OUTLET: Edson Leader
All of us have got to go at one time or another, to the restroom that is, and if that washroom is unique for its cleanliness or quirkiness, we’d often like others to know about it.
Well here’s your chance West Yellowhead residents — nominate an outstanding business related restroom facility in the sixth annual Cintas Canada’s Best Restroom Contest.
“We put the contest on every year because we want to recognize companies that are doing it right,” said contest survey editor Rachael Keshishian.
Very often it’s messy washroom facilities that people remember the most, said Keshishian.
“Nothing is more memorable than having a bad experience in a public washroom.”
The contest recognizes those businesses and companies that are going above and beyond when it comes to offering stellar restroom services to its customers.
“We’ve had finalists in all types of venues from restaurants to hotels, to a car dealership, a gas station, and even a zoo,” said Leslie Molin, Cintas Canada’s senior marketing manager.
The company is a supplier of restroom cleaners and supplies.
“The reason we sponsor this contest is to remind businesses that a clean, well-stocked restroom directly impacts their ability to attract and retain customers.”
The Valleyview Shell Station on Highway 43 was the winner in 2013.
“They always stand out in my mind because they’re a gas station and a truck stop and you don’t expect to see these beautiful chandeliers or these wooden doors or granite countertops when you go into a bathroom at a gas station,” said Keshishian.
The 2014-restroom winner had glass doors on their washroom stalls. When a person locks the door on a stall the glass turns from clear to smoky, so the user or others can’t see through it.
People can submit their nominations for Canada’s Best restroom on the Cintas website at www.bestrestroom.com/canada or email Keshishian at rachael@rubincommunications.com. Deadline for nominations is July 31.
Five finalists will be chosen from across Canada and the Territories this summer. The general public will choose the overall winner. Canada’s Best Restroom is also on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CanadasBestRestroom.
The overall winner is scheduled to be announced at the end of September.
Over the years the most nominations have been received from Ontario and B.C. — the Toronto and Vancouver areas specifically.
Nominators don’t receive prize recognition for their efforts and there’s a good reason for that, Keshishian said.
“More than one person often nominates them [a business or company]. The ones that are great people often know about.”
However Cintas has often discussed the nominator issue so a prize or some type of recognition may occur in future contests.
“It’s definitely something we’ve talked about,” Keshishian said.
“We would like to get nominations from across the country.”
