Universal washrooms, change rooms approved for Cambridge rec complex
In what was for a few moments a fiery meeting, Cambridge council approved universal washrooms and change rooms for its new rec complex at a meeting Tuesday.
In a 7-2 vote, council approved the designs of the wash and change rooms which offer more privacy than traditional facilities and more passive surveillance to improve safety.
Universal washrooms and change rooms are used by all genders and gender identities.
Coun. Scott Hamilton, whose ward will host the new complex, moved the motion to approve the designs.
“I can’t help but feel like a lot of the fears that we did hear prior to this meeting, although very real and passionate … I feel they’re misplaced and I don’t feel they’re accurate,” he said.
As a father of two young children, Hamilton said safety is his first priority. He said concerns that universal washrooms are “some kind of novel experiment” are misguided.
Hamilton take his kids to the HG Russell pool in Hespeler and uses the family change rooms there, the type of change rooms that are in many facilities already.
Coun. Corey Kimpson is a member of the project team for the rec complex.
“This was a choice that we made after hearing about how it was going to best serve our community,” she said.
Robert Allen from MJMA Architects, which is designing the project, said the firm has been using this specific model in facilities across Canada since 2012. He said anecdotally he has heard there are more issues in gendered rooms versus universal.
He said one of the concerns people tend to have is “what if people just started getting naked and it’s a legitimate concern.”
However the rooms are designed so that the idea of doing so is very uncomfortable — “in the same way I wouldn’t want to take my clothes off here,” he said in council chambers.
The rooms will include signage directing users on how to use the facilities and what is and isn’t acceptable.
City staff said if someone were to be undressing in the open areas they would be asked to stop and police would be called if needed.
Council heard from four delegations Tuesday, two in support of the design. One delegation was removed by security at Mayor Jan Liggett’s request after Janice Fiaschetti of Kitchener suggested the family change rooms would lead to “grooming” of children.
Delegate Bill Kirby spoke in support of the universal designs because of the safety aspects. He has an adult transgendered child and his child, like many others “face disproportionate levels of discrimination and harassment and even violence when accessing gender segregated facilities that do not align with their gender identity.”
“(Universal designs) acknowledge and validate the existence of nonbinary and gender nonconforming people ensuring that everyone, everyone has an equal access to essential facilities in public spaces.”
For the washrooms, there are two entrances and exits and a main bank of sinks along the clear wall that faces out into the main rec complex. Washroom stalls are floor to ceiling to provide privacy, have lights to indicate a stall is in use and some stalls contain sinks. There is also a barrier-free stall with an adult change table that can be accessed from inside the washroom area or from the main area of the complex.
The aquatic change rooms contain two types of showers. The majority will be single shower head units intended for individuals rinsing off in their swimsuits. The second type are private with two shower heads and ideal for people with caregivers, families or people who want to be naked in the shower.
There are lockers for storing belongings as well as fully private change rooms, again for individuals or larger rooms for families or people with caregivers or accessibility issues. The change rooms are eight feet in height for privacy.
The dry change rooms near the gym will be similar, minus the showers.
Both are designed with open corridors that allow for passive surveillance and allow users several different routes to reach entrances and exits.
Coun. Helen Shwery and Coun. Nicholas Ermeta voted against the proposal.
“The norm has always been male and female,” Shwery said.
Councillors Mike Devine and Adam Cooper said they initially had some concerns about universal designs.
Devine pointed out that in Europe universal designs are the norm. “I think they’re safe,” he said. Cooper said a lot of the concerns have come from “blatant misinformation.”
Liggett closed the discussion with her expression of support.
“It took me a while to get to this place that I’m at, that I’m comfortable with my decision tonight because I know that it has been well thought out for the safety of the community,” she said.
Cambridge council has approved a budget of $108.7 million for the recreation complex, with tender expected to be issued in May or June of this year. The complex is expected to open in the fall of 2026.
The complex will be built in the city’s south end, on city-owned land north of the intersection of Dundas Street South and Branchton Road.