Students attending middle school and secondary schools in Greater Victoria will now have access to free menstrual products in school washrooms.
While these products have always been available for students in school offices, schools across the Greater Victoria School District will now be placing baskets of menstrual products in every washroom to provide students with stigma-free access.
See also:
- All BC public schools will be required to provide free menstrual products by the end of 2019
- Camosun college will supply free menstrual products on Lansdowne campus washrooms
Supplies will also be made available in some elementary school washrooms, and will continue to be provided in school and counsellor offices at all institutions.
“Tackling period poverty closes the gap on gender inequality. Having a period is a part of life for more than half of British Columbia’s population,” said Mitzi Dean, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity.
“It’s important for all students to have the opportunity to participate fully in school activities, and that means having free and open access to menstrual products.”
This decision is in keeping with the Ministry of Education mandate earlier this year requiring all BC schools to provide free menstrual products in washrooms by the end of 2019.
According to the Ministry, one-in-seven students miss school due to their periods because they cannot afford menstrual products.
