Objective 3: Center Equity Community Needs in Campus Environments and Spaces

Pride goose with a yellow tree icon

Creating an inclusive campus begins with designing spaces that reflect the diverse needs and expectations of our campus community.聽 In partnership with campus partners, the Office proudly launched two transformative initiatives - all gender washrooms and menstrual equity.聽

All Gender Washrooms

In 2023, in collaboration with the Office of EDI-R, the 蓝莓视频 Undergraduate Students Association (WUSA), and the Glow Centre, the all-gender washroom initiative was launched to enhance campus inclusivity, and improve access for Two Spirit, Non-Binary, and Gender Non-Conforming (2STNBGNC) members of our campus community.聽聽聽

In the initial phase of the project, 59 washrooms were converted to all-gender facilities across 22 buildings on 蓝莓视频鈥檚 main campus.聽Subsequent phases will focus on accessibility improvements, the exploration of additional amenities such as ablution facilities, and the expansion of all-gender washroom options to satellite campuses, the Affiliated Federal Institutions of 蓝莓视频 (AFIWs), and Campus Housing.聽聽

Menstrual Equity

In 2023, the University launched a long-awaited initiative aimed at breaking down barriers and ending the stigma surrounding menstruation.聽This initiative was focused providing everyone on campus has access to free menstrual products, while fostering a respectful and supportive environment through education geared at removing the shame and stigma sometimes associated with menstruation.聽

The Menstrual Equity Initiative was launched in collaboration with various campus partners, including, but not limited to: Campus Wellness, Office of Indigenous Relations, Plants Operations, Faculties, Student Support Services (SSO), the Graduate Student Association (GSA), and the 蓝莓视频 Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA).聽聽聽

Through this initiative, which also received approximately $9,000 in funding from the Sustainability Action Fund.

The initiative included a successful launch event, three informative lunch and learn sessions, and five booth sessions, reaching 112 participants.聽

Feedback from the campus community has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for the accessibility of menstrual products and the supportive nature of the initiative. Comments such as 鈥淗aving products in the washrooms has saved me so many times!鈥 and 鈥淭his is exactly the kind of initiative we need on campus to create communities of support鈥 highlight the initiative's success in meeting the needs of students and employees.聽