Despite nearly a half-million dollars spent on public washrooms recently, Campbell River and Courtenay are both having ongoing issues with public defecation.
At this week’s council meeting, Courtenay Councilor Wendy Morin introduced a motion appealing to Island Health to come discuss the issue and its responsibility to protect public health, after people defecating on sidewalks and in planters continues to be a growing problem.
Campbell River’s downtown is facing similar issues.
Courtenay and Campbell River have ‘Portland Loo’ style public washrooms in the downtown cores, installed in 2020 and 2021 at a cost of around $200,000 each. Each unit costs around $25,000 per year to maintain.
Courtenay no longer keeps their washroom open overnight after significant vandalism and people locking themselves inside.
UPDATE: The city provided us with the information below about public washrooms downtown on May 29.
In Campbell River, the “Portland Loo” located near Spirit Square is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The city says it is cleaned four times a day. Public washrooms are also available at Robert Ostler Park, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
