The small community of Port Edward, located just south of Prince Rupert in northwest British Columbia, is offering free low-flush toilets to its residents on a first-come, first-serve basis. These toilets have been stored in the district office basement for the past twenty years as leftover stock from a water conservation project in 2003.
Tyson Schofield, the district’s chief administrative officer, mentioned that the toilets were occupying unnecessary space in the basement and decided to distribute them to residents for their intended use. Schofield, who joined the Port Edward community in June, discovered 35 toilets in the office basement and initiated the program to give them away for free.
The district announced the free toilet giveaway on social media on August 27, using an image of Oprah Winfrey with the caption, “You get a toilet! You get a toilet! You get a toilet!” By the following day, 18 toilets had already been claimed by residents.
One of the residents, Teresa Andrews, expressed gratitude for the initiative as she collected a free toilet for her and her sons’ houses. She mentioned that this opportunity allowed them to upgrade their toilets without the need to purchase new ones from a hardware store.
Schofield explained that the original purchase of the toilets in 2003 was connected to a water treatment plant reconstruction project that required the community to reduce water usage to secure grant funding. While acknowledging that the toilets are more than 20 years old and their quality cannot be guaranteed, Schofield highlighted the importance of water conservation and mentioned that two of the toilets installed in the district office have been functioning effectively.
In conclusion, the free toilet giveaway in Port Edward aims to assist residents in upgrading their toilets while promoting water conservation within the community.