PORT MOODY – The City of Port Moody and Crohn’s and Colitis Canada are pleased to announce Port Moody’s participation in Crohn’s and Colitis Canada’s GoHere™ Washroom Access Program. The locations of City-owned washroom facilities can now be found easily by using the free GoHere™ washroom locator app.
“We are excited to be a part of this important program,” says Mayor Meghan Lahti. “By joining with GoHere, we hope to reduce barriers for anyone who may be in urgent need of a washroom, including our residents and visitors living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Making information about public washrooms easily accessible through the GoHere app aligns with our commitment to ensure Port Moody is a welcoming place where our values – including accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion – are the foundation of everything we do.”
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada CEO Lori Radke says: “We thank the City of Port Moody for joining our GoHere™ Program to make their washroom locations searchable. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis can cause an urgent need to use a washroom. Knowing where publicly available washrooms are located will make it easier for people with these diseases to manage their symptoms and lead active, productive and fulfilling lives. These additional listed locations will make a difference in the lives of many people.”
Matthew Sebastiani, President of the Vancouver Chapter of Crohn’s and Colitis Canada says: “We are grateful to the City of Port Moody for supporting our GoHere™ Washroom Access Program. As a Tri-Cities resident, I know that this participation will improve accessibility to support those living with Crohn’s, colitis, and other medical conditions that require urgent access to washrooms.”
The free GoHere™ washroom locator app, downloaded 46,000 times to date, identifies nearby available washrooms – no questions asked. Increased washroom accessibility has benefits not only for people living with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, but also for many others including individuals with various conditions that cause incontinence such as certain neurological disorders and forms of cancer. Seniors, pregnant women, and young children also benefit from the GoHere™ program.
The City of Port Moody joins other cities across Canada and British Columbia that participate in GoHere™ including Burnaby, Coquitlam, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Surrey, and Vancouver. For more information, visit crohnsandcolitis.ca/gohere. The City has reached out to businesses and organizations in Port Moody to encourage them to join the program. Anyone who wants to inquire about joining can email gohere...crohnsandcolitis...ca.
About Crohn’s and Colitis
More than 320,000 Canadians live with Crohn’s or colitis today and an estimated 470,000 by 2035. In 2023, an estimated 11,000 were diagnosed, meaning a new diagnosis every 48 minutes in Canada. Crohn’s and colitis cause the body to attack healthy tissue in the bowels, which causes inflammation of all or part of the gastrointestinal tract. The most common symptoms include severe abdominal pain, nausea, fatigue, internal bleeding, and the unpredictable and urgent need to use the washroom.
About Crohn’s and Colitis Canada
Celebrating 50 years in 2024, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada is on a relentless journey to transform the lives of people affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis by finding the cures for these lifelong diseases and improving the quality of life of everyone affected. Follow us at crohnsandcolitis.ca, @getgutsycanada on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok, and at Crohn’s and Colitis Canada on YouTube and LinkedIn.
About the GoHere Washroom Access Program
The GoHere™ Washroom Locator App helps people find the closest available washroom anywhere in Canada, as a significant concern for those living with Crohn’s or colitis is accessing washrooms quickly when they are away from home. The overall Program engages businesses, governments, and other organizations to make their bathrooms available to members of the public, showing support for those with conditions that cause incontinence. The app is free and available for iPhone and Android devices.
Accessibility initiatives in Port Moody
The City of Port Moody is taking steps to identify, remove, and prevent barriers for Port Moody residents and visitors of all abilities who use City services and/or facilities, and participate in City programs. The City has an Accessibility Plan in place that outlines the work that has been initiated or planned to address accessibility barriers in Port Moody. It is a living document that will change as: the work of an internal accessibility committee progresses; feedback is sought from staff, Council, and select Council committees; and feedback is sought from the public through an accessibility feedback form. The City also has a Council Committee on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility, which provides Council with advice and recommendations on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility issues, strategies, and initiatives. Visit portmoody.ca/accessibility to learn more.
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Media contacts:
Natasha Vander Wal, Communications Specialist – Editorial
City of Port Moody
Tel: 604.469.4587
Email: communications...portmoody...ca
Matthew Sebastiani, President, Vancouver Chapter
Crohn’s and Colitis Canada
Tel: 604.842.5360
Email: vancouverchapter...crohnsandcolitis...ca
The City of Port Moody operates on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú 7mesh (Squamish), (Katzie), q'ʷa Peoples: n̓ ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), qiqéyt (Qayqayt) and Stó: lō (Sto: lo). We thank them for this opportunity to work in this territory.