Lack of public washrooms raises health, safety concerns
Just weeks before the tourism season along the Eastern Shore is set to open, attracting visitors from across Nova Scotia and beyond, a lack of year-round public washroom facilities is raising concerns among residents who say the gap affects safety, accessibility and health.
Motorists, many of whom rely on Hwy. 7 for work and daily travel, say limited access to toilet facilities – particularly in the 110-kilometre stretch between Sheet Harbour and Sherbrooke – leaves few options.
Sonora resident Sonya Morgan, a realtor who frequently travels Hwy. 7 for work, including toward Antigonish, said the lack of reliable facilities poses a serious challenge. “There are those of us who rely on having amenities nearby – or within a reasonable distance – to access when needed,” she said.
Gas stations often the only option for restrooms
Morgan said seasonal closures of park washrooms create uncertainty for travellers, particularly those with medical conditions requiring urgent access.
“The anxiety of not knowing if I’ll have access to a washroom when I need one has been astronomically destructive to my well-being,” she said, adding it can hinder her ability to travel for work on some days.
She said the issue affects a wide range of people, including seniors, pregnant women and those living with conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis. “At its core, this is about dignity,” said Morgan. “No one should feel unsafe or be forced into a bush because of a basic human need.”
Sherbrooke resident Robin Anderson said the lack of washroom facilities along the Eastern Shore has been “a problem and a topic of discussion” among people for years. “And in fact, I haven’t seen any improvement. It’s only gotten worse.”
Noting that washroom facilities at provincial parks along Hwy. 7 are closed outside the summer season, she said there are few public toilet amenities available for people travelling the route, particularly outside business hours, when gas stations in Sheet Harbour are closed.
Anderson, who travels to and from Dartmouth at least twice a week, said the lack of both cell service and restroom facilities is a major barrier.
“I am somebody who doesn’t like going into a restaurant just to use their facilities,” she said. “If I am stopping to eat then that’s fine, but if I am travelling for work I don’t tend to stop between Sherbrooke and Dartmouth, other than to use the facilities.”
With the only option often being a gas station – if it is open – she said the situation is not ideal. “That’s just not ideal for a two-and-a-half-hour drive up the Shore. There are very limited resources along that hike. Having a two-plus hour time frame where you can’t have any washrooms available is certainly a concern.”
Port Bickerton resident Andrew Peters agreed that the lack of options can leave travellers with few alternatives. “After hours, when the Irving is closed, you’re out of luck,” he said, noting concerns for seniors, children, women and people with disabilities.
After reading about the Municipality of the District of St. Mary’s efforts to advance Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Hate and Accessibility (IDEAA) in the district, Morgan said she suggested adding a year- round washroom facility along Marine Drive.
More restrooms in the area an issue of inclusivity
Morgan, who has also proposed keeping key roadside washrooms open all year, or installing maintained outhouses at regular intervals, said she had hoped to see a positive response, noting that St. Mary’s municipal officials said responsibility for park facilities lies with the province.
Still, she added, “Although that may be the case for parks, the municipality could and should do something about the issue on their own. Much of the distance on the Shore is in this municipality – and since they have the municipal bathroom in Sherbrooke, perhaps they could fund others, one towards Antigonish and one or two towards Halifax ... How can someone say ‘we care about inclusivity,’ when a lack of action says otherwise?”
St. Mary’s Warden James Fuller said he understands the concerns but pointed to logistical and financial barriers.
“In order to construct, maintain (cleaning and repair), and upgrade any facility such as this, we would first need to own a sufficient amount of land and then do the necessary soil/water testing, zoning approval (and probably a variance), as well as receive general public input before any construction could begin,” Fuller said in an email.
He noted a commercial composting facility could cost at least $10,000 US, excluding water service, and added the municipality does not own suitable land along the highway.
Alicia Doyle, a spokesperson for the Department of Natural Resources, said provincial park facilities operate seasonally from mid-May to Thanksgiving. “The washrooms cannot remain open during the closed season due to the absence of on-site staff,” she said, adding that washroom services at provincial parks in Guysborough County are scheduled to resume May 15.
