When nature calls, Waterloo, Ont., resident Amy Perry answers honestly. Perry is the founder of “Flush and Tell: Waterloo Region,” a Facebook group with more than 300 members that review restrooms in restaurants, cafes, and public spaces. “I wanted to create a space where people could talk about the public washroom experiences that they’re having in Waterloo Region,” she said. Perry launched the group at the end of April. Members can post pictures of washrooms as long there are no people, or anything they’ve left behind, in the image. “We really discourage photos of really gross toilets,” Perry said. “No one needs to see that as they’re just scrolling through their feed.” Perry has a history of chronic illness and a child with autism. She said for her, finding a suitable bathroom is more than a convenience - it’s critical. “I just know that I’m not the only person walking around with some anxiety around bathrooms,” she said. Group member Peter Chiem said he is in a similar position and posts reviews every few days. “In my case, my son, he’s afraid of hand dryers, right? He’s autistic and so he needs a hand towel,” Chiem said. “So anything with paper towels is really useful to me.” Perry said other group members look for size, changing tables, accessibility, automatic or manual flushing and the scent of the soap. In Chiem’s hunt for the best porcelain throne, he said he’s also found community with other parents of autistic children. “We could talk about which washrooms are autistic-friendly and which are not, which ones are great for toilet paper and having changing stations and being accessible,” he said. As for Flush and Tell’s future, members said they hope to feature every ‘loo’ in Waterloo region and help people make informed decisions about where they take and do their business. “It’s not just about Google reviews and how good the food is,” Chiem said. “It’s also how good the washroom is too. That’s important as well.”
