New HEAL Study: Gender, Toilets, and the Planning Gap in Canadian Parks: Findings from a United Nations Framework Analysis of Municipal Policies
- Post by: Anastasia Soukhov
- 1:08PM Nov 03, 2025
- No Comment
A new study led by HEAL researcher Shawna Lewkowitz, alongside Jason Gilliland and Stephanie Coen, reveals that many Canadian municipalities are falling short of their obligations under the United Nations access to sanitation in public spaces framework. The study analyzes 159 municipal parks and recreation master plans across Canada to assess how well they address gendered access to good quality public toilets.
The study identifies a significant planning gap in Canadian municipalities. Without clean, safe, and inclusive public toilets, women, transgender, and gender-diverse individuals, especially those who are unhoused or low-income, face barriers to accessing public spaces.
To address this, the authors recommend some key take aways:
- Engaging marginalized communities in planning processes
- Creating gender-inclusive toilet strategies
- Ensuring 24/7 access and clear signage
- Including menstrual facilities in all toilets
- Designing for privacy, safety, and dignity
This research highlights the urgent need for Canadian municipalities to align their parks and recreation planning with human rights obligations. Vancouver’s approach offers an example for how cities can better meet the UN criteria and promote gender equity through inclusive sanitation infrastructure
Citation: Lewkowitz, S., Gilliland, J., & Coen, S. (2025). Gender, toilets, and the planning gap: A United Nations framework analysis of Canadian municipal parks policies. Canadian Geographies / Géographies canadiennes, 69, e70036. https://doi.org/10.1111/cag.70036