Flushing out Public Spaces: Urban Security and Public Washrooms in the City of Ottawa

• In Event: From Historic Forensics to Contemporary Criminology: State Control, Crime Prevention, and Disaster

Abstract

The City of Ottawa, Canada’s Capital, is constructing a light rail transit system to provide citizens with a contemporary public transportation system. However, in the development plans, public washrooms are not included. City documents typically identify safety and security concerns as the reason why public washrooms are excluded in the design. In short, it is a crime prevention strategy.  This research attempts to understand how perceptions of danger creates opportunity for policymakers to socially control public spaces by examining this case study, where people’s private troubles become public issues and public issues caused people private troubles. 

Author

• Ryan Buchanan, University of Ottawa