
The Period Purse Launches National Campaign to Make Menstrual Health a Year-Round Priority
TORONTO, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - To mark the 11th year of Menstrual Health Day (MH Day) on May 28, 2025, The Period Purse, a leading charity committed to eradicating period poverty, is proud to announce the launch of the Menstrual Health Day is Every Day Campaign. Running until June 2025, the campaign aims to raise funds to provide menstrual products for those in need and educate Canadians on the topic of menstrual health and menstrual equity.
Menstruating with dignity is a barrier faced by menstruators across Canada. According to a 2023 survey, 1 in 6 Canadian menstruators have personally experienced period poverty. Only 46% of Canadians are comfortable talking about periods (Plan International Canada, 2020). The Period Purse strives to create menstrual equity by ensuring sustainable access to period products for everyone and ending the stigmas associated with periods through education and advocacy.
MH Day, celebrated globally on May 28, serves as a platform to advocate for menstrual equity and challenge stigmas associated with periods. Menstrual equity isn't something we talk about once a year and then forget. It's something we build every single day, and The Period Purse is asking folks to support by:
Say the word period in a way that is most comfortable for you. At school, at work, around the dinner table, it might feel uncomfortable at first, but breaking the silence is the first step to ending the stigma.
Create spaces where menstruators feel seen and supported- schools or workplaces having free products in the washrooms, for example.
Show up in your community. Work with your neighbours, coworkers or friends to collect period products to support your local food bank, or donate directly to our cause.
To recognize MH Day this year, 61 monuments will be lit up red (including the CN Tower), 18 flags raised, and 46 cities will be making proclamations to raise awareness about menstrual health and period poverty–full list HERE.
A flag will be raised at 9 am EST at Mississauga City Hall, as well as 9 am ADT at the Grand Parade, Halifax, and 9:30 am EST at City Hall in Toronto. For more information on the Menstrual Health Day is Every Day campaign, visit The Period Purse or follow @theperiodpurse on social media. High-quality images and videos of past initiatives and campaign materials can be viewed HERE.
About The Period Purse
Founded in 2017, The Period Purse is dedicated to ensuring access to period products for all, regardless of financial circumstances. Over the years, the organization has supported thousands of menstruators monthly and donated over six million period products. Additionally, they have educated over 11,000 Canadians about menstrual health to ensure access to period products for all.
About Menstrual Health Day (MH Day)
Celebrated globally on May 28 and initiated by German non-profit WASH United in 2014, Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global advocacy platform that brings together over 1000 partner organizations working to break the silence and raise awareness around menstrual health and catalyze action towards a world without period poverty and stigma. The date of May 28 represents the average duration of a menstrual cycle (28 days) with five days of bleeding on average.
* The Period Purse uses the term "Health" instead of "Hygiene" to encompass the important work that's being done in period education, the fight for period equity, and advocacy for lasting policy change. In alliance with other partnering organizations, we are united in calling this important day MH Day.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Cision Canada
16 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Protecting Canada's livestock industry with a new vaccine bank Français
OTTAWA ON, /CNW/ - Canada is making significant progress towards the creation of a dedicated foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank, which will build on existing protections for the livestock industry and equip producers with another tool to control and eliminate the disease should an outbreak occur. Following a competitive procurement process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, awarded contracts to Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Biogénesis Bagó SA to supply multiple types of vaccine products and develop Canada's first FMD vaccine bank. This FMD vaccine bank complements Canada's current access to vaccines through the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank, ensuring readily available vaccines for Canadian producers. FMD is a highly contagious and severe disease that affects cattle, sheep, swine, and other cloven-hoofed animals. An FMD infection can cause painful blisters that make it hard for animals to eat, walk, and produce milk, leaving them weak and sick. Preparedness efforts, including building a Canadian FMD vaccine bank, are key to protecting Canadian animals and agriculture. Having a ready supply of FMD emergency vaccines will strengthen our ability to respond effectively to an outbreak should one occur. It could also reduce the number of cases and the duration of the outbreaks. Collaboration between Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments along with stakeholders plays a key role in Canada's FMD prevention and preparedness plans. These efforts, combined with Canada's existing strict import requirements, on-farm biosecurity measures, and disease surveillance, continue to protect the health of Canadian animals and the economic prosperity of our producers and farming communities. Quotes "Today's announcement highlights our continued commitment to enhancing Canada's animal disease preparedness and prevention plans. Securing our own supply of FMD emergency vaccines will not only help reduce the spread during a potential outbreak but also help protect the livelihood of Canadian farmers by minimizing the impact on international trade." -Paul MacKinnon, President, Canadian Food Inspection Agency "Establishing a dedicated FMD vaccine bank is a vital tool in safeguarding the health of our livestock, market access and the future of our industry. CFIA's announcement marks a key milestone towards our shared goal of strengthening Canada's preparedness against the threat of foot-and-mouth disease. We will continue to work with governments and stakeholders to ensure Canada has a robust emergency preparedness and prevention strategy against FMD." -Tyler Fulton, President, Canadian Cattle Association "The FMD vaccine bank is an important investment in protecting Canadian livestock and livestock producers from this disease. The federal government's support is further proof the cooperative relationship between government and industry in Canada works for producers and processors from coast to coast. We look forward to continuing this partnership on other challenges together." - René Roy, Chair, Canadian Pork Council "Today's announcement is a welcome and pivotal step towards enhancing existing industry defenses, offering producers another critical tool to minimize the impact and return Canada back to 'FMD-free' status in the event of an outbreak. This is vital for protecting animal health and farm sustainability, contributing to a safe, reliable, and consistent food supply for Canadians." -David Wiens, President, Dairy Farmers of Canada Quick Facts Budget 2023 committed $57.5 million over five years, with $5.6 million ongoing, to the CFIA to establish an FMD vaccine bank for Canada, and to further develop FMD response plans. FMD is considered one of the greatest economic threats to Canadian animal agriculture and the economic impacts in Canada are estimated to between $22B and $75B (in 2025 CAD) depending on the mode of introduction and extent of spread. Canada has been free from FMD since 1952, and strict measures are in place to prevent the disease from entering Canada. FMD is not a public health risk and is not considered a food safety issue. Public Services and Procurement Canada led an open, fair and transparent competitive procurement process to establish the contract for the FMD vaccine bank. Information about the solicitation is available on CanadaBuys. Each day, hard-working CFIA employees—including inspectors, veterinarians and scientists—inspect food for safety risks, protect plants from pests and invasive species, and respond to animal diseases that could threaten Canada's national herd and human health. Guided by science-based decision-making and modern regulations, the Agency works tirelessly to ensure access to safe and healthy food in Canada, and support access to international markets for our high-quality agricultural products. To learn more, visit


Cision Canada
20 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Canada Health Infoway Launches AI Scribe Program: Enrollment Now Open for Primary Care Clinicians Français
TORONTO, June 10, 2025 /CNW/ - Canada Health Infoway ("Infoway") is proud to announce the official launch of the AI Scribe Program, a national initiative designed to reduce administrative burden, improve documentation workflows, and support more connected, patient-centered care through the power of artificial intelligence. Enrollment is now open for eligible primary care clinicians across Canada. The program provides up to 10,000 fully funded, one-year licenses for AI-powered documentation tools to support eligible primary care clinicians in delivering more efficient and focused care. Eligible clinicians include family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses in remote communities, and pediatricians providing longitudinal, community-based care. These innovative tools help automate time-consuming tasks such as clinical note-taking, appointment preparation, and follow-up documentation, giving clinicians more time to focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality, patient-centered care. "The launch of the AI Scribe Program represents a powerful step forward for Canada's healthcare system," said Abhi Kalra, Executive Vice President of Connected Care at Canada Health Infoway. "By enabling clinicians to access AI-powered tools that reduce documentation time, we're not only improving their day-to-day experience, but we're also laying the groundwork for better data quality, improved patient outcomes, and a more connected care journey. AI scribes are just the beginning, and getting this right is key to building a stronger, smarter, and more sustainable health system for the future." Eligible primary care clinicians can now begin the registration process by visiting Infoway's national AI Scribe Program website, selecting their province or territory to determine eligibility and access to the tools available in their area. Program implementation is delivered in close collaboration with provinces and territories, with availability, access, and execution varying by jurisdiction. This ensures the program supports the realities of care delivery across Canada while maintaining alignment with national goals. Announced in May 2025, a pre-qualified group of trusted vendors is available through the program, selected through a rigorous national procurement process based on their ability to meet national standards and unique regional needs, support secure data sharing, meet clinical practice requirements, and align with the Shared Pan-Canadian Interoperability Roadmap. The AI Scribe Program supports not only the introduction of a transformative digital solution, but it also signals a broader shift in how Canada equips clinicians with the technology they need to reduce administrative burden, streamline documentation, and deliver more connected, sustainable care. If you are a primary care clinician interested in learning more or participating, visit: A Pathway for AI in Clinical Workflows The AI Scribe Program is the first step in a broader effort to integrate similar technologies into Canada's healthcare system. The AI Scribe Program introduces a maturity model that supports a structured framework for advancing interoperability, progressively enhancing AI scribes' integration with digital health systems. It defines a clear vision for improving data quality and interoperability by aligning AI scribe adoption with pan-Canadian standards, ensuring these tools seamlessly connect within the broader health ecosystem. Future phases aim to explore scalability, incorporate discrete data elements coded to national terminologies, and AI-assisted decision support, ensuring AI-powered tools remain trusted, secure, and effective for Canadian clinicians now and into the future. To learn more about the national AI Scribe Program, please visit us here. If you have questions, please contact us at: [email protected] About Canada Health Infoway At Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) we believe a more connected and collaborative system is a healthier system, and one that leads to better health outcomes for all Canadians. By leveraging digital technologies and innovations, we're working with governments, healthcare organizations, clinicians, and patients to advance connected care across the country. This improves care coordination, empowers patients to have a more active role in managing their health, and equips care providers with information and insights to support better care both at the point of care and throughout their patients' health journey. Most importantly, it modernizes our health care system towards a future with patient-centered care at its heart. We're an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government and accountable to our Board of Directors and Members of the Corporation (Canada's 14 federal, provincial and territorial deputy ministers of health). Infoway is led by a team of seasoned professionals who are specialists in their respective fields, including health care, administration, information technology and privacy. Visit us online at MEDIA INQUIRIES Haley Armstrong Senior Director, Communications and Public Relations Canada Health Infoway 519-939-9549

21 hours ago
Dentists praise Canadian Dental Care program, but also express concern over influx of new patients
A northern Ontario dentist says the Canadian Dental Care Plan has generally been positive, but he worries it could cause issues meeting higher demand for dental care over the long term. In June, eligible Canadians between the ages of 18 and 64 can start receiving dental coverage under the plan. Dr. Thomas Detert, a dental surgeon based in Blind River, said the dental plan is bringing in patients who haven't been to a dentist's office in years. Some of them are like over 10 or 15 years because when they retired, they lost their benefits, he said. In some cases, Detert said those patients had good oral hygiene habits and didn't need significant dental care. But in other cases, they put off going to the dentist until they were in serious pain, and needed significant work. While the program has benefited those people, Detert said there's a risk demand for dental care could outstrip the ability of dentists and other oral health professionals to meet it. Much like our socialized medicine in Canada, without proper prevention and education, the demand [has] outstripped any amount of supply that can be thrown at it. And that's what I'm afraid of for socialized dentistry, he said. Around 3.6 million Canadians have been approved by the Canadian Dental Care Plan and around 1.9 million people received care through the plan, as of April. Dr. Jerry Smith, a dentist from Thunder Bay, Ont., and the past president of the Ontario Dental Association, said another 4.5 million Canadians could qualify for the plan with the cohort of people between the ages of 18 and 64. Smith agreed the plan has been positive for people who might not be able to afford dental care otherwise. But he worries a shortage of dental hygienists and assistants will make it challenging for dentists to properly serve an influx of new patients. In Ontario alone, there is a shortage of about 3,400 dental assistants and about 5,500 dental hygienists, he said, quoting figures from a 2022 analysis conducted by the Ontario Dental Association. The Canadian Dental Association estimates that with the increase in patients from the Canadian Dental Care Plan, Canada will need an additional 2,300 dental assistants and over 1,500 dental hygienists in 2025. The numbers from the Ontario Dental Association reference its estimates for the total shortage in the province. In a statement to CBC News Marg Harrington, the CEO of the Ontario Dental Hygienists' Association, said that while some dental practices might struggle attracting dental hygienists, the narrative of a provincewide shortage is inaccurate. The fact is there are more dental hygienists in Ontario than ever before, Harrington said. Registration data from the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario show a steady increase over the past few years in the number of dental hygienists registered in Ontario. Harrington said that research published last month in the BMC Oral Health journal showed that Ontario had 97 registered dental hygienists per 100,000 population in 2023, which is substantially higher than other provinces. Jonathan Migneault (new window) · CBC News