2024 Annual Report

Menstrual and gender equity in City facilities In 2024, the City took steps to support menstrual and gender equity by installing menstrual product dispensers and providing free menstrual products in washrooms at the Lewis Centre and LINC Youth Centre. This pilot project aimed to assess usage and cost, with a long-term goal of expanding the program across additional City-operated facilities. During the same period, the City conducted a comprehensive review of all City-operated washrooms to evaluate equitable access to basic necessities, including:

Age-friendly Grant for Accessibility audit In 2022, grant funding was awarded to the City through BC Healthy Communities' Age-Friendly Communities program. The funds are being used to support accessibility audits of key public open spaces and multi-modal transportation networks within Courtenay’s new growth centres. Audits continued in 2024, and a report will be presented to the public and Council in 2025. City staff are collaborating with the Social Planning and Research Council of B.C. and the Comox Valley Social Planning Society on this initiative. Provide accessibility input and feedback via an online form available at www.courtenay.ca/accessibility In 2023, the City of Courtenay established a Community Development Coordinator position to strengthen social resilience and well-being across the community. A key focus of this role is the development of a long term, integrated Community and Social Development (CSD) framework and action plan. This initiative aims to define Courtenay’s approach to social well being, fostering collaborative solutions that address community needs and opportunities. The framework will be guided by an asset-based community development and health promotion approach as outlined in the Official Community Plan, and will be implemented through two distinct strategies: • The Better Together Strategy: Strengthening partnerships with the community and social development sector to identify assets and enhance coordinated, proactive initiatives that support social well-being. • The Neighbourhood Network Strategy: Establishing neighbourhood-based networks that encourage connection, collaboration and local engagement within Courtenay. The CSD framework will be developed based on real world application and community feedback. Over the next two years, these strategies will be implemented and evaluated, forming the foundation of a long-term action plan for Courtenay. Advancing community and social well-being development initiatives

Social infrastructure

• menstrual products • baby change tables • needle disposal units • inclusive and gender-equitable signage

In support of this initiative, the City became a signatory of the United Way British Columbia’s Period Promise campaign, joining other municipalities, school districts and community organizations. Menstrual equity ensures that all individuals who menstruate have equal access to the resources they need to manage their health and dignity, regardless of socioeconomic status, gender identity or geographic location. It extends beyond being a women's issue, impacting families and caregivers of anyone who menstruates. Lack of access to products prevents people who are menstruating from attending work and school, and from fully participating in community and family life. The provision of equitable access to menstrual products in City-operated washrooms will give people more freedom to engage with, benefit from and contribute to the public life and the well-being of their communities.

Menstrual products for City facilities

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City of Courtenay | 2024 Annual Report