Who is the BCC?
The BCC is a registered not for profit organization dedicated to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) in Canada.
The BCC was established in 1991, as a Health Canada initiative following the World Summit for Children, to establish breastfeeding as the cultural norm for infant feeding within Canada.
In 1998, the BCC confirmed its commitment to the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) and expanded the initiative to include community health services, reflecting the continuum of care.
The BCC’s BFI standards provide evidence-informed best practice for all mothers and babies around infant feeding.
As the national authority for the BFI, the BCC is committed to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding and informed decision-making regarding the use of human milk substitutes.
Mandate
The BCC is the national authority for the BFI with the mandate of overseeing the implementation, assessment and monitoring of BFI in Canada and to ensure compliance with the BCC’s BFI standards in BFI designated facilities.
Our Vision
Canadian children are breastfedThe key areas of focus for the BCC to achieve this vision are to:
- promote maternal and infant health by increasing breastfeeding exclusivity up to six months and duration rates up to age two years and beyond
- increase the number of Canadian facilities that meet the standards for BFI assessment
- integrate BFI in HSO/Accreditation Canada applicable standards for hospitals and community health services
- strengthen relationships with federal and provincial/ territorial governments, professional associations involved with maternal-child health and health equity and with international organizations
Partnerships
The BCC has many strategic partnerships including active membership with the International BFHI Network for Industrialized Countries, the International Breastfeeding Collaborative, the Global Breastfeeding Collective, and a strong liaison with the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Pediatric Society. The BCC is engaged with Health Standards Organization/Accreditation Canada as part of the technical review committee for relevant standards and as a partner with the National BFI Quality Improvement Collaboration Project. The BCC has a collaborative relationship with UNICEF Canada.
International delegates from participating member states at the International BFHI Network for Industrialized Countries, The Netherlands, 2018
Standing Committees
Board
The Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC) is a registered not for profit organization dedicated to the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding as the normal method of infant feeding and the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) in Canada. The BCC is a volunteer organization that does not have any sustained public or private funding.
Membership is open to Canadians interested in voluntarily furthering the objectives of the BCC, who are not associated with a company whose products fall within the scope of The WHO International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (the Code), and subsequent, relevant World Health Assembly Resolutions. All applications are approved by the BCC Board. BCC membership categories and fees are described in the BCC Bylaws.
Provincial/Territorial BFI Implementation Committee
The Provincial/Territorial Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) Implementation Committee (P/T committee) is one of two standing committees of the Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (BCC). Members, who represent all provinces and territories, as well as the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), participate in activities that build capacity and foster dialogue and collaboration toward the continued implementation of the BFI in Canada.
The P/T committee provides a forum for ongoing dialogue, knowledge exchange and strategic collaboration across Canada through regular conference call meetings, email discussion, professional development opportunities and sharing of key resources. Some regions also meet regularly to discuss common priorities.
BFI Assessment Committee
The BFI Assessment Committee supports the BFI process in provinces and territories, organizing assessments, mentoring assessor candidates and reviewing, revising and updating the assessment documents.
The primary role of the BFI Assessment Committee is overseeing the assessment of hospital and community health services in partnership with the Provincial/Territorial Committee, and developing and refining the standards and tools necessary for the assessment process. This committee liaises closely with the BCC P/T BFI Implementation Committee to build P/T BFI expertise and capacity nationally.
Introducing Canada’s new National Baby-Friendly Initiative Designation Plaque.
The artist, Mary Kate Woodward from British Columbia, was the successful respondent to the BCC’s Request for Proposal released in August 2021. “Baby Love 2″ will now be the image used by the BCC in the plaque awarded to facilities that achieve Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) designation.
BFI Designated Facilities in Canada
IWK Health Centre – NS (2018)
B.C. Women’s Hospital & Health Centre – BC (2017)
Labrador West Health Centre – NL (2018)
The Pas Primary Health Care Centre – MB (2015)
Thompson Public and Community Health Services – MB (2017)
Flin Flon Primary Health Care Centre – MB (2017)
Toronto Public Health – ON (2018)
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton – ON (2016)
Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit – ON (2017)
Renfrew County & District Health Unit – ON (2016)
North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit – ON (2016)
Halton Region Public Health – ON (2016)
Chatham-Kent Public Health – ON (2016)
Centretown Community Health Centre – ON (2018)
Carlington Community Health Centre – ON (2017)
Kanesatake Health Center – QC (2019)
Inuvik Regional Hospital – NT (2019)
Maple Ridge Public Health – BC (2019)
Trillium Health Partners-Credit Valley Hospital-ON (2017)
Trillium-Health-Partners-Mississauga Hospitall-ON (2017)
Haldiman Norfolk Health Unit – ON (2019)
Grey Bruce Health Services – ON (2015)
