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

Students at the University of Calgary will be able to access freemenstrual 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 availablein the most frequently used MacEwan Hallwashroomsincluding 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 afree menstrualprogram 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.

The sisterssought to expand the program, after itmet 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 receiveda 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.