By Armchair Mayor

ROTHENBURGER: Lack of change station in men’s washroom a First World problem

Feb 14, 2019 | 4:00 AM

IF YOU HAD ANY DOUBTS that we live in a nanny state, read up on the case of the Kamloops dad who was “shocked” to find the men’s washroom in a Kamloops McDonalds didn’t have a diaper change station.

He asked an employee about it who confirmed the only place to change diapers was in the women’s washroom, which was briefly closed to other customers while he did the change.

But he wanted to complain. In the old days you wrote a letter or called the manager but we live in the time of social media. So, of course, he and his wife went on Facebook and Twitter alleging sexism, which resulted in McDonalds apologizing that, due to space restrictions, change tables are not available in every restaurant. However, it said, the situation was being reviewed.

Then, CBC radio got involved, obviously feeling this was the kind of outrage that deserved wider attention.

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Sorry, try as I might, I can’t get overwrought about this. In hindsight, McDonalds coulda and shoulda made provision for a change station in its men’s washroom during a recent major renovation. After all, a fold-down change station only takes up about two feet of wall space.

A lot of stores of various kinds have them, so it doesn’t appear to be an issue of major proportions. Point is, though, it was appropriate to point out the omission to McDonalds but I don’t think it required an expletive-punctuated tweet to accomplish it.

All’s well that ends well, though. McDonalds learned a lesson, belatedly hung a change station over the toilet in the men’s washroom at that location — although the dad now complains it’s too small — and we can get on with solving other First World problems.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.