The City of Calgary is celebrating a dedicated team of employees whose sole concern is to make all the city’s loos safe and comfortable for everyone who uses them. The washroom attendant program helps support Calgary’s public bathroom facilities, making sure they are clean, supplied, safe and accessible for all users. Workers who handle the task say it’s most important for tourists. “We might be their first impression of Calgary,” said washroom attendant Paul at the Devonian Gardens facility. “Tourists often think they need to pay to use our washrooms and we say, ‘It’s free,’ they tell us that in Europe you must pay for the toilet paper. They are often shocked that it’s free and clean.” In addition to keeping the facility clean, washroom attendants also help support the community where the facilities are located, the city says. “People come by and say good things about having us here,” said Samuel Kairu, who works in one of Calgary’s parks. “They remember a time when people didn’t have access to a washroom here, when it was shut down. Now it is good, many people feel at peace here. We often have 70 people per shift, sometimes 100 people. During an event we had 450 during one shift!” According to feedback from visitor surveys conducted in 2025 and 2026, 97 per cent of visitors said they would be likely to return to Calgary because of positive experiences. Before the washroom attendant program was launched in 2023, Calgary’s public lavatories were plagued with concerns about public safety, cleanliness and vandalism, which often led to bathroom closures. “Over 80 per cent of people who filled out our customer satisfaction survey for the program in 2025 said that the presence of an attendant made these washrooms feel safe and welcoming,” said Joy Norstrom, parks issues strategist. “Parks are important public spaces, and we want them to be accessible, safe and peaceful places where everyone is welcome.”
