A security guard at Promenades Gatineau recently ordered a mother not to breastfeed her three-month-old baby in public. A situation denounced by the mother, which brings back the debate surrounding breastfeeding in public places.
“In 2024, it is not normal that this is still a taboo subject. Breastfeeding should be normalized,” says Anie-Pier St-Laurent, who remained surprised by the incident.
Photo Agence QMI / AMANDA MOISAN
On September 18, the 34-year-old mother was at Promenades Gatineau when she needed to breastfeed her daughter.
“I made sure to take a bench facing the wall, because I’m a little self-conscious. I wanted it to be discreet,” she says, adding that it was at that moment that a security agent stopped her, asking her to move.
“It’s good that we know where the rooms are. But where it went wrong was when he told me that I had to go to the breastfeeding rooms and that I couldn’t do that wherever I wanted,” says the mother.
After assuring the employee that she had the right to breastfeed in public, the security guard eventually left.
The agent met
Les Promenades Gatineau claims that the security guard’s comments go against their policy, which allows women to breastfeed anywhere in the shopping center.
“We are disappointed with this position, it is not at all our values,” says Marc Montpetit, senior portfolio manager at the Westcliff Group, responsible for Promenades Gatineau.
COURTESY PHOTO
The employee who approached the mother is believed to be a new agent with the security firm GardaWorld. The latter would not have received training regarding breastfeeding protocols.
“Our agents are trained to offer mothers the opportunity to use our breastfeeding rooms. But if the mother wants to stay where she is, there is no problem,” he maintains, adding that follow-up was carried out with the security guard’s employer.
By email, GardaWorld indicates that this is an isolated incident.
“We sincerely regret any inconvenience this incident may have caused,” we can read.
Normalize breastfeeding
This type of situation does not surprise the general director of the Mouvement lactation du Québec (MAQ), who believes that breastfeeding must still be normalized today.
“I’m not surprised that it still happens unfortunately,” breathes Raphaëlle Petitjean.
Photo Agence QMI / AMANDA MOISAN
She is taking the opportunity of World Breastfeeding Week, which takes place from 1is to October 7 in North America, to remind us that there is still work to be done.
“There is a lack of education and a big problem with the sexualization of the breast. If it makes you uncomfortable to see a woman breastfeeding, look away, but it’s not up to the woman to hide,” says Mme Petitjean.
Remember that in Quebec, even if breastfeeding in public is not regulated by a specific law, the courts have ruled that a woman cannot be prevented from breastfeeding in a public place, according to Éducaloi.
