Today (March 8), the Edmonton Catholic School Division (ECSD) announced plans to ensure students have access to free period products where and when they need them. Washrooms in all ECSD schools from Grades 4 and up will soon be equipped with dispensers for free period products and disposal receptacles. The plan supports the Division's efforts to remove barriers to participation in education and strengthen equity in schools.
Period Poverty exists when students do not have easy access to period products, and it interferes with their ability to carry out everyday activities. Barriers that create Period Poverty can be affordability, lack of access to products, education, or appropriate washing and waste disposal facilities.
"No student should have to skip class or feel embarrassed because they cannot access period products," said Board Chair Sandra Palazzo.
Free period products are currently available for students to access in the main office of all ECSD schools.
Last year, St. Francis Xavier Catholic High School's Advanced Seminar class embarked on a school-wide, student-led research project to understand students' needs and concerns. One of the findings was that free, accessible period products was a significant issue for students. They found:
- The majority of female respondents had been personally inconvenienced by the lack of period products in the washrooms
- 94% of the female respondents, and the majority of male respondents, felt St. Francis Xavier should have period products and disposal options in washrooms
- Many respondents stated that it was embarrassing or awkward to ask a teacher or staff member for period products
- There was a shared concern from students around the cost of purchasing period products
"Our research found that period poverty is a real issue in schools, yet often goes undiscussed because of the stigma around it. Having to hide pads or tampons in their sleeves, asking a teacher for help, or worrying about missing class because of the lack of products at their disposal is one stress factor that could be alleviated by making products readily available to all those in need," explained Kennedy Devlin an AP student at St. Francis Xavier.
"It was great to see support from the male students as well," added Ashlin Bilodeau, another student on the project.
As part of a pilot program, dispensers and receptacles have been installed in St. Francis Xavier since June 2021.
"It's amazing that Edmonton Catholic heard this need through our research and are clearly addressing it," added Sophia Rouget, another Grade 12 student on the AP research project. "To think that girls across the Division will feel more comfortable and be less likely to miss school because of work we did - it is incredible."
The estimated cost to implement this initiative is $300,000 and will be funded by the Operations and Maintenance budget of the Division. ECSD anticipates the dispensers and receptacles will be installed by September 2022.
