On Monday, Kelowna city council approved a temporary “pop-up” washroom that will sit adjacent to the Queensway bus loop for the next three months.
The design includes two fully plumbed toilets, running water, wheelchair assessability and a 10-foot kiosk container to help "animate" the space.
According to a staff report, the pilot project is aimed at addressing “a need for increased washroom availability in the Queensway area” recommended in last fall's Public Safety Report.
The new elaborate washroom won't come cheap and cost the city a total of $206,203 to procure, operate and manage.
Graduates from the program Paid Employment Opportunities for People with Lived Experiences (PEOPLE) will staff the washroom that will operate from 9 am to 5 pm.
The PEOPLE program is designed to help the formerly homeless find paid employment opportunities.
Similar pilot projects have recently been run in places like Winnipeg and Portland.
Pop-up #winnipeg public toilet on Graham. Fun, necessary and you can even get merch at this toilet to support the cause #toiletlesswpg pic.twitter.com/egg75bUTj6
— Erin Riediger (@erinriediger) June 13, 2018
Parks Alive has also confirmed they will provide a piano at the site for public use.
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