A new public washroom, available round the clock, has opened in the heart of downtown Victoria.
The new restroom facility will operate 24/7 and is located at the corner of Broughton Street and Douglas Street.
This visionary project, featuring inclusive accessibility features, received the green light in March 2022, and it is set to redefine the city’s urban landscape.
Identified as a pivotal location for a public restroom in 2021 by city officials, this facility is was positioned amidst late-night hospitality venues.
The project comes with a $400,000 price tag—a figure that gave some councillors “sticker shock,” including Coun. Jeremy Loveday at the time of the approval.
“But I do think it needs to be expended,” Loveday said.
“Access to public washrooms is a basic human right, and perhaps the most basic human need. They’re also important amenities in terms of making our downtown both a pleasant and hygienic place for people to enjoy.”
Two on-street parking spaces were removed, with a third parking stall converted to a new accessible parking stall, the city said in its report.
During construction, a Kwanzan cherry tree had to be cut down, but staff add that a replacement tree along the street will be planted “to mitigate the loss of this tree.”
The project was Inspired by the success of the iconic “Langley Loo,” a similar public restroom introduced on Langley Street in 2012 at a cost of $90,000.
Residents and tourists can rest easy knowing that the “Broughton Loo” will receive meticulous attention, with scheduled cleanings twice a day, seven days a week.
For safety, a contracted security team will conduct checks on the washroom periodically.
For additional details regarding the City of Victoria’s public restroom offerings, including information on those open 24 hours a day, visit the official City of Victoria website.
