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Town-owned washroom facilities to offer free menstrual products

April 27, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Sam Odrowski 

Orangeville council unanimously passed a motion to provide free menstrual products in town facilities at a regular meeting on April 17.

Town staff have been directed to procure and install product dispensers to provide free tampons in washroom facilities operated by the Town of Orangeville.

There’s a one-time cost of $6,257 for installing the dispensers and branding. The 2023 annual expense to administer and implement the program is $10,950.

Council will review the future annual expense to run the program during 2024 Budget considerations.

A total of 20 dispensing units are being installed in five town-operated facilities and four parks. These dispensers will be in place by autumn this year.

Each dispensing unit costs $237.

Similar programs offering free menstrual products to combat “period poverty” run in Mississauga, Brampton, Toronto, London, St. Catharines, Guelph and Caledon.

The Upper Grand District School Board also enacted a free menstrual product program in 2021 under the direction of the Ministry of Education.

The idea to offer free menstrual products at town facilities was first brought forward during a regular council meeting on Feb. 27.

Coun. Tess Prendergast shared a notice of motion, directing town staff to prepare a feasibility report on offering free menstrual products within washrooms at municipal facilities.

That report came forward on April 17 and received council’s full support.


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