The City of Maple Ridge, in partnership with Fraser Health, and with funding through BC Healthy Communities Plan H, aspires to create a welcoming baby-friendly community in Maple Ridge.
Share Your Feedback!
Have you tried the new baby-feeding spaces at the library? Share your feedback in our brief survey and learn more about this initiative at Engage.MapleRidge.ca/FeedingSpaces.
Project Overview
The intended outcome of this project is to create an inclusive/ supportive baby/family-friendly environment where feeding is encouraged, supported, and safe, and contributes to the positive mental wellness of all visitors.
We aim to support the convenience of feeding by creating baby-friendly public spaces equipped with signage and education. The space will be accessible, comfortable, and dignified and will provide comfortable seating and a safe space for siblings to engage.
Community Engagement
City staff and community facilitators attended three engagement sessions, asking both parents, community partners, and staff a variety of questions regarding the design and implementation of feeding space.
What We Learned
Families are looking for the following characteristics within the space:
- Natural lighting & colours
- Comfortable chairs that are easy to clean
- Private, quiet and safe area
- Welcoming and inviting signage
- Safe spaces for siblings to engage
The Spaces
The City of Maple Ridge and Fraser Health Population and Public Heath, in partnership with the Maple Ridge Public Library, is pleased to announce the opening of three baby-friendly feeding spaces within the library. Each space has a comfortable chair to support feeding, along with space designed to entertain siblings and resources to support young families. The Maple Ridge library is located at 22470 Dewdney Trunk Road.
The Future
Staff are assessing opportunities to offer additional baby-friendly feeding spaces in the community.
Additionally, City and Fraser Health Public Health Staff will be conducting an environmental scan regarding public feeding within community facilities and developing a policy that will be presented to the local government for consideration.