GoHere® Washroom Access
GoHere® Helps You Find Nearby, Available Washrooms
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People living with Crohn’s or colitis can experience a frequent and urgent need for bowel movements – from 5 to 20 times a day. Anxiety about accidents is real. Finding a washroom quickly is a top priority. Many prefer to stay at home, or close to home, if they cannot be certain of finding a washroom outside of home.
The GoHere® free app is the solution that makes it easier for people with Crohn's or colitis to find a washroom when they need one. It is available for iPhone and Android devices.
GoHere® helps users find washrooms across Canada by mapping:
- the closest available washrooms to where you are, or
- available washrooms along a planned route, for instance on your commute to work, road trip, or when using public transportation.
Information for each listed site includes exact location, open/closed hours, website and telephone number. There is also a virtual Access Card that can be presented when requesting washroom access.
Justine’s story
Justine Giguère of Montreal was diagnosed with colitis at the age of 23 in 2021. She soon discovered GoHere® and began using it to find where she could go in case of emergency.
In 2023, she started a new role as a sales representative for L’ORÉAL, which requires her to be on the road five days a week to visit clients on the south shore of Montreal. She was stressed at the thought of being on the road and suddenly needing to go to the washroom – especially when her colitis acted up and created an urgent need for a bowel movement. GoHere® became her solution.
She said “Initially, I would skip meals on the road so as not to worry about needing a washroom. With GoHere®, my stress is reduced. I can eat and not worry. Even if I have a flare, I can still go out because I have a solution to manage an urgent need. It’s great to know that I can use the bathroom in participating stores without buying anything because they’re part of GoHere®. It’s a quick, no-questions-asked solution.”
GoHere® is always looking to expand the number of listed washrooms. Currently, the types of organizations that join GoHere® are
- Businesses
- Governments, including:
Some Government of Canada offices
City of Vancouver, BC
City of North Vancouver, BC
City of Surrey, BC
City of Port Moody, BC
City of Westminster, BC
City of Burnaby, BC
City of Coquitlam, BC
City of Port Coquitlam, BC
City of Edmonton, AB
City of Calgary, AB
City of Mississauga, ON
City of Barrie, ON
City of Stouffville, ON
City of Stratford, ON
- Other organizations such as hospitals and universities
Partner organizations can request a decal they can show to the public to let them know they are participating in the GoHere® program.
Being listed is a way to support those who face incontinence challenges – including those with Crohn’s and colitis as well as others. Participation in GoHere® makes a real difference in the lives of many.
Contact gohere...crohnsandcolitis...ca or fill out our online form if you would like to have a washroom listed on GoHere®.
Most locations on the GoHere® app were listed with the support of volunteers who contacted their governments, businesses or other organizations. Their connections and outreach can be the difference to convince organizations to participate.
If you are interested in identifying and registering washrooms for the GoHere® app, email gohere...crohnsandcolitis...ca or fill out our volunteer form and indicate that you want to help with GoHere® in the ‘Interested in a specific role?’ text box. We will follow up with you with information and training to help you approach organizations in your community.
Matthew’s story
Matthew Sebastiani of Vancouver lives with ulcerative colitis and has volunteered for Crohn’s and Colitis Canada in many ways since 2016. This includes engaging governments and businesses to list their washrooms on the GoHere® app.
He explains: “I volunteer because I know first-hand how crucial it is to advocate for the expansion of GoHere® to support those who urgently need access to washrooms. Whether someone lives with Crohn’s, colitis or another medical condition, improving washroom access brings down barriers and creates a more inclusive community. This initiative is an easy way for businesses and governments to make a meaningful impact in the lives of many.”