Hailin Tretiak
Registered Dietitian
Certified Lactation Counselor (ALPP)
Founder of Booby Boss
Behind a lighthearted name is a professional practice doing serious work — caring for mothers and babies.
Hailin Tretiak is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Lactation Counselor with the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice. She loves to help parents feed their babies, fuel themselves, and feel like absolute bosses while doing it. She is passionate about helping families thrive without misinformation, confusion or unrealistic expectations.
Hailin earned her nutrition degree from the University of Saskatchewan and completed her dietetic practicum with the Saskatchewan Health Authority. She then pursued specialized training in human lactation at the University of California, San Diego — one of the world’s leading research universities in medical science and innovation, and home to the Human Milk Institute.
Hailin also serves as the Executive Assistant to the Board of Breastfeeding Committee for Canada, reflecting her passion for promoting, protecting, and supporting breastfeeding and maternal-child health across the country.
Hailin’s professional experience has spanned pretty much every corner of healthcare — hospital, long-term care, outpatient clinic, community centre, and home care — so she knows that health and nutrition journeys don’t happen in calm, perfectly lit textbook scenarios (and that’s totally okay).
Before entering healthcare, Hailin worked in food product development and manufacturing, translating ideas from farm to real, functional products you can actually use (and eat!). This breadth of experience shaped her core practice philosophy: she is firmly rooted in evidence-based theory, but equally committed to solutions that work in real life — not just on papers or idealized scenarios.
So, when it comes to “boobs making the food”, as well as caring for babies, Hailin believes in bringing both science and real-world practicality to the table. Because no matter how “perfect” a recommendation may sound, if it doesn’t work for the mother–baby dyad or cannot be realistically integrated into a family’s unique situation and daily routines, it is unlikely to become sustainable support that truly makes a lasting impact.
Eating and feeding are never just biological processes — they carry culture, identity, and lived experience.
Proudly Chinese Canadian, Hailin speaks fluent Mandarin and Cantonese, so she can support families from diverse backgrounds with care that truly resonates.
Outside of work, she unwinds by embracing her inner Chinese Baddie energy, staying active (with activities highly dependent on Alberta’s ever-changing weather), playing piano and lovingly annoying her husband, which she considers an important part of work-life balance. She’s also on a serious mission to perfect her yuzu cheesecake recipe and happily accepts tips, taste testers, and unsolicited dessert advice.
At her core, Hailin believes this:
Parents don’t need more pressure, TikTok or Chatgtp — they need evidence-based information, clarity, and someone in their corner gently reminding them that they’re already doing better than they think.
Because when parents feel confident, informed, and empowered – that’s when the real Booby Boss energy shows up.
“I don’t do great things; I do small things with great love.”
— Mother Theresa
Booby Boss 