Report highlights concerns with Winnipeg's planned public washroom downtown
There are concerns around a new permanent public washroom set to open in downtown Winnipeg early next year.
The facility on Main Street is expected to open by February, offering vulnerable populations and other residents access to a safe space to use the washroom in the city's core.
But a new report to the city's Protection, Community Services and Parks committee highlights problems temporary washrooms throughout the city have endured over the past 16 months including vandalism, fire damage, and theft.
To reduce potential issues at the permanent facility, the report addresses the need for on-site staff with backgrounds in peer support and experience in harm reduction.
The report suggests the washroom operate on a 24-7 basis but currently, there's only enough funding for a 12-hour model.
"What we want to do is, we want to move toward having the facilities open as long as possible, having them as vandal-resistant as possible, and having people who are operating the washroom there to help," said Wins Bridgman, an architect and co-director of Bridgman Collaborative Architecture Ltd.
Bridgman said 24-hour access is important, but he recognizes it may need to happen in incremental steps.
"There's a lot of people at the corner of Henry and Main who are living in areas on the street who will need washrooms 24/7, so we should be able to provide washrooms 24/7," Bridgman said.
"However, 12 hours a day is a really good first step."
The city's proposed 2022 budget includes $250,000 for permanent washroom operations covering 12-hour staffing costs and facility maintenance.
Councillor Sherri Rollins, head of the committee, said she will continue to push for further funding because access to washrooms is a basic human right.
-with files from CTV's Daniel Halmarson
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.
Putin begins his fifth term as president, more in control of Russia than ever
Vladimir Putin began his fifth term Tuesday as Russian leader at a glittering Kremlin inauguration, setting out on another six years in office after destroying his political opponents, launching a devastating war in Ukraine and concentrating all power in his hands.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.