Fort Resolution (Apr 10/06) - A group of Fort Resolution soccer players are angry after being asked to pay $5 each to use a Mackenzie Highway restroom.

Over 20 players and chaperons stopped for a restroom break and to buy some junk food at Checkpoint - a gas station, motel and restaurant about 66 km from Fort Simpson - while travelling by bus to a tournament on March 31.

One player, Olga Aviugana, said she paid the $5 restroom fee to the attendant. "And then he gave me the key."

She said she is upset and angry about having to pay.

Amanda Mandeville, another player, said she was told it would cost $5 to use the restroom if she did not sit in the restaurant.

Once Brandie Miersch, a player/chaperon, found out about the $5 charge, she hustled everyone back onto the bus. But not before one girl answered the call of nature behind the building, while some boys went elsewhere.

Miersch said she was shocked by the request for money.

"We've been travelling for years and not once did I have to pay to use the bathroom," she added. "Because he knew we were from Res, that's the only reason."

The players weren't told at the time that where they were from was an issue. However, after hearing of the incident, Miersch's mother, Jayne Lafferty, called Checkpoint and said she was told by an owner that Fort Resolution students had vandalized a washroom at the business about two years ago.

When contacted by News/North for comment, Checkpoint responded with a written statement from co-owners Wayne and Lynn McKay. The statement pointed out that Checkpoint's washrooms are provided for dining customers only.

"The current water treatment and holding system is at maximum capacity," the McKay's wrote. "To restrict its use and encourage (highway) pull-out facility use, a $5 surcharge is administered to offset the cost of operation, i.e. pump outs, heating, water, cleaning supplies and labour."

The $5 charge is indicated by a sign at the establishment.

The McKays noted they do not restrict use of the facilities for elders.

They also noted the facility has been "abused" in the past.

"We have consistently requested assistance from NWT highway and NWT tourism officials to meet the demand of having a public washroom at our corner," the statement concluded.

The McKays would offer no further comment.

Miersch, meanwhile, rejects the suggestion anyone from Fort Resolution ever damaged the property.

"I've never known a Fort Resolution team to do anything like that," she said.

Besides, Miersch said some players who stopped on March 31 each spent between $10-$20 on junk food and sandwiches.

She stopped any other players from buying anything else as soon as she found out about the restroom charge.

"We never came in just to use the washroom and not support the store," she said, adding the players did not cause a commotion or disturbance.

While the soccer teams were not school teams, most of the players go to Deninu school. Principal Moh Odeen said he is not aware of any problems at Checkpoint in the four years he has been at the school.

"You would think in this day and age someone would not charge kids to use the bathroom," he said.

Odeen added he is also concerned Fort Resolution players may have been singled out. "That is certainly something that bothers me."