While nursing her 4-month-old baby on a bench at the Eaton Centre, a young mother was ordered to be arrested by security guards on Saturday afternoon, under the pretext that it is a ” intimate and private gesture.
“I am outraged by what happened, launches Isabelle Côté, who has just given birth to little Leopold. I never would have thought it was still a problem in 2022.”
The one who works as a resident in psychiatry was shopping with her sister and her newborn when the situation arose. She had settled in front of a shop where her sister had entered to feed her baby, who was showing signs of hunger. A few minutes later, a young security guard arrested him.
“She told me that I could not breastfeed here, that it was an intimate and private gesture, launches the new mother. She offered to take me to the nursing room instead. »
Indignant, Isabelle Côté asked the agent to bring her supervisor. Upon his arrival, a few moments later, the latter would have made the same speech.
“He told me it was an official directive and I understood that he didn’t have too much power over it,” she explains.
Then, looking around her, the young doctor felt that all eyes were on her. She therefore felt embarrassed and uncomfortable and preferred to leave the premises discreetly.
Public denunciation
Arriving home and discussing the situation with her spouse, Ms. Côté decided to post on Instagram to denounce the situation. She also wrote to Eaton Center customer service.
“Rest assured that this is an isolated case and that the Montreal Eaton Center encourages breastfeeding in all its common areas, as prescribed by the Quebec and Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” replied Melyssa Houle. , director of the Eaton Center, without providing an apology. We also offer private breastfeeding rooms, for those who prefer to breastfeed in a quieter location. All administrative and support staff will be met shortly, in order to reiterate the policies in effect regarding breastfeeding in common areas. »
Isabelle Côté also initiated a complaint process with the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse.
“I don’t want money, but I want to raise awareness,” she concludes.