Washrooms at CBS pool to get “accessible” makeover

By Craig Westcott

The change rooms at the CBS swimming pool, more officially known as the Recreation Complex, will get a spruce up in the new year.
Councillor-at-large Joshua Barrett said money was earmarked for the upgrades last year when the Town completed its multi-year capital works spending plan.
“We understand the concerns that many of us as council and staff have heard regarding the accessibility and the inclusiveness of the facility, particularly the washrooms,” he added.
Barrett said the tender will call for an overhaul “of many aspects” of the male and female washrooms and the family room “to ensure that the showers are accessible, there’s more room, and there’s increased accessibility for adult changing stations.”
The changes will also make it easier to access to the washrooms in the main area of the complex, he said.
“We’re very happy that we have inclusive squash at that facility, but the washrooms need to be modified to permit further accessibility for folks doing these things,” said Barrett. “So, we’re very happy about this and looking forward to getting this work done. I will note that we are scheduling this work for the summer months in 2025. That’s when our facility is the least busy.”
The work will probably take about three months to complete, he noted.
“I think it’s tremendous that we’re finally able to get at that and upgrade those washrooms that were put in there a few decades back and bring them up to a better standard for today,” said Mayor Darrin Bent.
Asked for clarification on exactly what accessible and inclusive washrooms will entail, a Town official explained there will still be male and female change room areas, but with the addition of a gender-neutral change room with private areas. A new layout for the washrooms will remove physical barriers that impede access to the rooms. “We will also have more private areas for changing to enhance inclusivity,” the official added.