By Doug Collins

Gender-neutral washroom opens in Riverside Park

Jul 16, 2016 | 12:55 PM

KAMLOOPS —  It’s being billed as a universally accessible, gender-neutral washroom with all the modern conveniences you could ask for.

Mayor Peter Milobar and MP Cathy McLeod officiated Friday at the official opening of the new facility, located at Heritage House in Riverside Park. It’s a lot of money for a toilet, but what it provides is a facility that is family-friendly, and useable by all genders. The cost to build the facility was $120,000. $50,000 of that money came from the federal government’s Enabling Accessibility Fund, which provides funds to improve accessibility for communities across the country. 

In a news release, the City says the washroom provides greater access and engagement for citizens, lowering barriers to participation and access to park amenities. 

The release says gender-neutral washrooms benefit people who are uncomfortable in men’s or women’s washrooms for many reasons. They also support parents and caregivers whose children are of a different gender from them. 

Aside from a family change table, the washroom has two sinks, designed to accommodate people of all abilities, signage including Braille, an automatic door, a space designed to provide wheelchair users ease of navigation, and a secure needle disposal container. 

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