The City of Courtenay is upgrading staff and public washrooms to enhance access to basic needs, and to make washrooms more inclusive and welcoming.
Between 2025 and 2026, free tampons and pads will be available, and needle disposal units and new inclusive signage will be added to all City-operated washrooms. City facilities will also have at least one washroom with a baby change table available to everyone, regardless of gender.
Upgrades are being rolled out at major facilities and parks, including the Lewis Centre, Florence Filberg Centre, Native Son’s Hall, and Simms and Lewis parks, as well as in all staff washrooms.
Locations of City-operated washrooms with free menstrual products can be found on the Period Pin map. The map also shows other locations in Courtenay, across the Comox Valley and throughout Canada.
This initiative supports the City’s vision to be “a city for all people” and aligns with priorities in the Official Community Plan, including equity and community well-being.
Background
- April 12, 2023: Students from North Island College Students’ Union spoke to council about menstrual equity. (View the menstrual equity presentation.) They asked the City to provide free menstrual products and join the United Way’s Period Promise campaign.
- April 10, 2024: Council reviewed a report on the impact and cost of supplying pads and tampons, approved a pilot project in the washrooms of two public facilities and signed on to the Period Promise campaign.
- Feb 12, 2025: Council reviewed the pilot project results and approved expanding the program. This includes pads and tampons in all City washrooms, at least one baby change table in each City facility accessible to everyone regardless of gender, and updated inclusive signage.
Project phases
- Phase 1 (Summer 2024): Provided free tampons and pads in all washrooms at the Lewis Centre and The LINC Youth Centre. Assessed remaining City washrooms.
- Phase 2 (Summer 2025–Winter 2026): Expand access to free tampons and pads, baby change tables and needle disposal boxes in City washrooms.
- Phase 3 (Winter 2025–2026): Complete signage improvement updates
Frequently asked questions
Supporting documents
- North Island Student’s Union's menstrual equity presentation to council (April 12, 2023)
- Message from United Way of the Lower Mainland’s CEO (January, 2021)
- Staff report: Provision of free menstrual products and gender equity in City-operated washrooms (April 10, 2024)
- Government of Canada's Menstrual Equity Fund webpage (August 2025)
- Government of Canada news release: Canada Labour Code to ensure access to menstrual products at work starting December 15, 2023 (Government of Canada, August 2025)
- Period Promise Policy Agreement (United Way, August 2025)