The Guelph Lab, a collaboration of The College of Social and Applied Human Sciences, University of Guelph and the City of Guelph, is working with the university’s Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics to identify areas in the city without public washroom access so that facilities can be considered for the future.
Guelph Lab facilitator Sam Laban says the study reflects the need to consider inclusion and equity in how the city delivers programs and services. The goal is to make recommendations to improve access to public washrooms in the city for everyone. Those include washrooms in parks, libraries, community centres and at city hall.
“One of the motivations behind this project was in response to the clean-up required in and around the downtown when people don’t have a place to go,” Laban said. “If they don’t have a place to go, then they have to find other places outside, on the street, in alley ways, green spaces or front yards.” The project is partly in response to feedback from businesses and organizations as well as from city staff.
