DDSB School Washroom Petition
The Issue
We, the undersigned parents, guardians, caregivers, residents, and members of the Durham Region community, respectfully request that the Durham District School Board (DDSB) ensure that students have meaningful choice in the washroom facilities available to them at school.
The DDSB has identified single-stall washrooms with shared handwashing areas as an “Innovative Design” approach and part of a broader shift in washroom design, and has indicated that this approach is being incorporated into some school construction projects. This design has been implemented at the newly constructed Waaban Public School in Oshawa and Cedar Valley Secondary School.
We recognize and support the importance of providing safe, respectful, accessible, and inclusive washroom facilities for every student. We also recognize that students have different needs, preferences, comfort levels, and circumstances when using school washrooms.
Our concern is that providing only individual single-stall or self-contained washrooms, even where universal and barrier-free facilities are also available, does not provide the same range of choices as a school that offers traditional male and female washrooms alongside universal or individual washroom options.
The recently constructed Waaban Public School/Cedar Valley Secondary School provides an example of this concern.
DDSB has confirmed that the new model has banks of single-stall, floor-to-ceiling washrooms as well as stand-alone barrier-free and universal washrooms. However, it does not provide traditional male and female student washrooms. While these facilities provide students with accessibility, many parents and community members do not believe that they provide the range of washroom choices that students should have. Some parents also have concerns about the privacy provided by individual washrooms that open directly onto common areas, as well as concerns about comfort, supervision, and the overall suitability of this design for younger students.
We believe that inclusion should mean providing more options, rather than eliminating options that many students and families value.
Many students may be comfortable using a single-stall, self-contained, or universal washroom, while others may prefer a traditional male or female washroom. Students should have the ability to choose the facility with which they are most comfortable. Providing multiple options allows students and families to select the washroom environment that best meets their individual needs and preferences.We respectfully ask the DDSB to consider the following:
• Students should have access to a traditional male or female washroom if that is the type of washroom they prefer and with which they feel most comfortable.
• Universal, barrier-free, and individual single-stall or self-contained washrooms should remain available as additional options for students who prefer or require them.
• Providing multiple washroom options can accommodate a broader range of students and individual circumstances.
• Many parents have concerns regarding privacy, comfort, safety, supervision, and the practical use of different washroom designs, particularly for younger elementary-aged children.
• Students and families have differing cultural, religious, personal, and privacy considerations, and providing choices allows families to select the option that best meets their individual circumstances.
• Significant changes to facilities used by students every day should involve meaningful consultation with parents, guardians, students, staff, and the broader school community.
We respectfully request that the Durham District School Board:
1. Provide students with access to traditional male and female washroom facilities in addition to universal, barrier-free, and/or individual single-stall or self-contained washrooms, so that students have a meaningful choice of washroom options.
2. Review the DDSB's approach to washroom design in new school construction and ensure that future schools provide traditional male and female washroom options alongside universal, barrier-free, and/or individual washroom facilities, rather than relying exclusively on single-stall or self-contained designs.
3. Consider providing traditional male and female washroom options when existing school washrooms are renovated or substantially redesigned, rather than automatically replacing gendered facilities with individual self-contained washrooms.
4. Review the washroom design at Wabaan/Cedar Valley Schools and consider introducing traditional male and female student washroom options at the earliest practical opportunity, such as during a future school break or scheduled renovation period when work can be undertaken without disrupting students. We respectfully ask that the concerns of families whose children attend Waaban be given particular consideration, given that the school is newly constructed and currently does not provide traditional male and female student washroom options.
5. Provide parents and the public with clear information about the washroom design standards and considerations used for new schools and school renovations, including how student and family preferences, privacy, accessibility, safety, and choice are considered.
6. Meaningfully consult with parents, guardians, students, staff, and community members before implementing significant or permanent changes to washroom design approaches in new or existing schools.
This petition is not intended to exclude or discriminate against any student or to remove universal, barrier-free, or individual single-stall washroom options. We support providing students with access to facilities that accommodate different needs and preferences.
Our request is that traditional male and female washroom options not be eliminated altogether, but instead remain available alongside other washroom options.
We believe that providing a range of washroom choices is a more inclusive approach because it allows students to use the facility with which they are most comfortable, while ensuring that no student loses access to an option they need or prefer.
School-Specific Support
We are also seeking to understand how broadly this concern is shared across DDSB schools.
If you are signing this petition as a parent or guardian of a DDSB student, please indicate the school your child attends below. This information will help demonstrate to the DDSB which school communities are requesting access to traditional male and female washroom options.
359
The Issue
We, the undersigned parents, guardians, caregivers, residents, and members of the Durham Region community, respectfully request that the Durham District School Board (DDSB) ensure that students have meaningful choice in the washroom facilities available to them at school.
The DDSB has identified single-stall washrooms with shared handwashing areas as an “Innovative Design” approach and part of a broader shift in washroom design, and has indicated that this approach is being incorporated into some school construction projects. This design has been implemented at the newly constructed Waaban Public School in Oshawa and Cedar Valley Secondary School.
We recognize and support the importance of providing safe, respectful, accessible, and inclusive washroom facilities for every student. We also recognize that students have different needs, preferences, comfort levels, and circumstances when using school washrooms.
Our concern is that providing only individual single-stall or self-contained washrooms, even where universal and barrier-free facilities are also available, does not provide the same range of choices as a school that offers traditional male and female washrooms alongside universal or individual washroom options.
The recently constructed Waaban Public School/Cedar Valley Secondary School provides an example of this concern.
DDSB has confirmed that the new model has banks of single-stall, floor-to-ceiling washrooms as well as stand-alone barrier-free and universal washrooms. However, it does not provide traditional male and female student washrooms. While these facilities provide students with accessibility, many parents and community members do not believe that they provide the range of washroom choices that students should have. Some parents also have concerns about the privacy provided by individual washrooms that open directly onto common areas, as well as concerns about comfort, supervision, and the overall suitability of this design for younger students.
We believe that inclusion should mean providing more options, rather than eliminating options that many students and families value.
Many students may be comfortable using a single-stall, self-contained, or universal washroom, while others may prefer a traditional male or female washroom. Students should have the ability to choose the facility with which they are most comfortable. Providing multiple options allows students and families to select the washroom environment that best meets their individual needs and preferences.We respectfully ask the DDSB to consider the following:
• Students should have access to a traditional male or female washroom if that is the type of washroom they prefer and with which they feel most comfortable.
• Universal, barrier-free, and individual single-stall or self-contained washrooms should remain available as additional options for students who prefer or require them.
• Providing multiple washroom options can accommodate a broader range of students and individual circumstances.
• Many parents have concerns regarding privacy, comfort, safety, supervision, and the practical use of different washroom designs, particularly for younger elementary-aged children.
• Students and families have differing cultural, religious, personal, and privacy considerations, and providing choices allows families to select the option that best meets their individual circumstances.
• Significant changes to facilities used by students every day should involve meaningful consultation with parents, guardians, students, staff, and the broader school community.
We respectfully request that the Durham District School Board:
1. Provide students with access to traditional male and female washroom facilities in addition to universal, barrier-free, and/or individual single-stall or self-contained washrooms, so that students have a meaningful choice of washroom options.
2. Review the DDSB's approach to washroom design in new school construction and ensure that future schools provide traditional male and female washroom options alongside universal, barrier-free, and/or individual washroom facilities, rather than relying exclusively on single-stall or self-contained designs.
3. Consider providing traditional male and female washroom options when existing school washrooms are renovated or substantially redesigned, rather than automatically replacing gendered facilities with individual self-contained washrooms.
4. Review the washroom design at Wabaan/Cedar Valley Schools and consider introducing traditional male and female student washroom options at the earliest practical opportunity, such as during a future school break or scheduled renovation period when work can be undertaken without disrupting students. We respectfully ask that the concerns of families whose children attend Waaban be given particular consideration, given that the school is newly constructed and currently does not provide traditional male and female student washroom options.
5. Provide parents and the public with clear information about the washroom design standards and considerations used for new schools and school renovations, including how student and family preferences, privacy, accessibility, safety, and choice are considered.
6. Meaningfully consult with parents, guardians, students, staff, and community members before implementing significant or permanent changes to washroom design approaches in new or existing schools.
This petition is not intended to exclude or discriminate against any student or to remove universal, barrier-free, or individual single-stall washroom options. We support providing students with access to facilities that accommodate different needs and preferences.
Our request is that traditional male and female washroom options not be eliminated altogether, but instead remain available alongside other washroom options.
We believe that providing a range of washroom choices is a more inclusive approach because it allows students to use the facility with which they are most comfortable, while ensuring that no student loses access to an option they need or prefer.
School-Specific Support
We are also seeking to understand how broadly this concern is shared across DDSB schools.
If you are signing this petition as a parent or guardian of a DDSB student, please indicate the school your child attends below. This information will help demonstrate to the DDSB which school communities are requesting access to traditional male and female washroom options.
Supporter Voices
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on September 10, 2026