Once thought to be circling the drain, Callander’s state-of-the-art public bathroom has arrived.
Located near the public dock on Lansdowne Street, the bathroom is self-cleaning and communicates with the public works department if any maintenance is required. Soap or toilet paper running low? The bathroom sends a message via email to municipal staff to let them know.
Mayor Robb Noon said, “This new washroom facility is a significant step forward in improving our public amenities. It will not only serve our residents but also enhance the experience for tourists enjoying our waterfront.”
It was a happy day near the dock for the facility’s official unveiling. Members of Callander’s council, some of the public works crew, and a few residents turned out to cut the ribbon for the grand opening.
Yes, the bathroom is now fully functional, and yes, it will be operational all winter long.
“The facility represents our council and staff’s commitment to enhancing our amenities to both residents and visitors alike,” Mayor Noon continued, “We are dedicated to providing clean and accessible facilities.”
The bathroom cost $312,000, and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation Rural Enhancement Funding Stream contributed $180,000 toward that amount. Urben Blu, based in Boisbriand, Que., built the facility and installed it on-site earlier this week.
It was supposed to open this summer, but there were some holdups getting permission for the hook-up from Hydro. Once that was cleared, everything went along fine with the installation. Urben Blu was also waiting for the proper signage for the bathroom. The company was in the process of finding a new sign supplier, and it took a little longer than expected to secure the proper shower sign for the building.
See: Self-cleaning bathrooms coming to Callander waterfront this summer
But it’s all ready to go now, just in time for the winter season. There is one bathroom within the building and a shower. The shower requires a code to enter, and the town is considering the best way to dole out the codes. There will be a fee to use the shower, but the fine details will be discussed at an upcoming council meeting.
Councillor Jordy Carr mentioned, “The Province really helped us out here, and it’s going to be great for the people on the lake. Especially in the winter with ice fishing, they’ll be able to use the washrooms, and same with boaters.”
“It’s fantastic,” she concluded.
Mayor Noon also emphasized how the province helped with the project, thanking MPP Vic Fedeli for the support and noting the provincial funds contribute “to our initiative to improve public spaces within Callander.”
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
