Southwinds Café – Where Do You Go When You “Gotta Go”?
Where Do You Go When You “Gotta Go”?
The Sorry State of Public Toilets in Ottawa
Join us for a participatory session about access to public toilets in Ottawa. We all “gotta go” from time to time—whether we’re running errands, using transit, or walking in our neighbourhood. And yet, where are the public toilets one would expect in a major city?
How does the absence of this basic facility affect older adults and their ability to participate in public life? How does it affect you?
We’ll briefly present the problem and our latest progress, then open the floor for your stories and questions. With the upcoming municipal election in October, this is a timely opportunity to bring greater public attention to the issue.
About Elizabeth (Bessa) Whitmore
Retired Professor of Social Work at Carleton University, Bessa Whitmore is now a community advocate for the environment, peace, public healthcare, and public toilets. She was one of the original founders of GottaGo! in 2013. She also enjoys the outdoors, cross-country skiing in the winter, and swimming in the summer.
The session will be approximately one hour, with 20–30 minutes for the presentation followed by discussion and Q&A. It will take place online on Zoom.
