Parents raise concerns about portable toilets at French public school in Ottawa this fall

Parents of an Ottawa elementary school are concerned about portable toilets for kids in the yard of a Little Italy school. CTV’s Dave Charbonneau reports.

Parents are raising concerns about two washroom trailers and an additional portable classroom in the playground at Louise-Arbour elementary school in Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood, worrying it’s shrinking the size of the outdoor space.

L’école élémentaire publique Louise-Arbour already had seven portables at the school. For the start of the school year this week, an eighth portable classroom and two portable toilets have been added.

“It’s a Band-Aid solution on the much wider issue of an over-capacity building,” Valerie Levert-Gagnon said in a statement CTV News Ottawa.

The French public school board says the two new portable washroom trailers were required due to the addition of the extra portable classroom.

“The addition of these toilets meets the City of Ottawa’s requirements for obtaining an occupancy permit for the new portable classroom,” Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario told CTV News Ottawa.

“The two toilets in question are heated, connected to electricity, have running water, and are cleaned frequently.”

Levert-Gagnon says the eight portable classrooms and two portable washroom trailers “dramatically shrinks the space available for kids to play.”

“More washrooms were very much needed; however, we can all agree that portable washrooms are not very pleasant to use, especially for little kids,” Levert-Gagnon said, adding “these are not child-sized washrooms.”

“I am worried about the maintenance and supervision of those portable washrooms. The portable washrooms are also not accessible to students with mobility aids.”

Some residents are questioning the need for outdoor washrooms.

“I think it’s just insane that they have to go to these porta potties outside where they play,” one woman said near the school on Thursday.

“Can you imagine if you went to work and they’re like, ‘Oh no, the toilets are outside.’”

A CEPEO spokesperson told CTV News Ottawa there are “plenty of toilets available” inside the school, and students will continue to have access to the outdoor areas near the portables.

“This measure remains temporary. We will soon have some very good news to share regarding the construction of a new school that will provide a sustainable solution to the growing needs of the Louise-Arbour school community,” CEPEO said.

“In the meantime, we will continue to do everything we can to provide a learning environment that promotes the well-being and success of our students.”

In 2022, the Ontario government announced $14.5 million in funding for a new school to house Louise-Arbour public elementary school, which will be built on Somerset Street with 449 spots for students. According to the board’s website, the school is expected to open for the 2027-28 school year.

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s John Crupi and Dave Charbonneau