The City of Kamloops will be offering free menstrual products at four washrooms in city-owned buildings.
The pilot program launched on Monday and period product dispensers will be installed at city hall, 105 Seymour Street, the Tournament Capital Centre and McArthur Island Sport and Events Centre.
“For too many members of our community, menstruation is a matter of social stigma and financial hardship that prevents them from fully participating in City life,” says Colleen Quigley, the City’s Director of Human Resources and Safety.
“Those barriers shouldn’t exist. By providing free access to period products, we make Kamloops more equitable and inclusive for all residents.”
After reviewing research conducted between 2019 and 2021 by United Way British Columbia, the city decided that offering these products for free would minimize barriers faced by people who menstruate.
“Half of everybody who menstruates in BC – women, girls, nonbinary people and trans folks – have struggled to buy product at some point in their life,” explained Alexa Graf, the Period Promise Community Capacity Builder at United Way.
The city says the pilot program may expand based on feedback from the community.
Residents can provide feedback through a short survey, which is available on the city’s website.
