Midland proclaims National Breastfeeding Week 2026

Whereas, Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding for two years and beyond, provides unique nutritional and non-nutritional long-term benefits for an infant’s growth, development, and lifelong health; and 

Whereas, The World Health Organization’s Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding calls on governments worldwide to create environments that enable mothers, families, and other caregivers to make informed choices about feeding practices for infants and young children; and 

Whereas, Breastfeeding is a human right, and the Ontario Human Rights Code protects a woman’s right to breastfeed in a public area without discrimination; and 

Whereas, October 1st to October 7th is recognized as National Breastfeeding Week—an initiative to raise awareness of the numerous benefits of breastfeeding, to strengthen individual, family, and community support for breastfeeding, and to further strategies that promote breastfeeding practices; and 

Whereas, The global campaign focus for 2026, “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works”, shifts the conversation toward accountability by tracking local progress, implementing datadriven policies that protect infant nutrition, securing family food systems, and reducing systemic poverty; and 

Whereas, Breastmilk is a low-cost, locally available source of equity that delivers vital economic returns to families and nations, requiring a synchronized “Warm Chain of Support” across health systems, workplaces, and communities to protect, promote, and anchor these critical practices. 

Therefore, I, Bill Gordon, Mayor of Midland hereby proclaims the week of October 1 to 7, 2026, as “National Breastfeeding Week” in the Town of Midland.