Port Moody trying to make bathrooms more accessible for people with IBD

Port Moody will make it easier to locate the nearest washroom for those with an emergency need.

The city will be registering all of its civic washrooms with the GoHere Washroom Access Program, council decided on Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Participation was requested by Crohn’s and Colitis Canada (CCC), a volunteer-based charity advocating for people living with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD).

“For these patients, improved washroom access in our communities is extremely important,” stated Matthew Sebastiani, president of CCC’s Vancouver chapter, in a letter from March, 2023. “Your participation will enable people living with Crohn’s or colitis and other incontinence issues to break free from the anxiety, fear and stress they face when leaving their homes.”

The GoHere app has been around since 2015, but CCC;’s volunteers are attempting to expand the program into B.C.

Port Moody is looking to follow Coquitlam’s lead, after it became the first municipality in the province to sign up in February, 2023.

The program reaches out to organizations, businesses and governments to improve access to washrooms with IBD. To date, more than 3,000 washrooms across Canada have become more accessible due to this outreach.

Approximately 300,000 Canadians live with some form of IBD, including over 33,000 British Columbians; that number is expected to grow to up to 400,000 by 2030, according to CCC.

Patients suffer from abdominal pain, fatigue, severe cramping, and the frequent need to use the washroom.

CCC reported some patients have reported have been turned away from organizations during a washroom emergency, requiring they purchase something beforehand.

There are three main components to the program.

The GoHere Washroom Locator App assists users finding the closest available washroom anywhere across Canada, and is available for download on iPhones and Android devices.

GoHere Washroom Access Cards are virtual cards that IBD patients can present when trying to use a washroom, which proves their medical need at locations not yet participating in the program.

Finally, GoHere decals are given out to participating locations which can can be placed on public-facing windows, and signal the washroom is available for IBD patients, no questions asked.

Port Moody’s inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility committee recommended the city sign up for the CCC program in July, 2023.

As part of its participation, the city staff will be encouraging local businesses to self-register on the app and will adding all civil facilities.

Coun. Amy Lubik introduced an amendment, passing unanimously, to recommend that the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce also take part in the program.