Residents in southeast Calgary now have a new community centre to enjoy and the facility includes an unconventional element – a universal locker room.
The new Remington YMCA in Quarry Park opened on Friday and has a unique locker room is designed to accommodate for all genders.
The washroom and showers are still segregated and it has private changing stalls, but everyone stores clothing in the same area.
The design allows parents with children to keep them together in the common room and also allows for no impediment for people with disabilities who have a caregiver of the opposite sex.
Kelly Smith, chief operation officer, YMCA Calgary said the reaction on opening day has been very pleasant.
“As families come into the YMCA they can stay together as they go into locker rooms and go out and enjoy the rest of the amenities.”
Smith says the idea comes from research into saving on space at community centres. “We looked around Canada and in Europe; we understand that universal change rooms are the thing that’s happening there.”
He says that one of the biggest challenges was the anxiety attached with rolling out such an innovative idea. “We did hold an open house with the city about a year ago and had about 200 people come through. We were very specific in explaining the universal locker room concept and the acceptance then, on paper, was that it was well accepted.”
It is the first locker room of its kind in Calgary and is among only a few in operations in Canada.
Gavin and Giselle Hull says that the idea is great for them because they wouldn’t need to separate to take care of their son after their pool outing.
“We didn’t have to divide and conquer, we could just get him ready together,” Giselle said. “It was a really big help.”
Gavin wasn’t concerned about the facility at all. “It’s bright, it’s secure. Come and see for yourself. It works. It’s not what you think.”
