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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-CA link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>FYI: Sharing information on an emerging campaign in Ottawa, <b>the “GottaGo!” campaign!<o:p></o:p></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>A lunchtime Roundtable discussion on the campaign takes place on Wednesday, April 16, at 12 noon at </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Octopus Books Centretown Location (@ 25One Community (2nd Floor, 251 Bank St.). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>* * * * * * *<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The “GottaGo!” campaign </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>aims to create a network of safe, accessible, free, clean and environmentally<b> </b>responsible public toilets and water fountains in parks, major transit stops and key public places to meet the needs of residents and tourists in Ottawa. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Why we need a network of public toilets </span></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In a city such as Ottawa the needs of tourists, outdoor activities of families, an aging population and disabled people, and the need to ensure effective public health combine to demonstrate that a network of safe, clean, accessible and environmentally responsible public toilets are essential. In Vancouver, Nanaimo, Calgary and Edmonton municipalities are taking the initiative to match the effective public toilet programs of Tokyo, Paris, London, Seoul, Portland (Oregon) and other progressive cities. <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Which of us has not been caught short by our need for a toilet? The Crohns and Colitis Foundation surveyed their members in 2008 only to find that more than 85% of them had been humiliated in this way. What parent has not had their child urinate or defecate behind a tree in a park? Which pregnant woman, tourist, bus user, cyclist or jogger has not had moments where they worry about getting to a facility in time? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Although Ottawa does have public restrooms in large parks, their hours do not accommodate need. Small parks, rinks and splash pads often have no washroom facilities at all. Transit stations do not have public toilets. People with urgent needs, such as colitis and celiac sufferers, are held captive in their homes and cars. In the downtown, where bars and restaurants are located, residents complain about people urinating after hours in laneways and buildings, and restaurant and bar owners fret about non-paying customers using their washrooms. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Accessible toilets are a public health issue and a key to sustainable cities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The current situation is unacceptable in a capital city.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The proposal<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In Ottawa, the National Capital Commission and the City should:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>•<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Invest in signage, appropriate staffing, improvements and maintenance for existing public toilets (recreation centres, libraries, parks)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>•<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Add at least one 24/7 unisex direct access facility to public buildings like firehalls, ambulance garages, recreation centres, libraries, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>•<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Provide subsidies to private operations in return for improvements, open access, oversight and signage<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>•<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Require new developments to have wheelchair/unisex direct access toilets as part of their permitting; invest in some adult “changing stations” for disabled users.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:36.0pt;text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>•<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span></span><![endif]><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Build new toilets where required: major transit interchanges such as LRT stations, well used public spaces, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dealing with concerns for safety, security and sanitation<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Ottawa police service agrees that toilets located in public or commercial settings can be inclusive and safe environments. They can be facilities that patrons feel confident to use, are easy to maintain, and are resource efficient. Design choices can be made that allow for easy cleaning and management, resistance to vandalism, and low maintenance requirements. Stand-alone single user facilities such as the Saniset used in Paris could be located throughout the city; always-open “direct access” uni-sex, wheelchair accessible facilities could be part of public buildings that are only open during program hours. We can create useful jobs building and maintaining public toilet facilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>“Public toilets represent society’s finest aspirations about responsible civil behaviour. A great city has great public toilets” <a style='mso-footnote-id:ftn1' href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><sup>[1]</sup></a>(Bridgeman). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><i><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Contact: Joan Kuyek, Chair, </span></i></b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="mailto:Gottagocampaign@gmail.com"><b><i><span style='color:blue'>Gottagocampaign@gmail.com</span></i></b></a><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>Mike Bulthuis<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>Executive Director<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>171 George Street, </span><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>Ottawa ON K1N 5W5<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";mso-fareast-language:EN-CA'>613-241-1573, ext. 314<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div style='mso-element:footnote-list'><br clear=all><hr align=left size=1 width="33%"><div style='mso-element:footnote' id=ftn1><p class=MsoNormal style='text-autospace:none'><a style='mso-footnote-id:ftn1' href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class=MsoFootnoteReference>[1]</span></a> <a href="http://www.bridgmancollaborative.ca/Media%20Files/publictoiletsincanada.pdf"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>http://www.bridgmancollaborative.ca/Media%20Files/publictoiletsincanada.pdf</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>