Travellers from across North America have come to appreciate the “swell farewell” offered by the washrooms at the 1000 Islands Duty Free Shop in Lansdowne, Ontario, and today Cintas is proud to publicly honour them as Canada’s Best Restroom.
Each year, the team of survey editors at Cintas Canada accepts nominations of the best public washrooms from across the country, and narrows it down to the top five. From there, it’s up to the public to cast their vote on who they think should be named the best loo in the land.
The washrooms at the 1000 Islands Duty Free Shop were completely renovated just over a year ago. The update was a collaborative design between the mother-son ownership duo of Heather Howard and Jeff Butler. “We wanted to thank our customers by providing them with washrooms that would exceed their expectations, not only in terms of cleanliness but also in terms of design,” says owner and manager Jeff Butler. “When we decided to update them last fall we knew it had to be something special.”
Designed to mirror the sights of nature the town is known for, the men’s washroom is accented with earth tones and wooden features, similar to what you would see on a hunting or fishing trip. The ladies’ room is more sophisticated, with glamorous glass red sinks and polished granite accents.
“In the summer months, the washrooms see up to 1,500 people a day,” says Butler. “In addition to keeping the restrooms clean and functional, we want customers to tell their friends about their experience after they leave. I’ve had people come to me after their visit to the ladies’ room just to tell me how beautiful it was or comment on the design. It’s great to hear that kind of feedback after all the work that’s gone into making our washrooms shine.”
In addition to the official Canada’s Best Restroom plaque of recognition and securing a place in the Cintas Canada’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame, 1000 Islands Duty Free will also receive a prize of $2,500 in Cintas products and services. “We are proud to present this prize to the management at 1000 Islands Duty Free,” says Molin. “The reward will provide them with the tools and services to keep their facility ready for the workday at an award-winning level.”
The 2015 finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. Thousands of votes were cast online through October 9, which produced the following results:
Business/Facility
First Place: 1000 Islands Duty Free Lansdowne, ON
Second Place: BNA Brewing Company & Eatery Kelowna, BC
Third Place: Tommyfield Gastropub Calgary, AB
Fourth Place: Edmonton Renaissance Hotel Edmonton, AB
Fifth Place: Bank & Baron P.U.B. Calgary, AB
