Burnaby city council has approved a $150,000 expenditure to develop and create inclusive signage for two city-owned facilities.
That includes “comprehensive interior and wayfinding signage,” which will initially be installed in two city facilities, with further installation in the rest of the city’s facilities over several years.
The initial $150,000 cost, according to a staff report, would fund a request for proposals and award a design contract early this year for development of the sign package. The timing is intended to line up with the construction of upcoming facilities, including the South Burnaby Arena.
The intent is to have signs that focus more on symbols, like a toilet, change table or urinal, and less on defining user groups, like men’s washrooms versus women’s washrooms. They would also avoid using English phrases to accommodate anyone with low English literacy skills.
Essentially, staff hope the sign changes would “provide maximum information and … convey a sense of inclusion for patrons of civic facilities,” according to a staff report.
“This project would replace all civic signage with a particular focus on replacing washroom and change room signage with ‘functional’ signage, while at the same time maintaining user-specific signage where required.”
At council Monday evening, Mayor Mike Hurley said the move “represents a very important step towards ensuring Burnaby is welcoming and inclusive for everyone.”
Council voted unanimously to approve the $150,000 expenditure.
The city has also completed a review of designs for washrooms and change rooms at city facilities, with an emphasis on gender-neutral spaces. For instance, the Burnaby South Arena will be constructed with a significant space for universal change rooms and washrooms, which typically include individual stalls with floor-to-ceiling walls and an open sink area.
“Following this example, new and upcoming civic facilities will place a greater emphasis on universal spaces and design,” the staff report reads.
The report notes that most city-owned facilities have at least one universal single-user washroom, and the Eileen Dailly leisure centre and the Edmonds Community Centre both have universal change rooms.
But the need and ability to provide inclusive washroom and change-room space at existing facilities varies widely between buildings, and renovations will typically be site-specific. The city plans to focus on the Bonsor Recreation Complex and city hall at first, and move on to other facilities in the future.
