There’s been quite the controversy online and in the Albertan recently about the design of Innisfail’s Aquatic Centre’s renovations, specifically the universal change room -- the common area with lockers, benches, and sinks, where swimmers enter and proceed to change into their swimwear in nearby private stalls.
Details, schematics, and explanations are easily available on the Town of Innisfail’s website.
I do not understand the fear and outrage this has generated.
Many scenarios have been suggested of how bad this could get - acts of predation, voyeurism, assault, and of lack of privacy, yet this universal change room would appear to drastically lessen the chances of exactly those such occurrences.
Until the pool’s closure, there were often unsupervised school-aged boys baring all, changing into their swimsuits alongside grown men doing the same. Few used the two to three tiny, curtained privacy cubicles. Not a comfortable situation.
I would assume the same occurred in the women’s change room.
But the new design will totally eliminate that. Nobody will be naked in front of anybody else. How can that not be more comforting to a mom who has to send their boy alone into the “men’s” change room?
When going for a swim at the pool there is a tacit agreement and understanding that everyone will see you in your street clothes as well as your swimsuit. And now, that’s all that will be seen.
From the schematics it appears the common area can be seen from the lobby through glass doors as well as partially from the pool deck. Nobody changes into their swimsuits in the lobby, do they?
So how is the other side of those glass doors suddenly scarier and more depraved than the lobby or pool deck?
Moms can be with their boys, dads can be with their girls, and teachers and guardians can be with their charges. Swimmers must now change behind one of 20-plus completely private, locked, floor-to-ceiling doors. How is this not better, more comfortable for all? How is this not safer?
Further, there is evidence that supports that this can drastically reduce instances of bullying among school-aged kids. They are no longer literally exposed to all their schoolmates and especially those ubiquitous bullies. How is this not better?
This setup will provide a safe space for any transgender kids, or adults, to change in privacy and not have to deal with the hefty baggage and reactions of the naysayers and haters.
And for those who cling to such weighty carry-ons, they won’t have to deal with it either. Nothing to see here. Move along. How is this not…lighter – for all?
As for the politics and all the administration and council-bashing, the process has been very transparent and has been extensively communicated, and it has been, unfortunately, far too lengthy - years!
Had our provincial government followed through with proper funding as they should have, we would have had a brand-new complex in the works, perhaps with segregated change rooms (as a 2021 survey favoured if a new multiplex were the option). But it didn’t. Perhaps it’s the premier who should be queried.
The Town of Innisfail consequently only had so much funding and could not afford a design expanding the actual size of the existing building, which would be necessary to accommodate these concerns of a universal change room, as well as comply with current building codes.
Council engaged with the public, weighed the options, and made a decision. That’s their job. I believe it was the right one. Perhaps the only one possible, other than doing nothing and perpetually throwing good money (taxes) after bad.
There’s no going back to the drawing board on this. The time for copious consultation with citizens occurred and now it’s over. Decisions need to be made or nothing will get done.
The fear and the rage-snowballing about all this is so unwarranted and mis-directed. Perhaps it is change that is feared, and not the changeroom.
Jim Carroll,
Innisfail
