Our Story

We started as a student club at the University of British Columbia and have grown to become a national, non-profit in Canada

Our founder, Zeba, came across a video about the challenges many people with periods face due to period poverty and decided to take action. Niki Oveisi and Imad Ahmad joined her as founding members of FPC. Each of them began collecting and distributing period supplies to shelters and transitional homes in Vancouver, such as The Bloom Group, Nisa Homes & Atira Society.
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Since then, Free Periods Canada has grown exponentially. We have produced impactful research results, educated and connected over 400 people through workshops and conferences, distributed 20,000 period supplies to those in need, and worked with UBC to make period supplies free and accessible for students of the Vancouver campus. Most recently, we created and launched a digital web app called CHARMS, where individuals can talk about all things periods and stay connected with the menstrual advocacy community.
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Our History

2016

Our journey began as a student club at the University of British Columbia

2018

We organized the first provincial conference on menstrual equity

2019

We registered as a non-profit society in BC, and rebranded to 'Free Periods Canada'

2021

We launched our digital platform, CHARMS

2023

We received funding from Women and Gender Equality Canada to scale the ME101 program

Our Vision

We envision a Canada where menstrual health is accessible for all

We conduct research to inform and support advocacy work for menstrual equity, connect people and advocacy organizations together to build community, and provide those in need with period supplies to work towards menstrual equity and an end to period poverty.

Our Values

Our mission to make menstrual health accessible for all is driven by our core values

Empathy

As a growing non-profit, we are continuously exploring how we can best contribute to the menstrual equity movement in Canada. We are not afraid to adopt new ideas or take on unique opportunities to make change. This allows us to break barriers and take action towards our cause with no limitations.

Responsibility

We strive to create a work environment where each team member feels a sense of autonomy and pride over their work. We appreciate and respect the unique perspectives each team member brings to the work we do, and recognize that shared leadership creates a strong, healthy, and hard working team.

Care & Service

Many of our team members are first and second generation immigrants. We value building a community of diverse individuals so they can contribute their unique experiences and perspectives to the work we do. The more diverse our team is, the more we can understand the menstrual equity needs of diverse communities across Canada.

Accessibility

We take responsibility over everything we do. We are self-starters, problem solvers, and put our all into every task we take on. We do not pass on opportunities to improve, and we own every move we make with honesty and integrity. We own our role in making Canada better for people with periods.

Territorial Acknowledgement

As settlers on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, or Tsleil-Waututh peoples, we would like to express our gratitude to the inhabitants of this land who have lived and cared for this land since time immemorial.

We acknowledge our privilege as settlers on this land and our collective responsibility to learn about the histories of colonization that have given us certain privileges that have been removed from the traditional peoples of this territory through acts of violence and legislation, including the Robinson and Douglas Treaties. Free Periods Canada acknowledges that we are all treaty peoples including those who came here as settlers and as migrants, either in this generation or in generations past, and those who came here involuntarily, particularly as a result of the transatlantic slave trade.

We acknowledge the history and events that have occurred to allow us to gather today, and we must dedicate ourselves to reconcile with and advocate for those who have and continue to be harmed, especially to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous women, girls, children and two-spirited people who continue to be disproportionately impacted by colonial violence.