Tay Township raises flag and proclaims October 1 to 7 as National Breastfeeding Week

Caroline Laidlaw - Huronia Pregnancy Resource Centre, Lynne-Marie Culliton R.M. - Midland Midwives By the Bay, Mayor Ted Walker, Angie Limmer - Local Doula & Perinatal Educator and Christine VanderByl - EarlyON CFC raise a flag in celebration of National Breastfeeding Week

WHEREAS Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond provides unique nutritional and non-nutritional long-term benefits for an infant’s growth and development; and

WHEREAS The World Health Organization’s Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding calls on governments worldwide to create environments that enable mothers, families and other caregivers to make informed choices about feeding practices for infants and young children; and

WHEREAS Breastfeeding is a human right and the Ontario Human Rights Code protects a woman’s right to breastfeed in a public area without discrimination; and

WHEREAS October 1 to 7 is recognized as National Breastfeeding Week—an initiative to raise awareness of the numerous benefits of breastfeeding; to strengthen individual, family, and community support for breastfeeding and to further strategies that promote breastfeeding practices; and

WHEREAS The theme for National Breastfeeding Week 2019 is Empower Parents, Enable Breastfeeding. The theme is inclusive of all parents and the focus is on supporting both parents to be empowered to realize their breastfeeding goals. Breastfeeding is the foundation of lifelong good health for babies and mothers. In Simcoe County over 90% of families choose to breastfeed their babies. With the support of partners, family, friends, health care providers, employers and communities we hope to support a breastfeeding-friendly culture where breastfeeding is recognized as the natural way to feed infants and young children.

Therefore be it resolved that I, Ted Walker, Mayor of The Corporation of Township of Tay, do hereby proclaim

October 1 to 7, 2019 as National Breastfeeding Week

in the Township of Tay.

Ted Walker - Mayor