Skip to Main Content
Calgary

Free menstrual products coming to some U of C bathrooms this summer

Eight washrooms in the University of Calgary's MacEwan Hall will offer free period products beginning this summer thanks to a new pilot program developed by two sisters.

Pilot program developed by sisters received funding for 3 years

CBC News ·
Period products, like liners and tampons, will be available in eight washrooms in the University of Calgary's MacEwan Hall starting this summer thanks to a pilot program. (Submitted by Jessica Revington)

Students at the University of Calgary will be able to access free menstrual products in a number of washrooms at the school thanks to a new pilot program.

Beginning this summer, products like pads, liners and tampons will be available in the most frequently used MacEwan Hall washrooms — including male, female and all-gender washrooms.

Sisters Jessica and Alicia Revington, students at the university, developed a grant proposal for the pilot project in 2018, after the students' union started a free menstrual program the year prior in order to address period poverty on campus. 

"Period poverty is defined as a lack of regular access to products used to manage menstrual bleeding," said Jessica.

Sisters Jessica, left, and Alicia Revington put together a proposal for the free period product pilot, which they hope will become permanent. (Submitted by Jessica and Alicia Revington)

The sisters sought to expand the program, after it met with initial success.

"Our hope is that after this three-year pilot project ends, the project will still continue," said Jessica.

She says they are talking with the students' union to merge the two programs together and see that the expanded reach of the program continues.

The program received a little over $ 61,000 from the Students' Union Quality Money Program.

The pilot is set to be put in place this summer, ahead of the fall semester.

With files from Lucie Edwardson

CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices|About CBC News

Related Stories

Comments

To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted.

By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Comments are welcome while open. We reserve the right to close comments at any time.

Become a CBC Member

Join the conversationCreate account

Already have an account?

now