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City of Powell River councillors designate gender-neutral washrooms

Youth council recommendation leads to changes at city hall
Gender-neutral washroom at Powell River city hall

Two gender-neutral washrooms have been designated outside of City of Powell River council chambers.

Youth council brought forward a recommendation to council  that if there are any situations where a washroom can easily be used by any gender, then the city should change signage to indicate that.

“It was brought to a youth council meeting by one of the youth council members, Abby Head, after she travelled to Youth Parliament in Victoria,” said city councillor Leishman, who holds the youth council portfolio. “Upon coming back to Powell River and giving her briefing, she found it interesting that a lot of the public buildings she had been to in Victoria and other places recently had established gender-neutral bathrooms; she just felt that was a progressive move and it would be great if Powell River did that in some way.”

Council determined that the obvious locations were the two public washrooms near council chambers on city hall’s second floor because they did not require renovation, according to Leishman.

Leishman added that the recommendation includes washrooms in all city-owned buildings that are easily made gender-neutral without excessive cost.