Across the AGO, we want spaces where everyone feels welcome – and that includes washrooms. Last fall, signage on select washrooms was changed to introduce Everyone Washrooms.
Since then, we have learned that making washrooms that are inclusive for everyone involves more than changing the signs on the door. Establishing Everyone Washrooms involves significant renovation to change the equipment inside them.
We heard from AGO staff and volunteers and our visitors that there is support for Everyone Washrooms, but more work needs to be done to update facilities – including removing urinals and having longer stall doors.
At this moment, the AGO isn’t able to retrofit washrooms to meet these needs. Our goal remains that everyone who visits the AGO has a washroom option that they feel comfortable with. To achieve that, signage on two Everyone Washrooms (concourse level and Gallery 225) will be updated to gendered washroom options. What’s consistent is that everyone will have a washroom option they are comfortable with.
Everyone Washrooms are located:
- Concourse: next to Gallery 021
Single Stall and Accessible Washrooms are located:
- Concourse Level: The Annex (family washroom). Note these washrooms will close Spring 2024 as the AGO begins work for the Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery expansion.
- Level 1 (Gallery 110)
All other washrooms are gendered.
Q&A
Q1. Why is the AGO changing how it labels its washrooms?
- Across the AGO, we want to make washrooms that are inclusive for everyone. In the past year, we have learned that making washrooms that are inclusive for everyone involves more than changing the signs on the door. Establishing inclusive washrooms involves significant renovation to change the equipment inside them. While the AGO explores the cost and feasibility of removing urinals and adjusting stall doors to retrofit gendered washrooms into Everyone washrooms, most washrooms have returned to how they were purpose-built.
Q2. Why are there still Everyone washrooms in the museum?
- Across the AGO, we want spaces where everyone feels welcome – and that includes washrooms.
Q3. Why isn’t there an Everyone Washroom on each floor?
- Most of the washrooms in the AGO were built as gendered washrooms. In the past year, we have learned that making washrooms that are inclusive for everyone involves more than changing the signs on the door. Establishing inclusive washrooms involves significant renovation to change the equipment inside them. AGO is exploring the cost and feasibility of removing urinals and adjusting stall doors to retrofit gendered washrooms into Everyone Washrooms. Until we can make those changes, Everyone Washrooms are available on the Concourse level (next to Gallery 021) and single-stall washrooms are available on the Concourse Level (The Annex family washroom) and Level 1 (Gallery 110).
Q4. When will the AGO be retrofitting the washrooms to make more Everyone Washrooms?
- Washrooms in the soon-to-be-built Dani Reiss Modern and Contemporary Gallery will be purpose-built Everyone Washrooms. Until then, the AGO is exploring the cost and feasibility of removing urinals and adjusting stall doors to retrofit gendered washrooms into Everyone washrooms. We do not have an estimated date for that work.
Q5. Where can I find changing tables?
- A changing table is located in every AGO washroom.
Q6. Where can visitors feed their baby?
- Visitors are welcome to nurse their baby in any of the Gallery’s seating areas. Walker Court on our main level and Galleria Italia on the second floor both have comfortable seats and benches. For more privacy or quiet space, there is seating along the windows overlooking the Gallery school in the Weston Family Learning Centre or in the foyer just outside the Everyone washrooms.
Questions?
- Reach out to Trish Popkin, Associate Director, Visitor Welcome, at [email protected]