THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay will continue offering free menstrual products at select municipal facilities, if city council endorses a recommendation from staff on Monday.
White dispensing units offering two types of free menstrual products were installed in October 2021 at the city's indoor pools and arenas, as well as three public library branches, after city council gave a pilot project the green light last year.
Franco Marchese, manager of facility services with the city, said the program had seen “very good uptake,” even if it fell short of initial expectations.
The pandemic meant many facilities were closed during parts of the pilot, he noted.
The city has spent just under $29,000 on the program so far, well below its anticipated budget of around $66,000 for the first year (much of that in one-time costs to purchase dispensers).
Based on usage rates so far, the city estimated replenishing products would cost it only around $100 a month, while the library would face a $25 a month cost.
“Based on the minimal cost and positive public feedback, administration recommends continuing the existing program and expanding into other municipally owned public facing facilities,” the staff report concluded.
Marchese indicated the city will look to shift dispensers from lesser used areas to new locations, with golf courses and city hall under consideration.
More locations could be added in the future.
“We don’t want to expand the program too quickly to incur higher costs, but I see the future possibly expanding further, for sure,” Marchese said.
A public survey conducted in May and June indicated strong support for the project.
Fully 90 per cent of respondents favoured making the pilot permanent, while around 80 per cent supported expanding it to other city facilities.
Thirty-one per cent of respondents to the survey had personally taken advantage of the program. Of those users, over three-quarters used dispensers at city pools or the library.
Coun. Shelby Ch'ng originally proposed the pilot in 2019, calling it a way to promote health equity.
Staff reported there was enough remaining product to run the program in 2023, and will make a recommendation for the 2024 budget based on usage numbers.
