Annual Reports

Annual Report 2008-2009
Annual Report 2007-2008
Annual Report 2006-2007
Annual Report 2005-2006
Annual Report 2004-2005
Annual Report 2003-2004
Annual Report 2002-2003
Annual Report 2001-2002
Annual Report 2000-2001
Annual Report 1999-2000
Annual Report 1998-1999

Annual Report 2008-2009

2008-2009 Annual Report PDF

Annual Report 2007-2008

2007-2008 Annual Report PDF

Annual Report 2006-2007

2006-2007 Annual Report PDF

Annual Report 2005-2006

2005-2006 Annual Report PDF

Annual Report 2004-2005

2004-2005 Annual Report PDF

Annual Report 2003-2004

The year 2003 was again a remarkably busy year for the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC). It was also a year of decision making and preparation by several institutions to take steps towards the Baby Friendly TM designation.

The following summarizes some key accomplishments during the year:

Baby-Friendly™ Hospital Initiative Designation

St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON received the Baby-Friendly™ designation on March 29, 2003 from the BCC Board of Directors following the external assessment visit March 26-28. St. Joseph's is a large, urban teaching hospital serving a multiethnic population, with approximately 4,000 births each year. It joins the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital in Cowansville, Québec, designated Baby-Friendly™ in 1999. During 2003 two other institutions were involved in preparation for assessment visits for BFHI designation. Many other hospitals and community health services are actively involved in implementing the steps to successful breastfeeding which are improving the quality of care received by mothers and babies from coast to coast.

Implementation and Monitoring of the Baby-FriendlyTM Initiative in Canada

The publication "The Baby-Friendly™ Initiative in Community Health Services: A Canadian Implementation Guide" defines a BFI designation process for community health services parallel to the international WHO/UNICEF designation process for hospitals. The document is available in both English and French in hard copy (which can be ordered from the BCC Office) and in PDF format on the BCC website www.breastfeedingcanada.ca

In July 2002, the organization received additional funding of $200,000 over two years from Health Canada for the project "Baby-Friendly Initiative in Community Health Services: Implementation and Evaluation". This funding has assisted BCC to continue the work started with a previous three year grant including development of assessment tools for use in community health services, training assessors and continuation of our support to the provinces and territories in their work on breastfeeding and the BFI.

Canadian practice outcome indicators for the Baby-Friendly ™ Hospital Initiative and the Baby-Friendly™ Initiative in Community Health Services were published in October 2003 and are posted on the BCC website.

As part of the BFI community project, three assessor training workshops were held during 2003. Two English- language workshops were held in Toronto in February and October and a French-language workshop was held in Montreal in November.

The workshops focused on in-depth orientation of assessors to the outcome indicators for both hospital and community health services and the revised Canadian assessment tools. Communication between P/T committees and the BCC has been enhanced to move BFI forward in Canada (see below).

Partnership Development

The BCC focused on the importance of partnership development, both with our members and others, to implement its activities. The "Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating and Active Living: Natural Tools for Diabetes Prevention" project (see below) is being implemented in partnership with the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA).

Health Canada funded three teleconferences ( March and October 2003 and February 2004) and a face to face meeting of the Provincial/Territorial (P/T) representatives with members of the BCC Board in Toronto in May, 2003. The goals of the meetings were to facilitate on-going communication between P/T committees and the BCC and to develop strategies to move BFI forward in Canada. The P/T committee has developed Canadian breastfeeding definitions and recommended times for data collection which will be finalized this spring. The P/T committee will meet again in Toronto in April 2004.

Support Education, Information, and Research Activities

Funding of $300,000 over two years was received in 2002 from the Canadian Diabetes Strategy Prevention and Promotion Contribution Program, Health Canada, to support a project titled "Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating and Active Living: Natural Tools for Diabetes Prevention". Breastfeeding has been identified as a preventive factor for obesity /Type 2 diabetes. This project was implemented in partnership with the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program and the Canadian Diabetes Association with a focus on programmes to support breastfeeding, healthy eating and active living for pregnant women and new mothers living in difficult or isolated circumstances and provision of education on these issues to health care professionals. The project started in two communities:, one in northern Manitoba ( Thompson) and one in rural New Brunswick (the Miramichi region). The Thompson project was unable to attract program participants within the timeframe and the site was closed at the end of May, 2003. The Miramichi women's program called "Mummies and Tummies Walking Club" was successfully delivered in two locations (Chatham and Newcastle) and was to be completed in December, 2003. However, additional funding was received from other local sources to extend this successful project into 2004. Two series of health professional workshops were held in the spring and fall of 2003. Kaplan and Associates of Winnipeg, Manitoba is preparing the formative and summative evaluations on both funded projects.

In March 2003, the BCC Infant Nutrition Committee took the lead in developing a BCC response to two Health Canada recommendations - exclusive breastfeeding duration and Vitamin D supplementation for breastfed infants. When finalized these recommendations will replace current guidelines published in Nutrition for Health Term Infants.

Involvement, Recognition and Support of Network

The BCC Strategic Plan focuses on the need to communicate and network with, and cooperate in greater depth with, our associate members. As the BCC web site is a major communication tool for the organization the BCC domain name was recently changed to www.breastfeedingcanada.ca to facilitate easier access to those seeking information. An updated website design was launched in early 2004 and revision and updating of content is continuing.

Other Accomplishments

Reviewing and Providing Input: The BCC was invited to attend the Pan Canadian Healthy Living Symposium June 16 and 17, 2003 in Toronto. Joanne Gilmore, Senior Co-chair of the BCC represented the organization at this national meeting as part of a new federal/ provincial/ territorial initiative focusing on healthy eating and active living. www.healthyliving-viesaine.ca

BFI Coordinators Meeting: Marianne Brophy, Chair, BFI Assessment Committee represented the BCC at a meeting of international BFI Coordinators held in Barcelona, Spain March 31 - April 2, 2004.

Presentations to promote BFI by some BCC board members: (1)"The Baby-Friendly Journey" October, 2003 to invited health professionals from across the Greater Toronto Area (Marianne Brophy, Chair, BCC BFI Assessment Committee) ; (2) Mt Sinai Hospital breastfeeding conference, November, 2003 (Eleanor Rivoire, BCC Secretary and Co-Chair P/T Committee) and (3) Ontario Provincial Perinatal Committee in November, 2003 (Eleanor Rivoire).

The BCC Board met in March 2003; had nine teleconferences (monthly except for August and December); and conducted the majority of its business by the use of e-mail. There is still much to be done to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in Canada. Anyone reading this report who subscribes to the Vision, Mission and Objectives of the BCC is invited to become an Associate Member and join us as we move into a "Friendly" and progressive era for breastfeeding in Canada.

Respectfully submitted,

Joanne Gilmore and Susan James, Co-Chairs
Gisèle McCaie-Burke, Past Chair
Eleanor Rivoire, Secretary
Roberta Hewat, Treasurer

The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada was established in 1991 as a Health Canada initiative, following the World Summit for Children. BCC has a broad membership, involving some 20 professional and consumer organizations. BCC has been active in promoting breastfeeding since its inception, and specifically identified BFI as a priority in 1996.

April, 2004

Annual Report 2002-2003

This past year was a remarkably busy year for The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC). One funded project was completed and two new funded projects were started. It was also a year of decision and preparation by several institutions to take steps toward the Baby Friendly TM designation. Detailed assessment guidelines for BFHI/BFI designation of Canadian hospitals and community health services will be released this spring.

The following summarizes some key accomplishments during the year:

Baby –Friendly Hospital Initiative Designation

The BCC is proud to announce that a second hospital has received the Baby-Friendly™ designation. St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, ON was designated on March 29, 2003 by the BCC Board of Directors following the external assessment visit March 26-28. St. Joseph’s is a large, urban teaching hospital serving a multiethnic population with approximately 4,000 births each year. It joins the Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital in Cowansville, Québec designated Baby-Friendly™ in 1999. During 2002 two other institutions were involved in preparation for assessment visits for BFHI designation. Many other hospitals and community health services are actively involved in implementing the steps to successful breastfeeding which are improving the quality of care received by mothers and babies from coast to coast.

Implementation and Monitoring of the Baby-Friendly™TM Initiative in Canada

In 1999, the BCC received over $200,000 from Population Health-Health Canada to support an infrastructure for the BFHI Implementation and Evaluation Project. The funding for this project ended January 2002. Funds from the project enabled the BCC to develop written materials describing and defining the BFHI in Canada, which are posted on our web site. The final report on this project was completed and submitted to Health Canada.

Canadian outcome indicators for the Baby-Friendly™ Hospital Initiative have been developed and shared with facilities preparing for the hospital assessment process. They will shortly be posted on the BCC web site.

The recent publication “The Baby-Friendly™ Initiative in Community Health Services: A Canadian Implementation Guide” defines a BFI designation process for community health services parallel to the international WHO/UNICEF designation process for hospitals. The document is posted on the BCC web site. A French language version will be available later this spring.

The BCC was active in seeking additional funding to continue the support for national implementation of the BFI program. In June 2002, the organization received additional funding from Health Canada for the project “The Baby-Friendly™Ô Initiative in Community Health Services: Implementation and Evaluation”. This funding of $200,000 over 2 years will assist the BCC to continue the work started with the prior project, including development of assessment tools for use in community health services, training assessors and continuing to encourage the provinces and territories in their work on breastfeeding and the BFI. A project Steering Committee has been developed within the Board of the BCC.

The BCC’s BFI in the Community continued its work in 2002, focusing on the development of outcome indicators and assessment tools for Baby -FriendlyÔ Community Health Services. This work was begun at a meeting in September 2002 and continued via e-mail and telephone discussions. Final discussions on the indicators were held during the BCC’s March 2003 Board meeting and they will be finalized soon.

As part of the BFI Community project mentioned above, two assessor training workshops will be held during 2003. The first was held in Toronto at the end of February with 11 participants. The workshops focus on in-depth education of assessors to the outcome indicators for both hospital and community health and the revised Canadian assessment tools.

A BCC Provincial/Territorial Support Committee was established in March 2002. A telephone survey of current BFI activity in provinces and territories was undertaken in December 2002 and a conference call of the committee was held in March 2003.

Partnership Development

The BCC focused on the importance of partnership development, both with our members and others, to implement its activities. For example, the BCC’s formal partnership with the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) continues. The “Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating and Active Living: Natural Tools for Diabetes Prevention” project (see below) is being implemented in partnership with CPNP and the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA).

Childhood Services, Health Canada granted funding to support the cost of having the Provincial/Territorial (P/T) representatives meet together in Ottawa with the BCC Board in March 2002. The goals of the meeting were to facilitate communication between P/T committees and the BCC, to discuss the successes and barriers to BFI implementation at the P/T level, and to develop strategies to move BFI forward in Canada.

Support Education, Information, and Research Activities

The Breastfeeding Position Statement of the BCC which includes a summary of the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes and the WHO/UNICEF Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding was reviewed, revised and posted on the BCC web site.

Funding of $300,000 over two years was received from the Canadian Diabetes Strategy Prevention and Promotion Contribution Program, Health Canada, to support a project titled “Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating and Active Living: Natural Tools for Diabetes Prevention”. Breastfeeding has been identified as a preventive factor for obesity /Type 2 diabetes. This project is being implemented in partnership with the Canadian Prenatal Nutrition Program and the Canadian Diabetes Association in two communities, one in northern Manitoba, and one in rural New Brunswick. This partnership project will direct its interventions to pregnant women and new mothers living in difficult or isolated circumstances.

Kaplan and Associates of Winnipeg, Manitoba will undertake formative and summative evaluations on both funded projects.

Involvement, Recognition and Support of Network

The BCC Strategic Plan focuses on the need to communicate and network with, and cooperate in greater depth with, our associate members. As the BCC web site is a major communication tool for the organization the BCC domain name was recently changed to www.breastfeedingcanada.ca to facilitate easier access to those seeking information.

In an effort to streamline activities future editions of Breastfeeding Canada, the newsletter of the BCC, will be published only on the BCC web site.

Other Accomplishments

Award: The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada received the National Breastfeeding Seminar Award of Excellence at the 12th Annual Humber College conference in Toronto. The conference organizers – Humber College, Toronto Public Health, INFACT Canada, and Sunnybrook & Women’s College Health Sciences Centre – Women’s College Campus – generally make two awards at the annual conference: one to a group and one to an individual. The award was given based on criteria which include: Support of breastfeeding and breastfeeding issues with enthusiasm and energy; recognition by peers as exceptional in clinical practice, education, research, administration or policy development; projects leadership qualities in the promotion of breastfeeding; pursues current knowledge of issues, directions and developments related to breastfeeding; and demonstrates an advocacy role in the protection of breastfeeding in Canada.

The BCC Board met in March 2002; had three teleconferences in July 2002, November 2002 and March 2003; and conducted the majority of its business by the use of e-mail. There is still much to be done to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in Canada. Anyone reading this report who subscribes to the Vision, Mission and Objectives of the BCC is invited to become an Associate Member and join us as we move into a “Friendly” and progressive era for breastfeeding in Canada.

Respectfully submitted,

Joanne Gilmore & Susan James, Co-Chairs
Gisèle McCaie-Burke, Past Co-Chair
Marthanne Robson, Secretary
Roberta Hewat, Treasurer

March, 2003

Annual Report 2001-2002

2001 was a remarkably busy year. The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada and others suffered a major loss when Dr. Wah Wong, BCC honorary member and long time champion of Baby Friendly TM in Canada and around the world passed away on July 7th. Wa’s energy and constant cheerfulness will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

2001/02 was a year of decision and preparation by several institutions to take steps towards the Baby Friendly TM designation. Preparation and development of detailed assessment guidelines for BFHI/BFI designation of Canadian hospitals and community health services was initiated and moved ahead.

Breastfeeding advocates, health administrators and policy makers from across Canada gathered in Moncton, New Brunswick May 24-26 to attend the “Breastfeeding NOW: Nurturing Opportunities for Wellness” conference. The Moncton conference, a big success, with approximately 400 attending, was co-sponsored by the BCC, the New Brunswick Breastfeeding Advisory Committee and the New Brunswick Department of Health and Wellness.

The BCC is now in its second year of incorporation as a non-profit society with Industry Canada. The BCC Board met twice in March and October (in Mississauga and Saskatoon respectively), had several teleconferences and conducted much other business by way of e-mail.

The following summarizes some key accomplishments during the year:

Implementation and monitoring of the Baby-Friendly™TM Initiative in Canada - In March, 1999 the BCC received over $266,380 from Population Health-Health Canada to support a BFHI/BFI Implementation and Evaluation Project. Since the funding for this project ended January 2002, the BCC was active in seeking additional funding support this national program. Thanks to this funding, the BFI Community Committee has recently completed development of a process and a supporting document for BFI assessment in community health services. A similar process to create documents for BFI hospital assessments is in progress. A process for provincial and territorial committees to report BFI implementation was completed. Document review of three hospitals and one birthing centre was completed in the past year, prior to pre-assessment visits for BFHI designation.

Involvement, recognition and support of network – The BCC Strategic Plan focuses on the need to communicate and network with, and cooperate in greater depth with, our associate members. Five network members/organizations that have excelled in the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding were honoured at the Moncton conference in May: Pauline LeBlanc, Micheline Beaudry, Gail Blair Storr, Brome- Missisquoi-Perkins Hospital and Marie Labrèche. One edition of Breastfeeding Canada was published in 2001: limited funding and volunteer time resulted in the limited number of issues. Documents continue to be added to the web site in both official languages. Finding resources to develop and sustain an interactive WEBSITE is in progress.

Develop a targeted media plan – Development of a media strategy to establish key media contacts and highlight the work of BCC is in progress. A media person will be contacted when additional resources are available.

Partnership Development – The Strategic Plan focuses on the importance of partnership development, both with our members and with corporations and foundations for establishing a sustainable base for BCC activities. The BCC’s formal partnership with the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) continues. The BCC entered into a co-partnership agreement with the New Brunswick Breastfeeding Advisory Committee to facilitate planning and implementation of the “Breastfeeding NOW” conference that was held in May 2001 in Moncton. Investigation of several possible sources to fund activities outlined in the BCC Strategic Plan was begun and continues The BCC has received: $300,000 from the Canadian Diabetes Strategy Prevention and Promotion Contribution Program, Health Canada, to support funding a project focused on Breastfeeding, Healthy Eating and Active Living: Natural Tools for Diabetes Prevention. Childhood Services, Health Canada granted a sum of $23,000 to support the cost of bringing Provincial/Territorial representatives together with the BCC Board in Ottawa in March 2002. The BCC has also made application to Population Health, Health Canada to fund Implementation and Evaluation of the Baby Friendly Initiative in Community Health Services. The BCC will continue to review current and future resource requirements. A fundraising expert will be engaged to assist in finding, preparing for and approaching additional potential funders.

Support Education, Information, and Research activities– A document setting out “Frequently Asked Questions” regarding the Baby-Friendly™ Initiative and Education was completed and is available on the BCC web site.

As BCC Executive members, we offer a sincere “thank-you” to all of the volunteers involved in BCC, and thanks as well to our hard-working and dedicated part-time staff member Marilyn Sanders. As well as working for BCC as BFI Coordinator and BCC Coordinator, she also volunteers many hours of her time as the UNICEF representative on the BCC. Thank you also to those organizations that continue to support representatives financially and in-kind for their work on the BCC.

There is still much to be done to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in Canada. Anyone reading this report who subscribes to the Vision, Mission and Objectives of the BCC is invited to become an Associate Member and join us as we move into a new millennium which we trust will be a “Friendly” and progressive era for breastfeeding in Canada.

Respectfully submitted,

Gisèle McCaie-Burke & Joanne Gilmore, Co-Chairs
Jennifer Peddlesden, Past Co-Chair
Susan James, Secretary
Roberta Hewat, Treasurer

March, 2002

Annual Report 2000-2001

If the year 1999 was the year for designating the first Baby-Friendly™ hospital in Canada, then the year 2000 will be seen as a year of decision and preparation by many other institutions to take that step as well. The year 2000 will also be seen as the period in which preparation for BFI designation of community healthcare facilities was begun and moved ahead.

The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC) held its first Annual General Meeting in March, 2000 at which time by-laws were approved to make application to become a registered Canadian not for profit corporation. BCC business sessions during the year included two Board meetings, in March and October, both held in Mississauga, and other business by way of e-mail.

The Board spent a full day in October with François Lagarde, a marketing/strategic planner, on the development of a social marketing orientation plan for BCC. This plan has been incorporated into a new BCC Strategic Plan for 2001-2004.

The following summarizes key accomplishments during the year:

Implementation of the Baby-Friendly™ Initiative and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in Canada - In March 1999 BCC received $266,380 from Population Health-Health Canada to support an infrastructure for the BFHI/BFI Implementation and Evaluation Project until the end of 2001. Meetings between BCC representatives and BFI implementation committees, coordinators or ministerial representatives have been held in the British Columbia interior, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Ontario, Quebec, a return visit to francophone areas of New Brunswick, and Yukon. Work is progress by the BFI Community Committee to develop a process and to create documents for BFI community health care facility assessments. All the BCC’s BFI documents are now complete, have been translated to French, and are on or are being added to the Web site. Registration of trained BFI assessors continues. Document review of three hospitals and one birthing centre was completed in the past year, prior to pre-assessment visits for BFHI designation.

Resource Development - BCC is now registered as a not-for-profit corporation, which will facilitate requests for funding and grants. Investigation of several possible funding sources has begun. The social marketing session at the October Board meeting focused on the need for obtaining resources, and how best to achieve that goal.

Development of the BCC - BCC’s by-laws are complete, and the policy manual is nearing completion. The social marketing session at the fall Board meeting focused on the need to communicate and network with, and cooperate in greater depth with, our associate members.

Partnership Development - Partnership guidelines have been finalized and are in use. Partnerships with the Canadian Pediatric Society’s Nutrition Committee and with the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) continue. A partnership with the New Brunswick Breastfeeding Advisory Committee was established to facilitate planning of the “Breastfeeding NOW” conference scheduled for May 2001 in Moncton. The social marketing session [back] in October focused on the importance of partnership develop-ment, both with our members and with corporations and foundations, for funding.

Communications - Two editions of Breastfeeding Canada were published this past year, documents continue to be added to the web site in both official languages, and the content of a generic communication package has been determined. The social marketing session at the October board focused on targeted use of the news media to get the message out.

Education, Information, and Research - A document setting out “Frequently Asked Questions” regarding the Baby-Friendly™ Initiative and Education has been completed. The physician’s ad-hoc committee has begun to address the issue of how best to educate physicians across Canada on the basic principles of breastfeeding management, in order to ensure the success of a hospital/maternity centre BFHI External Assessment.

As BCC Executive members, may we offer a sincere “thank-you” to all of the volunteers involved in BCC, and thanks as well to hard-working and dedicated part-time staff member Marilyn Sanders. As well as working for BCC as BFI Coordinator and BCC Coordinator, she also volunteers many hours of her time as the UNICEF representative on the BCC. Thank you also to those organizations that continue to support representatives financially and in-kind for their work on the BCC.

Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Peddlesden & Gisèle McCaie-Burke, Co-Chairs
Maureen Fjeld, Past Co-Chair
Susan James, Secretary
Roberta Hewat, Treasurer

March 1^st, 2001

Annual Report 1999-2000

Considering the BCC is a coalition that relies on volunteers and one part-time employee a large amount of business was completed this past year. The name BCC has now become synonymous with the Baby-Friendly™ Initiative across Canada and around the world. This report should be read in conjunction with the Annual Financial Report of the BCC.

Two Executive Committee Meetings were held in 1999, one in Canmore, Alberta April 29^th to May 2^nd 1999, and one on August 14^th to 16^th, 1999 in Calgary. Due to lack of funding, no General Meeting of Voting Members of the BCC was held in 1999.

The turn of the millennium brings the final year of BCC Strategic Plan 1998-2000 as set out in 1998 under six key strategic areas. The following summarizes accomplishments and work yet to be done (see italics) in these key areas:

Resource Development - By-laws were drafted to facilitate funding requests and grants, investigation of several possible funding partnerships continued, and a draft of the Partnership and Sponsorship Guidelines was started. There is still much work to be done on this strategic area to accomplish a sustainable resource base for BCC

Development of the BCC Representative members from Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP) and AWHONN were added to the BCC membership roster, a new governance structure was developed in November 1998, put into place in March 1999 and is now reflected in the By-laws, and a draft of a Policy Manual for the BCC was begun. There is still more work to be done on engaging Associate (formerly Corresponding) Members into work done by the BCC, and the Policy Manual and By-laws will be adopted in 2000.

Partnership Development - Based on work with The British Columbia Reproductive Care Program (BCRCP) on the Stepping Into Baby-Friendly™ Conference and Launch, November 1998 and work with the CPNP, draft guidelines for partnerships were written. In February 1999 Co-chair Maureen Fjeld attended the Canadian Pediatric Society Nutrition Committee Meeting in Toronto as Liaison Member for the BCC. CPNP, a partner with the BCC, finalized a breastfeeding vision statement, which reflects the partnership with the BCC, and funding is being sought by CPNP for a working group to replicate in two CPNP projects work done by Pat Martens of Manitoba on peer support. Further investigation into potential partnerships as identified in November 1998 will be pursued, and work on this strategic area will be done in harmony with the Strategic Area on Resource Development.

Communications - Two editions of Breastfeeding Canada were published this year, the web site was completed, the annual report has been written, updates were sent twice a month or as needed to BCC Voting Members, and a Rapid Response Plan was put in place. Yet to be completed are the generic communications package for media and the public, a media list, and draft contract for a media consultant for special events.

Education, Information, and Research - A document setting out Frequently Asked Questions regarding the Baby-Friendly™ Imitative and Education is in draft form. The BCC has supported in principal a Cost of Infant Feeding Survey by BCC Individual Expert, Bev Chalmers. A Physician’s Ad Hoc Committee has been formed. This committee will address the issue of how to educate physicians across Canada to enable them to know basic principles of breastfeeding management in order to be successful during a hospital/maternity centre BFI External Assessment. Yet to be completed are a generic information package about the BCC, examination of and recommendation on breastfeeding components of Canadian health professional curricula, and further support of breastfeeding related research initiatives in Canada.

Implementation of the Baby-Friendly™ Initiative and the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes in Canada In March 1999 the BCC received $266,380 from Population Health, Health Canada to support an infrastructure for the BFHI/BFI Implementation and Evaluation Project until the end of 2001. Documents describing all aspects of the BFI in Canada were developed March through August and most are now available on the BCC web page. Designation of the first Baby-Friendly™ Hospital, Brome-Missisquoi-Perkins (BMP) Hospital in Cowansville, and Quebec on July 1^st, 1999 was a highlight of the year. A special plaque from UNICEF will be presented to BMP Hospital. To date BFI Implementation committees have been established in NB, NS, PEI, MB, BC, NF and NT. A BFI Coordinator has been appointed for SK, NS, and work is still progressing on designation of a BFI Implementation Committee or Coordinator in AB, Nunavut, and Yukon. (For more information please refer to BFI Coordinator’s Report January 2000.) Meetings between the BCC and BFI Implementation Committees, Coordinators or Ministerial representatives have been held in SK, MB, NB, BC and definite dates are set for meetings in PEI and NS. Terms of Reference for Baby-Friendly™ Community Health Centres and an Action Plan have been drafted by the Baby-Friendly™ Community Ad Hoc Committee. Items yet to be completed include finalizing the last few documents describing the complete BFI process in Canada and posting these on the web-page, translation of these BFI documents, completion of the database of BFI Assessors in Canada and questionnaire for Assessor candidates, organizing (or facilitating another group to organize) a Policy Maker’s Workshop for BFI in Canada, and work on designation criteria for Baby-Friendly™ Community Health Centres and breastfeeding friendly community facilities.

As Co-chairs we would like to thank all of the volunteers on the BCC and also hard-working and dedicated part-time staff member Marilyn Sanders. As well as working for the BCC as BFI Coordinator and BCC Coordinator, she also volunteers many hours of her time for the BCC as the UNICEF representative on the BCC. Thank you also to those organizations that continue to support representatives financially in their work on the BCC.

There is much work yet to be done to protect, promote and support breastfeeding in Canada. Anyone reading this report who ascribes to the Vision, Mission and Objects of the BCC is invited to become an Associate Member and be a part of this exciting work as we move into a new millennium which we trust will be a “Friendly” place for breastfeeding in Canada.

Respectfully submitted,
Maureen Fjeld, Jennifer Peddlesden Co-chairs; Roberta Hewat, Past Co-chair
23 February 2000

Annual Report 1998-1999

The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC) is a national organization consisting of a broad membership of professional and consumer organizations and independent experts. It is the National Authority for the Baby-Friendly™ Initiative (BFI) which is an international WHO/UNICEF program, and has identified the BFI as its primary strategy for the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding in Canada. The BCC will lauch the National BFI at a conference in Vancouver, November 19-21, 1998.

The BCC has undertaken five initiatives in the last year:

A National Survey of BFI in Canada

This was a 23 item qualitative mail-out survey sent to 104 breastfeeding coalitions/groups across Canada. Seventy-nine groups responded. Virtually 100% of respondents supported the concept of the BFI and a variety of national, provincial and regional organizational recommendations have come out of the report.

The BFI Action Plan

The BCC met in Hamilton in November, 1997 and developed an Action Plan for the BFI. This Action Plan has six goals:

Develop ways to support an infrastructure for the BFI
Launch the BFI in Canada in 1998
Facilitate BFI educational activities
Develop a national program for BFI accreditation
Facilitate the implementation of the BFI with provincial/territorial governments who will then establish BFI Implementation Committees at that level
Develop an effective mechanism for the tracking and monitoring of BFI implementation in Canada

Provincial/Territorial Dissemination Initiative to Launch the BFI

A series of three meetings were held in Toronto, Calgary and Quebec City in May, 1998, to which provincial/territorial Ministers of Health or their designates were invited, to meet with BCC members for briefing on the BFI. Each province was encouraged to assist in the formation of a Provincial/Territorial BFI Implementation Committee and to send a representative to the BCC's Launch and Conference in November, 1998.

A Strategic Plan for the BCC

While the BFI is the strategic priority of the BCC, there are other aspects of protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding which should also receive attention . The BCC met in Hamilton in March, 1998 to develop a Strategic Plan. This internal document will guide the activities of the BCC over the next two years.

Partnership Development between the BCC and the Canada Prenatal Nutrition Program (CPNP)

A meeting was held in Hamilton in April, 1998 between representatives of the BCC and CPNP to develop common goals relative to the implementation of the BFI at the community level. An action plan is currently in development. Opportunities for peer counseling initiatives are one area being explored.

Brochures highlighting the BFI Survey and Action Plan are available from the BCC at no charge. Copies of the complete Survey Report and the complete BFI Action Plan are also available from the BCC.

Two additional publications are also available from the BCC. These are: "BCC Breastfeeding Statement" and "BCC Guidelines for Accepting Donations/Sponsorship or Contracts Relative to the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes".