Coronavirus: Toronto Opens Portable Public Toilets And Showers

Finding a public restroom in Toronto is a challenge at best. But with community and walk-in spaces – not to mention restaurants and cafes – closed due to coronavirus, there are even fewer places to use the toilet or wash your hands.

This is a particular problem for homeless people. This week, the city opened sanitation and toilet facilities for people who need access to showers, toilets and clean water during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The ability to practice good hygiene is essential to stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Joe Cressy, chair of the Toronto board of health, in a tweet. “But, due to the closure of community spaces and drop-in centers, some of our most vulnerable, including those who are homeless, now have limited access to toilets and hand washing facilities.”

The 14 locations included the reopening of public facilities for toilets and showers.

There are eight portable toilets and hand washing stations that will be cleaned and restocked twice a day. Here are the locations:

• Alexandra Park, 275 Bathurst
• Jimmie Simpson Park, 872 Queen East
• Regent Park, 600 Dundas East
• Outside the Wellesley Community Center, 495 Sherbourne
• Moss Park, 150 Sherbourne
• Sunnyside Park, 755 Lake Shore West
• Little Norway Park, 689 Queen’s Quay West
• Place Yonge-Dundas, 1 Dundas East

There are also six locations specifically for homeless people who also have showers. Here are the locations:

• Harrison Pool, 15 Stéphanie
• Wallace Emerson Community Center, 1260 Dufferin
• Regent Park Community Center, 402 Shuter
• Centennial Park Arena (Etobicoke), 156 Centennial Park
• Commander Arena (Scarborough), 140 commander
• Malvern Community Center Arena (Scarborough), 30 Sewells

City staff are on site at each location to ensure that physical distance protocols and infection prevention and control measures are followed, said Cressy.

@KevinRitchie