The City of Regina has announced that gender neutral bathrooms are now a part of the building plans for both Mosaic Stadium, and Mâmawêyatitân Centre.
The two centers are still under construction.
Mosaic Stadium is expected to be open by August.
It will now include nine individual, accessible, gender neutral bathrooms, meaning each one will have its own sink, toilet and lock door.
Mâmawêyatitân Centre, a community and family learning facility should be finished by spring 2017 and will include four gender neutral bathrooms.
This is the first step in creating more welcoming and inclusive spaces across the city.
Laurie Shalley is the director of community services with the City of Regina. She says the municipal human resources department has since appointed a diversity and inclusion committee to help educate staff about the issues.
“Diversity and inclusion is a priority of city council and the administration, so this comes from our consultation with the community,” Shalley said.
Many public spaces already include family bathrooms, which are currently open to those who identify as transgender.
Shalley says the new gender neutral bathrooms will be the same in theory, and will be open to families as well, including parents who need to care for their children of the opposite sex.
The main difference is the labelling.
“We will design the signage in consultation with the community,” explained Shalley.
The city raised a flag for gender diversity awareness week at the end of May.
The TransSask Support Services Board has told the media they are happy about the news.
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