Gender-neutral toilets in Gatineau
After having consulted many partners over the past few months and just about all that there are committees and commissions within its administration, the City of Gatineau will set up its first gender-neutral toilets and changing rooms in two of its facilities. .This will be a first step forward for the City in this type of more inclusive and universal development. Wishing to move forward “gradually”, the Sports, Recreation and Community Development Committee first proposed an “experimental project”.
Gatineau is not a pioneer in this area, recalled the chairman of this commission, Martin Lajeunesse. “It's not a wave that leaves Gatineau, we've seen it elsewhere in Canada, the United States and around the world for about ten years now,” he said. This is an anti-discrimination measure for transgender and non-binary people. ”
The Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) installed its first gender-neutral toilets in Pavilion E,
in 2019, to promote greater inclusion of all within its walls.
In gender-neutral toilets, the toilets are closed from top to bottom. The sinks, hand dryers and changing tables are located in common areas. It's the same principle for changing rooms, where toilets, showers and changing areas are also closed to prevent nudity.
Des Asembles and Bisson
In Gatineau, the experimentation with the first universal toilets and changing rooms will take place in the service cabins of the Trembles and Bisson outdoor pools, in the Hull sector. These two cabins were targeted because they require renovations. The universal sanitary installations will however be complementary to the traditional gendered installations which will be kept in order to ensure the adhesion and the comfort of all the users of these swimming pools.
Gatineau is not a pioneer in this area, recalled the chairman of this commission, Martin Lajeunesse. “It's not a wave that leaves Gatineau, we've seen it elsewhere in Canada, the United States and around the world for about ten years now,” he said. This is an anti-discrimination measure for transgender and non-binary people. ”
The Université du Québec en Outaouais (UQO) installed its first gender-neutral toilets in Pavilion E,
in 2019, to promote greater inclusion of all within its walls.
In gender-neutral toilets, the toilets are closed from top to bottom. The sinks, hand dryers and changing tables are located in common areas. It's the same principle for changing rooms, where toilets, showers and changing areas are also closed to prevent nudity.
Des Asembles and Bisson
In Gatineau, the experimentation with the first universal toilets and changing rooms will take place in the service cabins of the Trembles and Bisson outdoor pools, in the Hull sector. These two cabins were targeted because they require renovations. The universal sanitary installations will however be complementary to the traditional gendered installations which will be kept in order to ensure the adhesion and the comfort of all the users of these swimming pools.
“I experienced situations when I was a lifeguard where people were uncomfortable coming
to the pool to change because our changing rooms were gendered. "
"There are trans or non-binary people who may feel repelled by the fact that there is no place for them to change or go to the bathroom," said councilor Cédric Tessier. There were also issues for people with disabilities who had to be accompanied by someone of the opposite sex to change and who didn't really have a place to go. Today we are taking a step in the right direction. ”
to the pool to change because our changing rooms were gendered. "
"There are trans or non-binary people who may feel repelled by the fact that there is no place for them to change or go to the bathroom," said councilor Cédric Tessier. There were also issues for people with disabilities who had to be accompanied by someone of the opposite sex to change and who didn't really have a place to go. Today we are taking a step in the right direction. ”
In gender-neutral toilets, the toilets are closed from top to bottom.
The commission's proposal must be approved by city council next Tuesday. The City will then give itself one year to verify the maintenance of social acceptability and the relevance of this type of development in its facilities. A communication plan and awareness activities will be offered to the public. If things go as planned, more and more gender-neutral installations could emerge in the future. Gatineau intends to target aquatic centers, sports centers and service cabins as infrastructures conducive to this type of development. The availability of gender-neutral toilets and changing rooms will remain, but their space may gradually decrease in favor of universal facilities.
Councilor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette pointed out that it can be difficult to estimate the proportion of non-binary people in the population. A poll taken a few years ago while studying at Carleton University in Ottawa found that 4% of the student body claimed to be non-binary. “It can represent a significant part of the population and these people can experience situations of harassment and discrimination and we have to accommodate them,” she added.
The commission's proposal must be approved by city council next Tuesday. The City will then give itself one year to verify the maintenance of social acceptability and the relevance of this type of development in its facilities. A communication plan and awareness activities will be offered to the public. If things go as planned, more and more gender-neutral installations could emerge in the future. Gatineau intends to target aquatic centers, sports centers and service cabins as infrastructures conducive to this type of development. The availability of gender-neutral toilets and changing rooms will remain, but their space may gradually decrease in favor of universal facilities.
Councilor Maude Marquis-Bissonnette pointed out that it can be difficult to estimate the proportion of non-binary people in the population. A poll taken a few years ago while studying at Carleton University in Ottawa found that 4% of the student body claimed to be non-binary. “It can represent a significant part of the population and these people can experience situations of harassment and discrimination and we have to accommodate them,” she added.
Mathieu Belanger
The right
https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/gatineau/des-toilettes-non-genrees-a-gatineau-295262a16c1e7636604929fea39ed63d?utm_source=omerlo&utm_medium=mailer&utm_campaign=Aujourd%E2%80%99hui+:+Des+toilettes+non+genr%C3%A9es+%C3%A0+Gatineau
The right
https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/gatineau/des-toilettes-non-genrees-a-gatineau-295262a16c1e7636604929fea39ed63d?utm_source=omerlo&utm_medium=mailer&utm_campaign=Aujourd%E2%80%99hui+:+Des+toilettes+non+genr%C3%A9es+%C3%A0+Gatineau