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By Pete McIntyre
open 24-7 during emergency period

Second public washroom opened in downtown Vernon

Apr 23, 2020 | 4:32 PM

Another public washroom has been installed in downtown Vernon.

This one is at the transit exchange on 31st Avenue and is open 24-hours a day during the pandemic, with another one to be added at the same site next week.

“Council has directed administration to install a total of three public washrooms in the downtown core,” said Mayor Victor Cumming. “We’ve heard concerns about a lack of public washrooms in the area, especially overnight, so adding these facilities aligns with Council’s strategic goal to support a healthy, safe and vibrant City Centre.”

The first of the three units was installed at the corner of 30 Avenue and 35 Street near the former Safeway last October.

The final facility is expected to be put it next week at the bus terminus, at which time the portable washrooms and a temporary handwashing station will be removed from the site.

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All three units are locally-designed and built.

The latest washrooms have a slightly different design than the first, as a sink and soap dispenser are now located inside. The first one is fitted with an interior hand sanitizer dispenser.

While provincial emergency response measures are in place for the COVID pandemic, all three downtown washrooms will be available 24 hours a day with an enhanced cleaning schedule to provide sanitation and personal hygiene resources for those who need them.

by Pete McIntyre
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