A Regina Beach business owner is looking for some answers as more and more start to visit his community.
Denny Joyal is a managing partner at the Waterfront Bar and Grill. He is happy to see the community open, but he wonders if it really is open especially when bathrooms are closed for those visiting.
That has resulted in some just deciding to do their thing outdoors on a trail or in a bush leaving behind waste.
Joyal says he understands the frustration visitors would have.
“There’s no one to blame.” Joyal said. “It is unfortunate for the people who want to enjoy the beach and are coming, but when they get here there are no amenities for them.”
He feels the province needs to enforce the closure of the beach or facilities need to be made available for those visiting. As it stands right now, there is one single-stall bathroom that is open 24/7 and is being cleaned, but it is by the boat launch and is a place that some may not even know exists.
Joyal’s business is located right near the beach and with Phase 3 of the ‘Re-Open Saskatchewan plan” starting Monday allowing him to re-open, he is hoping that doesn’t result in his business being overwhelmed by beach users wanting to use the facilities in his business.
“With no public facilities, I don’t want to become the defacto washroom for the whole area.” Joyal said.
The Parks Ministry says RCMP and conservation officers are conducting periodic checks, but Joyal says the RCMP has better things to do with their time than walk up and down the beach and trails.
The government has indicated public washrooms will be re-open once Phase 4 begins. That date remains unknown.