Public Loos

© 2009, Christian Cassidy

Last year, the issue of public washrooms, especially in the Main / Higgins / Logan area, became fairly big news when the city poo-poo'd the use of port-a-potties along the strip, (see here and here).

The issue is currently in limbo. In September 2008, "The city's standing policy committee on downtown development unanimously passed a motion Monday morning that asks for a report on the matter." CBC

Logan Ave ca. Dec 1967, Winnipeg Tribune Archives, PC18-6984-18-6055-004

The exact same is up for discussion in an Edmonton inner-city neighbourhood. After a "No bodily functions allowed" sign campaign last summer by a pastor of an inner city church, the city conducted a study and agreed that there is, indeed, a problem with access to public washrooms in his inner city neighbourhood. 

"Rev. James Holland said he often finds human excrement on and around the grounds of his Sacred Heart Church of First Peoples in the McCauley neighborhood. It's frustrating, but its hard to blame people, he said. The only public washroom in the area isn't open in the winter." CBC 

The report, which can be found in pdf here and an accompanying spreadsheet of public washrooms available isn't exactly groundbreaking. A list of possible solutions mentioned by stakeholders that will be discussed by the city and with stakeholders again:

- New permanent facilities

- Attendants

- Automated Public Toilets

- Changes to the zoning bylaw to create incentives for business to build and maintain a public washroom

- Better Signage

- Security personal at new and current facilities

- Strategically placed temporary facilities

- Closed Circuit Cameras monitoring the entrance of new and existing facilities

- Awareness and enforcement campaign

- Hygienically designed facilities

- Create notices for close washrooms to direct people to the nearest open facility

- Different solutions for different areas

- Different facilities for Street people and general public. It was stated that the facility for street people should provide an area to warm up.

- Fixed retractable urinals

- Composting toilets in high traffic areas

This week the issue goes back to the committee for discussion at Edmonton City Hall. I hope our folks pay attention as the issue here will again hit the fan soon.

Related: A great piece in WebUrbanist about neat public potty designs!

UPDATE: My column in the Winnipeg Free Press about the history of Winnipeg's public washrooms, or comfort stations.