Free menstrual products offered at select Calgary washrooms to fight 'period poverty'
Pilot project makes pads and tampons accessible to those unable to afford them
The City of Calgary has launched a pilot project to supply free pads and tampons in some city buildings.
The program — called Free. Period. — is a collaboration between the city, Calgary Public Library and the Mayor's Youth Council.
"Not having access to period products can affect the participation, concentration, confidence and performance of menstruating Calgarians in the classroom, in the workplace and in everyday life," the city said in a release.
"Period poverty affects everyone, including families and friends of menstruators, non-binary and trans folks. That's why we have free period products in some men's washrooms."
The products are available at washrooms in these buildings:
- Alberta Trade Centre (315 10th Ave. S.E.) — first and second floors.
- Calgary Central Library (800 Third St. S.E.) — second, third and fourth floors.
- Municipal Building (800 Macleod Trail S.E.) — main floor.
- Village Square Leisure Centre (2623 56th St. N.E.) — main floor.
"Period hygiene is a matter of human rights and human dignity," said IIiana Cutten, a member of the Mayor's Youth Council who helped spearhead the project.
"We thought it was only natural that the next step in this progression was to provide these products in bathrooms for everyone to use, anyone who menstruates to use."
The four-month long pilot wraps up at the end of December.
It includes an online survey on the city's website to help determine if it should be expanded to other city buildings.
With files from Rick Donkers