To further improve accessibility, cleanliness, and safety for downtown park visitors, the Downtown Washroom Attendant Program is active seven days a week at Century Gardens, Central Memorial Park and Devonian Gardens throughout 2025. Other downtown locations are also being considered and will be added throughout the year.
This year’s program, operated by Hiregood, launched at the end of 2024 as a key initiative through the Downtown Safety Leadership Table and positions trained attendants at select high-traffic washrooms in parks that provide a welcoming and reassuring presence for users.
Supporting clean and safe public spaces
Public washrooms in parks provide a vital amenity for those working and shopping nearby, allowing those spending time or attending an event in a park space to do so comfortably.
“The washroom attendant program shows our ongoing commitment to creating a downtown that is accessible, safe, and clean for everyone,” said Joy Norstrom with Parks & Open Spaces.
Hiregood’s expertise in providing an attendant program follows successes in Edmonton where emergency calls were reduced by over 90 per cent at key locations leading to expansion of the program to additional locations.
Calgary is addressing downtown challenges with focused solutions. The Downtown Washroom Attendant Program is one of 28 recommendations from the Downtown Safety Leadership Table to improve safety and support those experiencing vulnerabilities. Other strategies include increasing police and security presence, expanding festivals and events as well as connecting people with essential services and supporting the housing sector by delivering additional non-market housing.
Learn more about the downtown washroom attendant program at Calgary.ca/washroomattendants.
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