Equity initiative increases access to menstrual care products at Laurier

March 30, 2022

A recent initiative is increasing equitable access to menstrual care products at Wilfrid Laurier University. 

Led by the Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group, the menstrual equity initiative provides access to free menstrual care products in select washrooms at Laurier’s Brantford and Waterloo campuses and the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work building in Kitchener. Pads and tampons are available from coin-free dispensing units installed in 14 gendered and gender-neutral washrooms. 

“Accessible menstrual products will help to meet the needs of menstruators on Laurier campuses and ensure they have the resources needed to participate in class, work and extracurricular activities comfortably,” says Hayley Newman-Petryshen (BA ’21) of Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group’s Board of Directors. 

The menstrual equity initiative is designed to be both environmentally friendly and equitable. 

In addition to the coin-free dispensing units installed in 14 washrooms, new menstrual product disposal units have been installed in all Laurier washrooms. Waste from the disposal units is collected weekly by an external vendor for transport to a waste-to-energy facility, thus diverting it from landfills.  

To protect the safety and well-being of trans and non-binary people using gendered men’s washroom locations, both the product dispenser and disposal unit are located inside accessible stalls.  

Laurier joins organizations across the education, corporate, community and government sectors working to improve access to menstrual care products. Campus collaborators on the project include the Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group, the Sustainability Office, Facilities and Asset Management, the Centre for Student Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, the Graduate Students' Association and the Students' Union. Laurier staff members, students and alumni also contributed to the project.  

The menstrual equity initiative is funded by the student affairs advisory committee and will be piloted through April 2023. For more information about the initiative and plans to expand access, visit the Laurier Students’ Public Interest Research Group website. 

Menstrual Product Dispenser Locations 

Waterloo campus: 

• Science Building: washroom across from the dean’s office 

• Library: gender-neutral washroom, main floor 

• Martin Luther University College: gender-neutral washroom, main floor 

• Fred Nichols Campus Centre: gender-neutral washroom, second floor (24 Lounge) 

• Bricker Academic Building: men’s and women’s washrooms, first floor 

• Arts Building: gender-neutral washroom, second floor 

• Peters Building: gender-neutral washroom, first floor, by Frank’s Coffee Haus 

• Lazaridis School: women’s washroom, gender-neutral washroom, first floor 

• Athletic Complex: gender-neutral washroom, downstairs along the Kinesiology corridor 

• Faculty of Social Work (Kitchener): gender-neutral washroom, second floor 


Brantford campus: 

• Grand River Hall: men’s and women’s washrooms, first floor 

• One Market: gender-neutral washrooms by the lounge area 

• Research Academic Centre West: men’s and women’s washrooms, basement 

• Student Centre: men’s and women’s washrooms, first floor