Cindy Cheng, an employee of Osoyoos Delights Bakery, said the sign on the door of the restaurant which says “No washroom open to public” is put up over the summer months. While customers are welcome to use the facilities, the restaurant’s owners don’t want people coming in solely for that purpose because it means more cleaning for staff members. Photo by Laurena Weninger
OSOYOOS TIMES-September 16, 2009
By Laurena Weninger – Osoyoos Times
Each summer, some businesses in Osoyoos put up signs making it clear their washrooms are off limits to the general public.
“It’s always really rankled me,” said Barb Stephens, owner of Yore Movie Store on Main Street. “I abhor those signs. Being able to use a washroom is a human right. A basic human need.”
Stephens has a sign in her front window and it’s a clear indicator that the washroom is available to the public.
She said by opening up her bathroom to the public, it likely only costs her an extra $10 per year in toilet paper and she has never noticed a need for extra cleaning.
The issue of public access to private washrooms was brought up by Coun. Michael Ryan at Osoyoos town council’s meeting on Sept. 8.
He said there are some public washrooms in town – at Gyro Beach, primarily – but being a tourist community, there should be more.
“If you’re a senior or a parent with small children, it’s a long way to go to those facilities,” Ryan said.
He made a four-part motion at council, which was eventually abbreviated to three parts and unanimously agreed upon.
There is a public washroom at Osoyoos Town Hall and the Town will be putting up a sign in front of the building pointing out the location of the washroom around the side of the building.
The sign will include the hours when the washroom can be accessed.
The Town will also contact the South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce as well as downtown merchants, inviting them to make their washrooms available to the public.
Lastly, council has instructed Town staff to examine possible sites for the installation of public washrooms in the downtown area, possibly in conjunction with Town-owned parking lots or in partnership with an existing business.
Town staff plan to prepare cost estimates for the washroom concept to be brought forth to next year’s budget process.
One item that was originally in Ryan’s motion was removed.
That part of the motion was to send letters to Home Hardware and Yore Movie Store, commending them for their community mindedness, in allowing their washrooms to be open to the public.
That part was removed, because council thought it might not be a comprehensive list of businesses that do the same.
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