What a huge success: 102 kids latched this year! A huge bravo to the Kelowna Breastfeeding Cafe, sponsors, volunteers, moms, babes, dads, siblings, grandparents there!
Once again it was our honour at Laura Elie Photography to support and document such an important event. We should write IMPORTANT in caps because the ripple effect that will come of one festive morning will last for years, even generations. How amazing is that? To know that the cute 2 month old girl with a head full of soft brown curls or even my chatterbox son the 3 1/4 year old might not have to think twice when it is time for them to be parents, grandparents of mommas and babes breastfeeding in public. And what if the shy mamma’s confidence gets bolstered by the challenge next time she is on a walk and she stops to feed on a big rock in someone’s front yard? Or what about the mom who feels comfortable enough after a local feed-in at the Vernon mall to sit atop the mountain and breastfeed, who in turn inspires a grandma who stops to tell her how beautiful she is? *Both true stories that reversed into hypotheticals for writing sake. 🙂
However, because words only go so far sometimes, …. {insert drum roll here} Laura Elie Photography invites you to enjoy the Kelowna Breastfeeding Cafe Breastfeeding Challenge Gallery 2015!
*To the talented organizers Lisa Ford & Chantal Kozar, who truly know how to spread homegrown awareness we send huge high fives, hugs and hoorays! Thank you for all the lives you are changing now and for generations. It is once again so amazing to be able to celebrate and at the same time normalize kids drinking mothers’ milk wherever and whenever they need to!
Lastly, we are so grateful to all the sponsors and volunteers who made the event possible. Big thank yous go out to:
Circus Yoga Kelowna, for helping us put yoga fun in every day!
Baby Wearing Okanagan, for keeping our babies close.
Syren and the Waves, for great music and song.
Erin Scott of Inspired Word Cafe for awesome poetry.
Kathleen Munn Childrens Musician for the fun kids songs!
Medela for a sweet breastpump.
Westjet for two tickets to anywhere!
Susan Knight from Mornings @ Q103 for the stellar MC-ing.
Nanny Sitters for the nonstop fun kid zone!
Tidy Tushees for the cloth diapering expertise.
Heritage Financial for the RESP lowdown and the coveted ergo draw.
Drs. Sara Tremblay & Travis Pillipaw at Health in Hand Chiropractic for sharing their oh so useful knowledge.
Nooks Design for their beautiful up-cycled and forever-loved wares!
Linda Helem-Kersche, (FABulous nurse) from Interior Health for the continual support in the community.
Kelowna Community Resources for the many supplies and resources.
ALL the businesses and volunteers who made the day and awesome gifts possible! (Pls contact me if I’ve missed you, I would love to add this incredible list of generosity!)
P.s. Photos marked #PBAP for the Public Breastfeeding Awareness Project, another gorgeous initiative started by Leilani Rogers that involves 70 + photographers across the globe who are helping normalize breastfeeding through breastfeeding photography in public spaces.
P.p.s. Stay tuned for the laurelie breastfeeding portrait mini session photos!
