Free Menstrual Products for Students to be Provided in HWDSB Schools
During the June 14, 2021 Board Meeting, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board Trustees voted to prepare a report to provision free menstrual products in washrooms of all HWDSB schools in a barrier-free manner. The motion, submitted by Trustee Alex Johnstone and seconded by Trustee Cam Galindo, passed unanimously.
Citing access to menstrual products as a human right and equity issue, the motion received strong support from all trustees, some of whom noted that the motion was long overdue.
“Ensuring the provisioning of free menstrual products in our schools is truly an equity issue,” said Trustee Johnstone. “We are prepared to take on the costs to ensure equitable access for all students who menstruate, as an investment in equity is always the right investment.”
Trustees hope to remove barriers students are facing by providing menstrual products, calling them essential to menstrual health, comfort and participation in school and society.
“Access to menstrual products can be a barrier that gets in the way of education and is a social determinant of health, mental health and well-being,” said Trustee Cam Galindo when seconding the motion. “I look forward to our board making significant strides on this important issue and leading by example across the province.”
This motion comes after an open letter to Education Minister Stephen Lecce urging the provincial government to offer free menstrual products in all 72 publicly funded schools. As part of the motion, the Board of Trustees also voted to write to the Minister of Education in support of this request.
“By providing menstrual products at schools in a manner similar to other sanitation products we can remove barriers students are facing and ensure access to these products that are essential to menstrual health, comfort and participation in school and society,” said Johnstone.
Learn more about the Free the Flow movement here.
Updated on Friday, June 18, 2021.