Dignity
We believe that menstruation should be understood and respected.
Who We Are
Learn about the people, partners, and story behind The Period Purse. Together, we work to advance menstrual equity through education, advocacy, and access to free period products across Canada.
Vision
A future where a period is simply a period.
Mission
To ensure periods are understood, products of choice are universally accessible, and period-friendly policies are just as common as periods.
Our Why
We believe that a period should never limit someone’s dignity, health, opportunity, or confidence. That’s why we work to eliminate period poverty, end stigma, and create a Canada where every menstruator has products, education, and respect — period.
Values
Positivity
We are committed to taking positive action to end the discriminatory stigma associated with menstruation.
Access
We believe that having reliable access to a diverse range of high-quality period products is a fundamental right for all who menstruate.
Dedication
As a collective, and with our partners in the community, we are determined to pursue all ways of effecting positive change for all people who menstruate, for generations to come.
Our Story
A Dream of One Purse
In 2017, teacher and mother Jana Girdauskas had a lightbulb moment after meeting a person experiencing homelessness and wondering how they managed their period. She decided to keep a purse filled with period products in her car for the next time she met someone in need.
Missing a bag, she asked her local Facebook group for a spare purse. Within three weeks, she received 350 purses filled with donated products and was featured in local media. The Period Purse was born, sparking a menstrual movement across Canada.
In 2019, The Period Purse became Canada’s first registered charity dedicated to menstrual equity. Today, the organization donates thousands of period products each month, provides education to reduce stigma, and advocates for long-lasting policy change at all levels of government.
Team
Meet our staff and Board of Directors.
Partners
Meet the partners and community groups that make our work possible.
Annual Reports
Read our annual reports to learn more about our impact and growth.
