AboutBreastfeeding.ca Digital Tool Launched for National Access by Ontario Tech and Durham Partners
A digital breastfeeding support website, AboutBreastfeeding.ca, is now accessible to parents and health-care providers in Canada. Ontario Tech University reported that it launched the resource in June 2025, in partnership with the Durham Region Health Department and Lakeridge Health.
Ontario Tech University stated that the website offers evidence-informed content and was co-created with families, including fathers, Indigenous families, and young single parents. The university said the platform is intended to help new parents understand breastfeeding, address challenges, and determine when to seek specialized support.
According to Ontario Tech University, Dr. Jennifer Abbass Dick, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences, led the development of AboutBreastfeeding.ca. The project began with a collaboration with the Durham Region Health Department in 2014 and expanded to include Lakeridge Health in 2019. The university noted that AboutBreastfeeding.ca includes printable handouts and posters with QR codes for access both in clinical settings and at home.
Dr. Abbass Dick’s research found that in 2024, Canada recorded nearly 360,000 births. Based on the university’s report, more than 90 per cent of parents begin breastfeeding, but fewer than 40 per cent continue exclusively for the recommended six months. The research identified lack of accessible, understandable information as a main barrier to continued breastfeeding.
Ontario Tech University stated that the tool had an annual usage of more than 6,000 users before the national launch. The university also reported that, according to feedback received from families and professionals, there was a need for a single national information platform.
Kelly Pigeau, Public Health Nurse at the Durham Region Health Department, said the new website allows families and health-care providers to access and share consistent breastfeeding information. Ava Onwudegwu, Director at Lakeridge Health, stated that the project was developed to provide families in Durham Region access to evidence-based breastfeeding information.