Unique Contest Comes to a Head

Along with chilly mornings and an expanded offering of faux-pumpkin-flavoured drinks, the onset of autumn delivers the promise of beautiful bathrooms. The annual Cintas Canada restroom contest, now in its second year, seeks to crown the country’s finest throne, as voted on by the very public that might rest its tender parts thereon.

The ultimate winner (vote at www.bestrestroom.com/canada) will be announced on October 24, but among the five best-bathroom finalists that came out last week, find two hopeful Toronto johns.

The bathroom at e11even is remarkable for a slew of reasons, not the least of which are the heated toilet seats. And the warmth continues at this spacious public restroom, with top-to-tail marble and some of those really funky sinks that make you call your girlfriend in for a look. But the finest touch, perhaps inspired by Homer Simpson’s surprising encounter on his trip to a Tokyo can, are the Toto Washlets. Punch some buttons on the wall-mounted panel here and watch as the toilet-slash-bidet springs into spraying life. The question of rear or front direction is at the discretion of the user.

The other Toronto washroom Cintas tapped for this coveted title is the one at the Allstream Centre. Heralded for its attention to seating (abundant and comfortable) and lighting (soft and flattering), the ladies’ waterclosets are tripped out in the most environmentally friendly of details. These include low-flow flushing, a rainwater-harvesting program that redirects roof water into the john and recycled-fibre paper products that are composted after use.

Toronto’s pair of nominees competes against the space-age commodes at the Ottawa Convention Centre, the luxurious ambiance of the Hotel Le Germain lavatories and the energy-efficient pit stop at David Morris Fine Cars in Edmonton. 

To the victor go the spoils.