Touchless tech and safer facilities coming to Windsor

Touchless technology is coming to a washroom near you. 

Windsor will be receiving massive upgrades to municipal infrastructure, thanks to funding from other levels of government. The COVID-19 Resilience Stream grant will provide a combined $3.2 million in funding, to make Windsor’s municipal building entrances and washrooms safer. 

Amidst the current pandemic, many cities and towns across Canada have found their current infrastructure insufficient to effectively prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses like the flu. This grant, contributed to by both the federal and Ontario government, will provide several million dollars in funding for ventilation improvements, keycard doors and touchless washrooms.  

The COVID-19 Resilience Stream was created to “provide provinces and territories with added flexibility to fund quick-start, short-term projects that might not otherwise be eligible under the existing funding streams,” said Infrastructure Canada’s website. The $3 billion in federal grants ultimately allow municipalities like Windsor to make city buildings, washrooms and trails safer for everyone.  

 

According to Brandon Celleja, of the City of Windsor Facilities Division, government funding will be used to add touchless tech to 18 city buildings across Wards 1 through 7. Some of these include: 

• Capri Pizza Recreation Complex 
• Mackenzie Hall 
• Malden Park 
• Capitol Theatre 

• Adventure Bay 
• Downtown Windsor Transit Terminal 
• City Hall 
• WFCU Centre 

The improvements being made to these facilities include the following: 

• Wave-activated door openers 
• Touchless faucets 
• Touchless soap dispensers 
• Touchless paper towel dispensers  
• Touchless hand dryers 

Miranda Caron, a student who often uses the transit terminal, said the new improvements would make her feel more protected while using city resources. Caron has a skin condition that reacts to most hand sanitizers provided by the city in municipal buildings. 

“It’s great to hear Windsor is really stepping up to make it safer for all of us who use their buildings,” Caron said. “I’m glad I will be able to keep my hands clean opening doors, since I can’t really use the sanitizer.”