If you need to go in Port Moody, there’s an app for that.
The city’s public washroom facilities, as well as those of participating businesses and organizations, are now listed on the GoHere washroom locator app.
The app is an initiative of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada to make it easier for people living with inflammatory bowel diseases to find washroom facilities when their condition requires urgent access. It can also benefit seniors, pregnant women, families with young children and people suffering incontinence or even certain forms of cancer.
“This participation will improve accessibility to support those living with Crohn’s, colitis and other medical conditions,” said Matthew Sebastiani, the president of the Vancouver chapter of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, in a news release.
“It will make it easier for people with these diseases to manage their symptoms and lead active, productive and fulfilling lives,” added Crohn’s and Colitis Canada CEO Lori Radke. “These additional listed locations will make a difference in the lives of many people.”
According to the organization, 300,000 Canadians live with inflammatory bowel disease that can cause them to visit a washroom 20 more times a day.
The GoHere app, which is available for iPhone and Android devices helps them locate nearby washroom facilities quickly. It also includes a virtual GoHere washroom access card as proof of medical need.
Available public facilities and those in private businesses can also identify their participation in the program with special window decals.
Port Moody Mayor Meghan Lahti said getting the city on board is the right thing to do.
“We hope to reduce barriers for anyone who may be in urgent need of a washroom,” she said. “Making information about public washrooms easily accessible through the GoHere app aligns with our commitment to ensure Port Moody is a welcoming place where our values — including accessibility, diversity, equity and inclusion — are the foundation of everything we do.”
Across Canada, there are now more than 3,000 washrooms accessible through the app.
in Feb., 2023, Coqutilam became the first community in British Columbia to register its 36 public washrooms and it has since been joined by other cities like Port Coquitlam, New Westminster, Burnaby, Vancouver, Surrey and North Vancouver.
Businesses and organizations that also want to be included on the app should send an email to [email protected].
