During my time as a student, I remember how stressful it could be when menstrual products were not immediately available during the school day. Worrying about leaks or visible stains made it difficult to focus in class. No student should have to deal with that while trying to learn.

Menstrual products are a basic necessity, yet many students across Calgary’s junior high and high schools may still face barriers in accessing them during the school day. While some schools may provide menstrual products through donations or local initiatives, there is currently no standardized policy ensuring that all students have consistent and reliable access across schools.

This lack of consistency means that access to menstrual products can depend on the individual school a student attends. Without a clear policy, some students may still experience stress, embarrassment, or even miss class when they do not have the products they need.

Other places in Canada have already taken steps to address this issue. In British Columbia, the government introduced a province-wide policy requiring public schools to provide free menstrual products in school washrooms.

We are calling on Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic School District to implement a standardized policy ensuring that free menstrual products are available in all junior high and high school washrooms.

Providing these products would help create a more supportive and inclusive learning environment so that students can focus on their education without unnecessary stress.

Please sign this petition to support equitable access to menstrual products for students in Calgary schools.