VAUXHALL – Lisa Garrett says she has never felt uncomfortable about breastfeeding in public.
But her feelings quickly changed after an incident at the Taber Provincial Courthouse on February 4.
“A female sheriff approached me and told me there had been a complaint that I was breastfeeding and there was a child present- our daughter was there. She asked me if I could cover up and I told her I could not because my son was premature and he panicked if he had anything over his face,” said Garrett.
Garrett was told if she would not cover up, she’d have to feed 9-month-old Lucius in the public bathroom.
“I said I am not going to feed my son in a bathroom. I have a right to breastfeed him,'” explained Garrett.
A compromise was reached Garrett was given access to a lawyer’s office but was interrupted. Defeated, she says she finished nursing her son while sitting on the bathroom floor.
“He shouldn’t have to hide to eat, it’s natural. Nobody else has to hide to eat,” said Garrett. “A woman came in to use the washroom while we were in there and that made me cry even more because he had to listen to somebody pee while he ate.”
The Garrett’s story has quickly spread, garnering the attention of advocacy groups across the province including the Breastfeeding Action Committee of Edmonton.
“I’m hoping that there’s an outcome that provides employers with the realization that it’s really important to train their staff appropriately and I’m hoping that we have more breastfeeding friendly spaces in Alberta so that women and their families feel safe and comfortable when they’re breastfeeding in public,” said Jodine Chase, a volunteer with B.A.C.E.
The Justice and Solicitor General’s office gave Global News this statement:
“This was an unfortunate incident and we are sorry for the distress this caused the family. The sheriff involved has been spoken to and information has been issued to all our sheriffs in courthouses to remind them that breastfeeding is an integral part of being a mother. As a result, women who need to breastfeed their children in a public area must be allowed the opportunity to do so, and they should not be asked to cover up or move to a different location.”
For Garrett, and Lucius, that’s just not enough.
“I don’t want anybody to feel the way I did,” Garrett said.
The Garrett family is trying to get pro-bono legal counsel to pursue this issue. They are also in contact with the Canadian Human Rights Commission about a possible tribunal.
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