Citynow All-gender washrooms the future for Burnaby schools

Parkcrest was the first Burnaby school to get all universal washrooms for boys and girls to share,but it won’t be the last

CorneliaNaylor

cnaylor@burnabynow com

Not everyone is happy with all-gender washrooms installed at a Burnaby elementary school last year, but the school district says the concept is the bathroom of the future for local schools

A $13-million seismic upgrade completed at Parkcrest Elementary School last school year did more than make the building safe against earthquakes

During the renovations, the district did away with boys and girls bathrooms and replaced them with shared, universal facilities

The NOW got a tour of the new bathrooms last week

Instead of a door marked “boys” or “girls,” there is now an open entrance way that leads to a space with banks of individual, locking cubicles on each side for everyone to use

Unlike traditional stalls, the door and sides are longer, extending nearly up to the ceiling and down to the floor

“These inclusive washrooms are very private,” school district secretary-treasurer Russell Horswill told the NOW in an emailed statement

Each cubicle contains a toilet, a wastebasket and not much else

Sinks and mirrors, instead of being inside the washroom, are now located in the hallway BonnieWhitten, a retired Burnaby teacher with a grandchild in the district, contacted the NOW to voice her concern about the change

“Schools are supposed to be safe and healthy, and

I find it hard to believe that it will be safe and healthy for a six-year-old girl going into a washroom with a 12-year-old boy,” she said in an interview

“Not that I’m saying they’re bad, but it’s a toxic situation, and should not be happening ”

Whitten said she hadn’t seen the washroom herself but had spoken to someone who had

According to the district, the design at Parkcrest will be replicated at all new schools and large renovations

The new Burnaby North Secondary School will have universal washrooms, for example, but there will also be some more traditional, gendered washrooms, according to the district.

Universal washrooms were also installed at Burnaby South Secondary this year.

Horswill said parents who have questions should reach out to their school principal.

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