An upcoming St. Thomas pilot project will provide free feminine hygiene products at three City facilities. Beginning in 2020, free pads and tampons be available at dispensers at the Pinafore Park Comfort Station, Memorial Arena and in the Joe Thornton Community Centre.
The pilot is for a one year and will begin in 2020. City Councillor Lori Baldwin-Sands asked staff to look into the possibility of a project after council received a resolution from the City of St. Catharine’s where they were providing free menstrual products in their City facilities.
Baldwin-Sands says that she feels that the support for the project shows that staff recognize how essential access to feminine hygiene products are.
The project be reevaluated after 1 year where they will then look at the possibility of expanding it into other municipal buildings. The cost of the 3 dispensers is expected to be $2,295.
The City of London has been providing free menstrual products in their public facility washrooms since April of this year.