The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) committee is pleased to announce that we now have 27 gender-inclusive washrooms available on campus. Gender-inclusive washrooms are toilet facilities that can be used by someone of any gender and feature inclusive signage that is not gender specific.
For trans and gender nonconforming people, using gender specific washrooms can be a source of stress and anxiety. They may experience stares, questions, comments or harassment for trying to access washroom facilities. According to Public Service Alliance of Canada, “up to 70% of trans people have experienced some sort of negative reaction when using a public bathroom and 57% of trans Ontarians have avoided using public washrooms when they have needed to go for fear of harassment.”
Gender-inclusive washrooms also benefit families with small children and caregivers of elderly people or people with disabilities whose genders are not the same as their own, by offering a washroom they can use to offer assistance, when required.
Along with the 27 gender-inclusive washrooms, Olds College will be including only gender-inclusive washrooms in the new buildings on campus, including the new Ag Tech Learning Hub set to open in Sept. 2022 and the new Animal Health Education Centre set to open in Sept. 2023.
Below is a list of the gender-inclusive washroom locations on campus:
- Frank Grisdale Hall Offices - two accessible, gender-inclusive washrooms
- Caretaking Office - one gender-inclusive washroom
- Land Sciences Building - one accessible, gender-inclusive washroom
- Trades Building - two accessible, gender-inclusive washrooms
- Campus Facilities Building - 3 gender-inclusive washrooms and 1 accessible, gender-inclusive washroom
- Metals Building - five gender-inclusive washrooms and one accessible, gender-inclusive washroom
- Duncan Marshall Place - two accessible, gender-inclusive washrooms
- Learning Resource Centre (the Learning Commons) - one accessible, three gender-inclusive
- Grounds Shop - one accessible, gender-inclusive washrooms
- Centennial Village - four accessible, gender-inclusive washrooms
- Industry Training Centre - one gender-inclusive washroom
- Smart Ag Innovation Centre - one accessible, gender-inclusive washrooms
For Olds College staff and students interested in learning more about Trans Inclusivity, the EDI committee recommends the following resources: