The City of Kamloops is piloting an initiative to offer free menstrual products in four public washrooms across the community.

The initiative, which is spearheaded by United Way British Columbia, is set to address period poverty, by providing these products to the public for free.

It says there will be period products available at City Hall, 105 Seymour Street, the Tournament Capital Centre, and McArthur Island.

According to research conducted between 2019-2021, Alexa Graf, who’s the Period Promise Community Capacity Builder at United Way says 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.

“More than a quarter have gone through a period without having menstrual products whatsoever, and nearly 15 per cent grew up in homes where they didn’t have access to period products.”

Kamloops is following the lead of several other communities and organizations, including the Kamloops-Thompson School District and Thompson Rivers University.

The City’s Director of Human Resources and Safety, Colleen Quigley says when people don’t have access to period products, they often miss school or work, or use unsafe alternatives to make it through their days.

“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,” she said. “Those barriers shouldn’t exist. By providing free access to period products, we make Kamloops more equitable and inclusive for all residents.”

The city is looking for feedback which will be used to expand the program to other public washrooms in Kamloops.

More details about the Period Product Pilot Initiative can be found on the City of Kamloops website.