Public washroom pilot project open in downtown Red Deer

City council approved the pilot in March at a cost of $20,000.

In 2022, with a $45,000 price tag, The City will install the trailer-style washrooms in various locations with the goal of assessing which may work best for something permanent. A decision on something permanent could be made as early as the 2023 budget — so late 2022.

“The focus of these washrooms is for general public use and in particular to welcome individuals back downtown, as well as be a support to our businesses which weren’t and still aren’t able to offer their washrooms for public use during the pandemic,” says Bobby-Jo Stannard, Superintendent of Community Development, City of Red Deer. “It’s certainly open to the entire public, but the main focus is to support people coming back down.”

The washrooms are not gender-neutral, but other publicly accessible loos are located within the DBA office, notes Stannard.

The portable washroom is also staffed by the DBA and is well maintained.

Amanda Gould, DBA Executive Director, is happy to see the pilot project take off.

“I’m very optimistic it’ll be a worthwhile project. We often hear from people using the Ross Street Patio, or at the market and other downtown events that they are in search of washrooms,” Gould says. “We haven’t heard feedback from any businesses yet, but one person did tell me they aren’t happy with the current location.”

Thus far, only one instance of vandalism has taken place related to the trailer, on its first night when graffiti was spray-painted on the exterior.

Meantime, discussion continues about providing more accessible washrooms to the city’s most vulnerable.

The 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours don’t lend themselves to helping people who are experiencing homelessness, who mostly struggle to find facilities overnight.

Kath Hoffman, Executive Director at Safe Harbour Society, believes more washrooms is always going to be a good idea, but questions if this truly addresses the greater need.

“At first, my thought was that it’s just another temporary thing where we maybe haven’t thought it all out. We know we need it, we implement this temporary solution, but like many temporary solutions, they don’t answer the whole need or consider everything,” says Hoffman. “Other cities have done some really creative and innovative things to have public washrooms that are welcoming to everyone, are clean and supervised.”

Hoffman points to Victoria, B.C. where public standalone restrooms are the norm, and where one even received the award for Canada’s best bathroom in 2012.

“This is a good step for sure, but just like the shelter and its temporary status, if you don’t build it right, be ready for it to not work. But then the idea may be to discard it again, rather than doing something that’ll fit everybody a bit better,” Hoffman says.

“Just remember, we’re all human, just in different states. I think this is a great opportunity to have relationships built where they would not have been before. When we have two populations potentially coming together in this space, it’s not automatically bad. It could be wonderful actually.”

by Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Public washroom pilot project open in downtown Red Deer

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