March 6, 2023
Waterloo School of Pharmacy is changing the flow
New partnership with an alum founded organization is making period products more accessible
Around the world it is estimated that 1.8 billion people menstruate every month according to UNICEF. Yet menstrual equality, period poverty and the stigma surrounding periods continues to create barriers for those who bleed.
The University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy has partnered with Changing the Flow, an organization that provides a period inclusion program through a subscription model-based box, to provide menstrual products for their students, faculty and staff.
Changing the Flow was co-founded by Waterloo alum Kate Elliott (MA ’20) and Kevin Hiebert. They first volunteered together to collect period products from the community and donated them to local organizations who help marginalized communities. Their period inclusion boxes are the next step to helping those who may not have access to menstrual products.
Kevin Hieber, co-founder of Changing the Flow
“Partnering with the School of Pharmacy has been a great experience. For us it validates our program and the importance of providing menstrual products to the broader post-secondary world,” Hiebert says.
Joy Harris, administrative co-ordinator in Centre for Work-Integrated Learning (WIL), was the first to bring Changing the Flow to the University.
“Working closely with students, I am aware of the financial struggles many experience — having to make the choice between tampons or a meal is something no one should have to do,” Harris says.
Students at the School express that having menstrual products available to them for free in the bathrooms makes them feel reassured and cared for. 
“There have been several times where I forgot to bring my own supply of menstrual products to school. Without these products being provided in the bathrooms, it would have been very uncomfortable and stressful. All in all, I am very thankful for the School of Pharmacy decision to include these products in the bathrooms," says a current student.
The School of Pharmacy building was designed with single-person washrooms on most of its floors. Its senior leadership recognized that funding the cost of menstrual products in all bathrooms is important to the well-being of all members of the School.
Learn more about Changing the Flow.
