October 14th, 2021

The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) was pleased with the announcement by Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, that the Ontario Government will distribute six million free menstrual products per year to school boards.

Supporting Menstrual Equity in the WRDSB

Since 2019, the WRDSB has addressed period poverty in every school in our system, beginning with providing free period products in every school and alternative education site.

“As the first school board in Ontario to provide free menstrual products to students who need them, we are happy to see this announcement from the Minister of Education,” said jeewan chanicka, Director of Education at the WRDSB. “Period poverty should not be a barrier to learning for any student.”

In June 2021, our Board of Trustees sent a letter to the Minister of Education, echoing the Toronto Youth Cabinet’s call for “the Province of Ontario and all 72 school boards to provide free and accessible menstrual products in all publicly funded Ontario elementary and secondary schools.”

“I am so proud of the work we have been doing to address period poverty since 2019,” said Joanne Weston, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. “The new resources from the Province’s program will help to support our ongoing program and are greatly appreciated.”

Providing free products to all Ontario students marks another important step towards menstrual equity, which will allow students to attend school without stigma or barriers.