The closure of many civic facilities and businesses in the downtown has reduced the washroom options available for marginalized individuals. These closures have also limited the ability those in the area to maintain good overall hygiene and to follow Public Health recommendations such as frequent hand washing.
In response, starting today, the City of Prince George is opening the washrooms located in Canada Games Plaza across from the Prince George Conference and Civic Centre for the use of downtown residents and visitors. The monitored washrooms will be open daily from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 7 p.m. to midnight.
The POUNDS Project Society, will provide staff to manage bathroom access. The peer staff, experienced in working with marginalized individuals, are trained in crisis management, therapeutic communication, conflict resolution, as well as overdose response and reversal. The daily cleaning of the washrooms will include the regular sanitization of common area surfaces.
This new downtown washroom access is being provided for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2019, the City helped launch two new pilot projects in the downtown area aimed at improving washroom and storage access for vulnerable and homeless people.
For further information about how the City of Prince George is working to create a clean and safe downtown environment, please visit the City website.
For information about how the City is addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, please visit www.princegeorge.ca/covid19.