Permanent public washroom now open on Alberta Avenue
Facility provides more access and local jobs
On July 12, the permanent public washroom next to the Alberta Avenue Community Centre officially opened. The facility, run by staff provided by The Alberta Avenue Business Association, will be open 12 hours a day and may extend their hours during the summer months to support community and outdoor activities. The washroom is funded by the City of Edmonton as part of Edmonton’s Public Washroom strategy to help create accessible bathrooms for everyone.
“For the last few years, we haven't had public washrooms. It's been difficult because you have people coming in wanting to use the washroom, and you want to provide access because it seems like a basic human dignity thing,” states Amanda Nielson, co-owner and office manager of Norwood Dental Centre.
Nielsen and her partner have had issues in the past with people using their washroom and clearing out all of their amenities, or locking themselves in the washroom. Nielsen says, “You want to give people access, but you also have to take care of your patients and the people visiting your business.”
Local residents and community members are part of the new public washroom staff. The Alberta Avenue Business Association actively works with each staff member to see where they want to go professionally, or specifically with this job. Shift work is about four and a half hours and cycles throughout the day. It is a flexible opportunity that works for people who are in retirement or taking classes.
“We think it’s very important to provide job opportunities to our local neighbours who want to feel connected to the Avenue, and be proud of the facilities and public spaces that we have in here,” says Erick Estrada, executive director of the Alberta Avenue Business Association. “We’re working with our city partners to continue improving the space and finding other ways we can hire more neighbours to look after our community.”
The public washroom not only helps people who are unhoused, but it also serves community members and other people visiting the Avenue. "It benefits everyone including playground users, festival goers, transit riders and unhoused people. And it takes the pressure off our busy community centre," says Karen Mykietka, facility manager of the Alberta Avenue Community Centre..
“It's accessible and then everyone will be able to feel comfortable,” adds Nielson. “My kids also go to the [Alberta Avenue] park and, even just as a mom, [you want to have] a place where you can bring your little kids. I have a two-year-old who's thinking about potty training.”
A solution to a growing problem in public spaces
The lack of publicly accessible washrooms has proven to be a large issue in the past. Local residents and businesses have had issues with people defecating and urinating on private property and in public places. Businesses regularly have to clean their front and back entrances due to people using that space as a washroom. Members of the Alberta Avenue Community Centre’s staff once witnessed someone defecating in front of the lounge window during a board meeting.
"We have all sorts of people coming to the community centre seeking to use a bathroom,"
says Mykietka. "When staff answer the door, we try to accommodate but it takes time and oversight. More often than not, the building is either privately rented or completely closed."
The Public Washroom Strategy is a multi-step strategy to provide the city of Edmonton with access to public washrooms and includes the Public Washrooms Accessibility Grant. The grant helps improve washroom accessibility for Edmontonians and helps curb the costs of providing and managing washrooms that allow non-paying patrons to use.
In 2021, Edmonton City Council approved the design and delivery of two additional public washrooms: Alberta Avenue and Kinistinâw Park. As part of the design of these bathrooms, they also feature art on the outside. Clay Lowe is the artist who has done the artwork for both public washrooms.
“The design of the facilities has been extensive and thoughtful,” explains Samson Awopeju, Program Manager, Citywide Public Washrooms Strategy. . “The inclusion of artwork was part of the design from the beginning.” The bathrooms feature vandal-resistant finishings and exterior lighting for increased security and visibility. Their accessible design includes braille and doors with muted colours compared to the rest of the building, so the actual bathrooms are easily identified.
Currently, there are many mobile public washrooms available throughout the city. They are staffed by Boyle Street Ventures (Hire Good) washroom attendants to help with maintenance and ensure a positive experience. Additionally, the two washrooms that open throughout the winter are the Bissell Centre East (10523 96 St.) and Hygiene Hub (10635 96 St.). The Hygiene Hub has washroom, showers, laundry facilities, and is usually open 24 hours a day. The City of Edmonton also provides a search bar for locations and hours for public washrooms throughout the city.