Protest dropped after Calgary confirms breastfeeding allowed in pools
Last Updated: Monday, April 6, 2009 | 8:35 AM MT
CBC News
Gemma Kelsall has been the target of angry emails since she defended her right to breastfeed her daughter Kaliya in Calgary's Killarney pool. (CBC)A group of Calgary mothers cancelled a protest over breastfeeding in a public pool after meeting with city staff on the weekend.
The women had told CBC News it's their right to breastfeed wherever they want, but lifeguards at Killarney pool had asked them to get out of the water or use the change room.
Organizer Gemma Kelsall said city staff explained that the lifeguards had misunderstood, and it's city policy to allowing mothers to breastfeed in or out of city pools.
But Kelsall has been the target of outrage since telling her story to CBC News.
"I have received over a 100 pieces of hate mail in the last two days via my Facebook [group]. People searching me out — strangers. I've been looking at the CBC website and there's over 800 comments this morning, most of them saying we're wrong we're, child abusers, we're disgusting," she said.
"But I have also got a lot of support and love. I don't want to turn this into a bad news story, 'cause it's really a good news story."
City apologizes
City spokeswoman Heather Bruce said policy had not been clearly communicated to staff.
"The City of Calgary does apologize if there's been a misunderstanding and we're very happy with the outcome," she said.
If other swimmers feel uncomfortable with her breastfeeding in the pool, Kelsall said she hopes staff will deal with those complaints appropriately.
The most popular comment on the CBC online story about her planned protest said breastfeeding in the pool is unhygienic, but was "perfectly acceptable" outside the pool, such as on the deck.
Kelsall said she hopes to help change attitudes.
"It won't get better if we don't do it in public," she said.
