Port-a-Potty Peek A Boo!

Porta-potties 
(wikipedia photo)

We've gone almost two months now since City Council first made note of a plan locally to roll out some porta-potty and hand washing locations around the city.

But so far, if those facilities have been put in place, no one has shared the locations or background information on the project, nor hosted any grand opening, so to speak.

We made note of the city's update on the situation back in May, shortly after the homeless shelter had moved from Third Avenue to Fisherman's Hall on Fraser.

The move served to bring the topic of the homeless back to the discussion table at City Hall, with both Councillor Nick Adey and Councillor Barry Cunningham addressing a number of themes towards services for the city's most vulnerable residents.

At that time, Councillor Cunningham had observed that some local organizations were working with Service Canada towards the mobile sites, which as he had noted were to be located on provincial and private land.

"There is plans in the works right now for anywhere from four to six port-a-potties  and hand washing stations throughout the downtown area. It's just all coming together now in the next week or two ...  the organizations that have been working for this for awhile are the ones that are going to be sort of spearheading this along with Service Canada." -- Councillor Barry Cunningham

So far however, the quest for a place of relief and proper hand sanitation appears to be a challenging one for those in need, with few options available other than the Fisherman's hall shelter facility.

A new hand washing station has been added to the public washroom
facilities at Mariner's Park, the washrooms were reopened Monday

There has been some progress however, when it comes to the issue of sanitary options in public spaces.

With the City having at least opened the only outdoor washroom facility that it operates in the downtown area.

That site adjacent to Mariners Park now comes with a new hand washing station which was installed yesterday. The toilets had remained locked past their usual opening time of late May, with the CLOSED for the Season sign remaining on them until Monday.

It could be a timely reopening, what with the Playgrounds recently returning to action for the community's youngest set and families stating to make their way back to the park overlooking Prince Rupert harbour.

The renewal of the outdoor facility also comes as the City more or less puts out the welcome mat for visitors, with Tourism Prince Rupert launching the summer tourism strategy on Monday.

That project highlights some of the city's business and services, with the goal of the "See for Yourself" campaign, one of providing some assistance to the battered retail and service sector which relies on tourism dollars for a good portion of their yearly income.

For more notes on the Business sector see our archive page here.

Further discussion themes from Prince Rupert City Council can be explored here.