When nursing mom Karen Chaikoff visited Toronto’s Air Canada Centre to attend a hockey game, she was prevented from entering at the gate because she was carrying a bottle of water. When she explained that as a nursing mother she needed to keep her fluid intake up, she was pulled out of line and told to drink it before she entered.

 

Karen felt humiliated by what happened and called the INFACT Canada office for assistance. We in turn contacted the Air Canada Centre and were told that the facility’s policy prevented guests from bringing in their own food or beverages.

 

Working with ACC Fan Advocate Michaella Petrik we were able to provide data that supported Karen’s claim and encouraged her to help the ACC develop a more supportive environment for nursing mothers.

 

The result is a change in ACC’s food and beverage policy that is a step in the right direction, as the following ACC statement explains,

 

“Air Canada Centre is pleased to welcome nursing mothers. The facility acknowledges the importance of a nursing mother to drink plenty of water in order to breastfeed her baby healthfully. Nursing mothers are welcome to bring their own drinks into the Air Canada Centre, and just need to advise staff that they’re breast-feeding upon entrance. Private areas for breastfeeding are available upon request.

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