Breastfeeding friendly spaces are now available at both Trent University campuses with the opening of dedicated spaces at Trent Durham Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) Thornton Road campus and the Advanced Learning Centre in downtown Oshawa, in addition to the space at Otonabee College at Trent University in Peterborough. Generously supported by philanthropy, these spaces provide parents with a private and comfortable environment to nurse their children on a rocking chair under soft lighting and also store milk in a nearby fridge.  

“These are wonderful new spaces with more to come,” says Dr. Michele McIntosh, associate professor in the Trent/Fleming School of Nursing (TFSON).  

President Cathy Bruce recently attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the space at Trent Durham GTA’s Thornton Campus, which also offers a shelf of children’s books and a change table, and handed out teddy bears to some of the new parents in attendance. 

The initiative is funded by Best Start, through the Ontario Ministry of Health, and furnished through philanthropic support from Trent School of Business Professor Lisa Ruston and Mr. Richard Ruston. 

“We are thrilled to support this lovely space to enhance a sense of belonging for students who are breastfeeding,” Prof. Ruston says. 

Trent is a leader in making Ontario’s campuses more friendly to breastfeeding. TFSON launched the Breastfeeding Friendly Campus Initiative (BFCI) in 2015 in partnership with Peterborough County City Public Health Unit and La Leche League. BFCI fosters collaboration amongst postsecondary institutions to increase awareness of the Ontario Human Rights Code, which protects breastfeeding parents' rights to be accommodated on campus. BCFI also shares best practices and tools for enacting these strategies.  

BFCI has led various projects over the years including hosting a Canadian conference featuring a representative for the Ontario Human Rights Commissioner, establishing social accounts, developing the website, and presenting research at the National Association of Perinatal Nurses. BFCI was showcased at the Ministry of Health Best Start annual conference and has inspired other schools to undertake research and establish their own spaces. 

To support the opening of dedicated spaces at Trent, Trent Nursing students surveilled university policies across Canada, worked on a version for Trent, and submitted the plan to the Equity and Human Rights Office. 

Fourth-year Community Health Nursing placement students then initiated the project across Trent’s campuses. Now the rooms are open, offering inclusive private spaces for all breastfeeding parents.   

“Students choose Trent University because of their deep desire to participate in and lead momentous change,” Professor McIntosh says. “Our Nursing students continue to be influential drivers of healthcare policy change and now students who are breastfeeding parents face fewer barriers to completing their education and following their dreams.”