Eliminating period poverty, one community at a time

Have you ever wanted to do something so badly, but something was holding you back? No matter how hard you tried, it just didn't pan out due to things beyond your control? Hang on to that memory for a moment, because that's exactly what period poverty feels like.

Period poverty is the lack of access to dependable, safe and affordable menstrual products. When we talk about period poverty forcing menstruators to miss out on things – we’re not just talking about them having to skip seeing Taylor Swift serenade sold-out crowds. They’re missing out on the essential stuff – like going to school or work, as well as other important life events.

Every absent day is one less opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. This is why Shoppers Drug Mart is committed to the vision of providing a #PeriodFriendlyWorld, with a goal of helping millions of Canadian menstruators reach their full potential.

How big of an issue is period poverty in Canada you ask? Much bigger than you probably think. In fact, 17% of Canadians who menstruate can’t access period care products – and that number increases even further to 25% for those in low-income households. It’s an even bigger issue throughout Canada’s remote Indigenous communities, where a staggering 74% of menstruators sometimes or always face issues accessing period products.

Since 2021, we have been working closely with our supplier partners such as Procter & Gamble (makers of Always), as well as governments of Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan on making period products more accessible. Through our charitable arm – the Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health^TM, has also committed an additional $500,000 to extend its partnership with Moon Time Connections – Canada’s only national Indigenous-led period equity organization.

So far, working together, we have committed to donating more than 60-million period care products to schools across Canada. By doing our part, we’ve not only helped increase attendance at work and school – we’ve also helped reduce stigma, improve self-esteem and confidence, and helped menstruators avoid health risks from using alternatives such as rags or socks in place of free, quality menstruation products.

Working to end period poverty and advance menstrual equity is not some ‘femi-nomenon’. We want to make sure that every menstruator in Canada has access to the products they need to truly live their best lives. Period.