Downtown Washroom Attendant Pilot Project
Downtown is the economic and cultural heart of Calgary. It is the central hub for business, innovation, and creativity. We are committed to supporting a downtown that is vibrant and welcoming for all Calgarians and visitors.
Following a pilot in 2023, the attendant program has returned, providing a safe, clean washroom experience for visitors at Olympic Plaza, Century Gardens and Central Memorial Park 7 days a week from 9:30am to 9pm until the end of 2024. Public washrooms are also available at other Parks locations, some are operated year-round, and others are seasonal.
2024 program
Based on data and feedback collected as part of the 2023 pilot, this year’s program will be operated by Hiregood, and will be focused on maintaining cleanliness of the washrooms.
Pilot project in 2023
In 2023, The City ran a Downtown Washroom Attendant Pilot Project in two busy downtown parks: Olympic Plaza and Century Gardens. The pilot project was intended to help improve the overall user experience of these public washrooms and was funded by the Government of Alberta.
Following the 2023 pilot, downtown residents and businesses near Olympic Plaza and Century Gardens were surveyed on the program and the feedback was summarized in an evaluation report. Overall feedback and lessons learned were incorporated into the 2024 program.
Contact
If you have questions or comments about this pilot, please contact 311.
Frequently asked questions
What is The City doing around a plan for public washrooms?
It is important to provide a safe and clean washroom experience for all users and to reduce the incidences of biowaste in public areas. Providing equitable access to clean, safe and accessible public washrooms allows people dignity when they don’t have access to a private washroom. The City is currently developing a strategy internally to determine The City's role in providing public washrooms and to coordinate public washroom work across The City of Calgary. Data collected from existing washroom projects and pilots will be used to inform future actions where possible.
Why have these bathrooms been selected for this program?
There are several potential locations for this type of project within downtown Calgary. These downtown parks have been highlighted as locations that would benefit from washroom attendants based on public feedback and monitoring of those locations.
Where are the public washrooms located within Olympic Plaza?
The public washrooms are in the northeast corner of the park, to the left of the stage and near 7 Avenue.
Are these washrooms permanent or seasonal?
The washroom at Olympic Plaza is permanent and open year-round until the planned closure of Olympic Plaza in preparation for the Arts Commons Transformation project.
What will the attendants do? What is their role?
Attendants will provide a presence at the washrooms and will be responsible for keeping the washrooms clean and welcoming for park visitors.
How many City of Calgary public washrooms are available in downtown Calgary?
There are seven public City of Calgary washrooms in downtown parks, not including temporary washrooms and they are located at: Central Memorial Park, Century Gardens Park, Devonian Gardens Millennium Park, Olympic Plaza, Prince’s Island Park and Tomkins Park.