central Island Eating Disorder Clinic. When her stethoscope is put away, she is a mother of two and enjoys expressing her creativity through gardening, sewing, knitting, and beachcombing. She completed her medical degree and pediatric residency at the University of British Columbia.
Dr. Jennifer Kouwenberg
General Pediatrician
MD, FRCPC
Dr. Kouwenberg is a general Pediatrician who enjoys working with all ages in her practice. She completed her Pediatric Residency at Queen's University in Ontario after completing her medical degree at UBC. She has special interest in neonatal care, anxiety, and eating disorders. She also provides consultant pediatric care at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital and the Snuneymuxw Community Health Centre. When not at work, she enjoys outdoor adventures with her family and dogs.
Dr. Falcon is a clinical instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at UBC and is passionate about medical education. She has a broad range of interests, from neonatal medicine to care of adolescents. Dr. Falcon completed her medical degree at the University of Ottawa following a M.Sc. degree at Queen’s University. When not caring for patients, Dr. Falcon enjoys hiking and exploring tide pools with her family.
Dr. Bani Falcon
General Pediatrician
MD, FRCPC
Dr. Falcon is a clinical instructor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of B.C. and is passionate about medical education. She has a broad range of interests, from neonatal medicine to care of adolescents. Dr. Falcon completed her medical degree at the University of Ottawa following a Master of Science degree at Queen’s University. She recently joined the pediatric team in Nanaimo after completing her pediatric residency training at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary. When not caring for patients, Dr. Falcon enjoys hiking and exploring tide pools with her family.
Dr. Jane Pegg
General Pediatrician
MD, FRCPC
Dr. Pegg has practiced as a pediatrician for more than 25 years, first training on the east coast in Halifax and then starting her practice in northern B.C. before settling in Nanaimo. She is a general pediatrician with a special interest in pediatric allergy. Dr. Pegg runs the NRGH Pediatric Allergy Clinic with a focus on assessment of serious food allergies and, more recently, treatment through oral immune therapy in collaboration with specialists in Victoria and the Comox Valley. Her career “hobby” is working in Haiti, where she has traveled more than 10 times since the devastating 2010 earthquake. She enjoys working on her French and Creole language skills. Bonjou, koman ou ye? (Hello, how are you?)
Dr. Bhavika Patel
General Pediatrician
MD, FRCPC
Dr. Patel completed her medical degree at the University of Ottawa and pediatrics residency at Winnipeg Children's Hospital through the University of Manitoba. She enjoys all areas of general pediatrics including high risk newborn follow-up, ADHD, mental health, constipation and asthma. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, cuddling with her pets, and catching up on Netflix!
Allied Health
Kathryn Atkinson
Registered Clinical Counsellor
Allied Health Provider
Kathryn’s focus is in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy treating conditions such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, tics and Tourette's Syndrome, Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviours, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, trauma, and more. She also has specialized training to support individuals with diverse abilities (such as autism, FASD, and intellectual disability) and their families. Prior to Red Canoe Pediatrics, Kathryn worked at the Ministry of Children and Family Development as a team leader for Indigenous Child and Youth Mental Health. She resides in Nanaimo with her husband, young son, and cat named Bella, and also works as an instructor in the Child and Youth Care Program at Vancouver Island University. Before realizing her passion for clinical counselling, Kathryn went to film school in Vancouver!
Office Staff
Nicole
Medical Office Assistant
Nicole has lived in Nanaimo since she was a child, and is the mother to two adult daughters. She enjoys spending her spare time road tripping, boating, hiking, exploring beaches, and going to music festivals with her husband. She cannot pass up a good plant sale and is a part-time beekeeper with dreams of running an Alpaca farm.
Alexie
Medical Office Assistant
Alexie came to Canada from the Philippines in 1999, settling in Nanaimo in 2005. Happily married and with three wonderful boys, she has always loved being around children and infants. When not at the clinic, she can be found singing karaoke (at home), spending precious time with her family, and baking fancy cakes in the hope of one day being Canada’s next Cake Boss!