Cleanliness, convenience and customer service converge at Langley Street near Bastion Square in Downtown Victoria, British Columbia, where the City’s prized public potty offers around the clock relief to residents for free.
Victoria’s Langley Street Loo was a fan favourite in Cintas Canada’s annual contest beating out the other four top contenders to take the crown in this year’s competition. Canadians voted Toronto the No. 2 place to go No. 1 with This Is London Club and Earls placing second and third. The Georgian Court Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia came in fourth and fifth place went to the Centre for Professional Training in Repentigny, Québec.
Victoria’s city council members were flushed with pride as they accepted the top honour during a media event in Bastion Square. “The Langley Street Loo is part of a larger strategy that ensures our downtown is vibrant and safe – day and night,” said Victoria Mayor, Dean Fortin. “Access to public amenities, like a 24-hour washroom, are important to our downtown community. It is even better when those amenities are attractive and innovative.”
“It’s not the most lavish restroom by any measure but that’s the beauty of a public poll, everyone’s opinion counts,” said Rod Farquharson, Director of Sales and Operations for Cintas Western Canada. “At the core this contest is intended to recognize public washroom facilities that ‘serve’ residents in surrounding communities and the Langley Street Loo is the essence of hospitably when you consider it’s an all-accessible, well-maintained, ecofriendly and free facility,” he added.
The Langley Street Loo is applauded for its open design, offering the optimal balance of personal privacy and public access. It features a unisex toilet, exterior hand washing station, graffiti proof coating, and a lit sign that makes it easy to find at night. This ready-made stainless steel facility is fully accessible for people with disabilities. The Langley Street Loo was purchased from the City of Portland, Oregon, in 2011 for $90,000 and is maintained throughout the day by the City’s sanitation crew.
The 2012 contest attracted nominations from a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, hotels, educational institutions and nightclubs. Five finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. Thousands of votes were cast online through October, which produced the following results:
First Place: Langley Street Loo, Victoria, British Columbia
Second Place: This is London Club, Toronto, Ontario
Third Place: Earls- King Street, Toronto, Ontario
Fourth Place: The Georgian Court Hotel, Vancouver, British Columbia
Fifth Place: Centre for Professional Training, Repentigny, Québec