When duty calls, sometimes you can’t ignore it.
So you pop a squat behind a bush with your dignity hanging by a thread and let nature take its course.
There’s no shame in it, especially when no washrooms are nearby.
But in the Town of Banff, some people do their business outside a little too often.
According to Paul Godfrey, Director of Operations for Banff, municipal employees have had to pick up human fecal matter from bushes in and around Bow Falls.
“We do run into it, I don’t want to say regularly, but a number of times,” he explained.
A Smelly Surprise
Bow Falls is a popular tourist attraction in Banff.
The area has separate trails for pedestrians and cyclists, with an incredible view of the Bow River rapids.
The view comes with a catch: there are no washrooms at the viewpoint.
The closest washroom facilities are located at the base of the falls.
The trek to the Bow Falls viewpoint is about 1.2 kilometres long and takes around 30 minutes to reach from the trailhead.
Your best bet is to use the washroom before making the trip.
But Godfrey claims some people are still doing their business in the woods, even when there are washroom facilities like porta-potties nearby.
“There are people who do not want to go into a portable toilet, so we do find fecal matter and things like that regularly at Bow Falls, at the Liricon lot, and other areas as well,” said Godfrey.
The lack of washroom facilities is not exclusive to the viewpoint at Bow Falls.
A 2016 survey with Banff & Lake Louise Tourism found that visitors’ primary concerns were finding washrooms and parking at key visitor attractions.
A 2020 survey had similar findings, with the public asking for more trash cans, public washrooms, and improved facilities at busy spots like Bow Falls and Hoodoo Lookout.
Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno believes the issue of more washrooms goes hand in hand with the town’s planned redevelopment of Bow Avenue, which was pushed back last month.
Redevelopment of Bow Avenue will transform the area into a park, meaning washrooms need to be a priority.
According to DiManno, washroom facilities are at the top of the list, and the town will create a priority order for washroom locations.
S**t Out Of Luck
However, additional washroom facilities in and around the Bow Falls viewpoint area aren’t coming anytime soon.
Banff Council voted 4-3 against installing portable toilets at Bow Falls.
Portable toilets were initially planned for 2024, but the Council voted to push back the installation until 2025 to save money.
The move will save Banff $25,000 in the capital budget and almost $40,000 in its operating budget for 2024.
The Council also pushed back on the construction of a $500,000 permanent washroom facility at the corner of Bow Avenue and Wolf Street.
The Council decided to push back both of these projects even after the town announced an almost 10 percent tax hike in January.
The permanent facility was planned for construction in 2027 but has been delayed until 2028.
In the Meantime
Instead of moving forward with the toilet projects, the town plans to buy a two-stall portable toilet facility in preparation for a busy summer.
“It is especially busy in summer with people accessing the canoe docks, river trails, and parking along Bow Avenue,” said Godfrey.
The non-permanent portable facility is a glorified shipping container with heated stalls, running water, and sinks.
Unlike the permanent facility, the portable facility will cost the town about $70,000 in capital costs and $77,000 in operating costs.
Councillor Chip Olver claims meeting visitors’ and residents’ bathroom needs is important, stating, “Washroom facilities are such a basic human need that we do need to pay attention to them.”
“It’s hard for people to travel almost half a kilometre to go to the bathroom from a spot where they need a washroom,” continued Olver.
Olver would also like portable facilities to include signs pointing to permanent washroom facilities for people who are uncomfortable using portable toilets.
DiManno opposes portable toilets and hopes the Council will consider the permanent washroom facilities soon.
“We hold so many people to such a high standard to Banff design guidelines, and it’s important that we hold ourselves to that standard too,” said DiManno.
So should the town spend more on permanent poo facilities, or is the portable solution a better money-saving option?
Whatever your opinion, if you are planning an outing in the Bow Falls area, try to do your business ahead of time!
