The washroom doors at the Somba K'e Civic Plaza changing room were open during Canada Day celebrations and will be open every day this summer after years being locked most days due to fears of vandalism. - Laura Busch/NNSL photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
After years of being locked up for fear they would be vandalized, the city has decided to open the doors to its public washroom facility at Somba K'e Civic Plaza.

Up until recently, the changing rooms across from city hall, which were built in 2009, had been locked up during the

summer - except during city-run events - over concerns they would be vandalized.

But three weeks ago, the facility and the washrooms inside were quietly opened to the public for daily service, although with limited hours.

According to Mayor Mark Heyck, the decision to allow the public to use the facilities

during the day was made by administration based on conversations which council had during budget deliberations last fall.

"We discussed the idea of keeping that building open all day long, all year round. Because of the cost associated with that, council decided not to go that route," he said.

Heyck explained administration has since found a way to make it more accessible without incurring additional costs to the city.

Although there is an attendant on hand to clean the washrooms and to ensure there is no "misuse or abuse

of the facility" while it is open, Heyck said the position was created by reallocating existing resources.

The facility at Somba K'e boasts one men's and one women's washroom stall. During the week, they are open through the lunch hour from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 a.m., as well as in the afternoon from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

On Saturday and Sunday, the washrooms are open from noon until 8 p.m. The washrooms will remain open until the middle of September, weather permitted, said Heyck.

He said the loss of the downtown day shelter and the washrooms that were available there for the city's homeless had nothing to do with the decision.

Heyck added the city has public washrooms at all its municipal facilities, including city hall.

"So any member of the public can come in and use the washroom at any time," he said.

As part of its renovations, the city has added a wheelchair-accessible, unisex washroom in city hall's lobby.

Coun. Dan Wong, who called for the need to have more public washrooms during a recent committee meeting, said opening the washroom doors was a "good start."

However, he pointed out it is still not open all day, and in the winter it is only open for a short period of time for people who use the Frame Lake outdoor ice rink.

The facility's winter hours are 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays and 11:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, as long as the temperature is above -25 C.

Wong said ideally, the city should invest in another public washroom in the downtown core.

"To me, it makes sense to have a more centrally located bathroom in the centre of the city," he said.

"Especially for the people leaving the bars late at night."