Once known as the Canadian Women’s Curling championship, this major national event has had to make some changes to accommodate breastfeeding competitors.
The round robin event has women’s teams from all provinces and territories, and several of the women have young babies.
The problem has been there was no quiet space set aside inside the arena in Grande Priarie Alberta.
For those mothers wishing to breastfeed, they either had to find a spot in public areas of the “Revolution Place” arena, or walk to another curling club about a block away.
Given the tight schedule between matches, this presented a problem for the competitors.
Known for the last few years as the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, a spokesman for Curling Canada said for liability and safety reasons no visitors or children are allowed in the competitors change-room area. This apparently extended to babies and breastfeeding mothers.
However, Al Cameron says in light of the issue, a curtained off area had been set up in an area of the volunteer centre so mothers wouldn’t have to leave the competition building.
Amy Nixon is competing at this year’s Scotties tournament for Team Alberta. She feels event organizers have to take such things into consideration on one hand, and competitors breastfeeding babies should also insist on accomodations.
Quoted by the CBC she said the rule about non-competitors in the locker room should have some flexibility. “”As of today …there has been an accommodation made,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a big issue that you can’t breastfeed your kid in a locker room,” she said.
Another player, Nova Scotias, Blisse Joyce, whose son Oscar is nine months old, said Thursday morning after the changes were announced that the change was a little late in coming. Quoted in the Regina Leader-Post news, she said, “Hopefully maybe they’ll think about it next year. At least it’s out in the open now that it should be addressed
Curling Canada spokesman Al Cameron meanwhile says will be a breastfeeding area in the players’ lounge of the arena during the upcoming women’s world curling championship next month in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, set for March 19-27.
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