COMMISSIONER RANDY LEONARD'S BLOG

Portland Loo in Victoria, B.C. receives "Canada's Best Restroom" award by popular vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:  Anna DiBenedetto 503-823-3001 

Portland Loo in Victoria, British Columbia, voted Canada’s Best 

The Only Portland Loo outside of Portland was sold to Victoria, British Columbia and installed almost exactly one year ago, and already it is making a name for itself with the prestigious popularly selected “ Canada’s Best Restroom” award!  The Langley Street Loo, as they call it, was sited in the heart of a busy nightclub scene, and the goal was to address a rampant public urination issue.  Not only the Loo working, but people love the new amenity!   

The City of Portland now has 6 Portland Loos around the central City. Perhaps this will be the momentum the Portland Loo needs to get more sales around the globe! 

For more information on the Portland Loo please visit the website: www.portlandloo.com

 
From Cintas and the City of Victoria:

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 Media Contact: Sabrina Zimring

Survey Editor, Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom Contest

O: (757) 456-5212 C: (757) 338-7731

[email protected]

City of Victoria, Contact: Katie Josephson

Director of Corporate Communications

O: (250) 361-0210 C: (250) 217-8343

[email protected] 

B.C. Bathroom is Canada’s Best 

Victoria’s Langley Street Loo Flushes the Competition in the 3rd Annual Cintas’ Canada’s Best Restroom Contest 

Mississauga, ON- November 6, 2012- Cleanliness, convenience and customer service converge at Langley Street near Bastion Square in Downtown Victoria, British Columbia, where the City’s prized public potty offers around the clock relief to residents for free. 

Victoria’s Langley Street Loo was a fan favourite in Cintas Canada’s annual contest beating out the other four top contenders to take the crown in this year’s competition. Canadians voted Toronto the No. 2 place to go No. 1 with This Is London Club and Earls placing second and third. The Georgian Court Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia came in fourth and fifth place went to the Centre for Professional Training in Repentigny, Québec.  

Victoria’s city council members were flushed with pride as they accepted the top honour during a media event this morning in Bastion Square. 

“The Langley Street Loo is part of a larger strategy that ensures our downtown is vibrant and safe – day and night,” said Victoria Mayor, Dean Fortin. “Access to public amenities, like a 24- hour washroom, are important to our downtown community. It is even better when those amenities are attractive and innovative.” 

High-resolution images of today’s award presentation at the Langley Loo as well as photos of all five finalists are available at: http://www.bestrestroom.com/canada/finalists-images.asp 

“It’s not the most lavish restroom by any measure but that’s the beauty of a public poll,

everyone’s opinion counts,” said Rod Farquharson, Director of Sales and Operations for Cintas Western Canada. “At the core this contest is intended to recognize public washroom facilities that ‘serve’ residents in surrounding communities and the Langley Street Loo is the essence of hospitably when you consider it’s an all-accessible, well-maintained, ecofriendly and free facility,” he added. The Langley Street Loo is applauded for its open design, offering the optimal balance of personal privacy and public access. It features a unisex toilet, exterior hand washing station, graffiti proof coating, and a lit sign that makes it easy to find at night. This ready-made stainless steel facility is fully accessible for people with disabilities.  

The Langley Street Loo was purchased from the City of Portland, Oregon, in 2011 for $90,000 and is maintained throughout the day by the City’s sanitation crew.

The 2012 contest attracted nominations from a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, hotels, educational institutions and nightclubs. Five finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. Thousands of votes were cast online through October, which produced the following results:

Business/Facility Location

First Place: Langley Street Loo Victoria, British Columbia

Second Place: This is London Club Toronto, Ontario

Third Place: Earls- King Street Toronto, Ontario

Fourth Place: The Georgian Court Hotel Vancouver, British Columbia

Fifth Place: Centre for Professional Training Repentigny, Québec 

To view photos of previous winners, visit the Hall of Fame on the contest website at

www.bestrestroom.com/canada.  

Cintas Canada launched the Best Restroom Contest in 2010 to honour those businesses across the country that place hygiene and style at the top of their priority lists. Proprietors recognize the parallel between clean washrooms and customer retention.  

“This contest is undoubtedly fun but it also conveys a critical message that restroom hygiene matters for good health and good business," said Farquharson, who directs sales and operations for Cintas Canada’s western division. “We’re looking forward to celebrating our fourth year in 2013 and invite the public to nominate their favourite facility online now for consideration in next year’s competition,” he added.  

For more information or to set up an interview, please contact the Survey Editor, Sabrina

Zimring, at 757-338-7731. 

About Cintas Canada Ltd: 

Cintas Canada Ltd, with headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario is a subsidiary of Cintas

Corporation. Cintas Canada designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning and document shredding services to approximately 55,000 businesses in Canada. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. 

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 Posted by Anna DiBenedetto 

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to an Apartment Fire (15780 SE Division)

Friday morning at 8:28 am Portland Fire & Rescue and the Gresham Fire Department responded to an apartment fire at 15780 SE Division Street. Firefighters arrived and found heavy smoke and fire in two apartments an in a stairwell shared with two other apartments. Firefighters were informed by neighbors that people were still inside the burning apartments. One apartment was located on the first floor and the other was directly above on the second floor. The fire was also beginning to move into the attic.

Despite working smoke alarms that alerted the occupants, the fire spread quickly and several people were unable to escape. Immediately on arrival, firefighters from Station 31 (Rockwood) began aggressively attacking the fire while crews from Station 7 (Mill Park) started rescuing victims. 3 people were unable to get out of the apartments as their escape route was blocked by heavy fire and smoke. Using ladders, Firefighters were able to rescue two of the people from the upstairs apartment, who were transported to the hospital and released. Tragically, despite being carried from the burning lower apartment, one person died.

Portland Fire & Rescue's Chief Erin Janssens went to the scene after she learned of the death. She said the following, "Our hearts go out to the family and friends who have lost their loved one. Despite our efforts to prevent fires and keep our community safe, fire remains a very real threat; this is a tragic loss."

Four apartments will be uninhabitable and the American Red Cross will be providing shelter and clothing, as needed for 10 people. Investigators have valued the monetary damages at $190,000. No information on the fires cause is available at this point. 　

* Working smoke alarms save lives- Every sleeping area, Every level, and replace every 10 years

* Know another route- Always have a secondary means of egress

* After you are out- don't go back for anything!

* Meet at a central location out front so you can quickly relay to firefighters if someone is still inside and needs to be rescued　

Contact Info: Lt. Damon Simmons, Media Pager (503) 209-8341

Spirit of Portland Awards ceremony tonight at 7:00 pm, City Council recognizes 19 community and neighborhood leaders

Monday, October 29

7 to 9 p.m.

DoubleTree Hotel at the Lloyd Center

1000 N.E. Multnomah Street

Cascade Ballroom

Portland, Oregon

Commissioner Amanda Fritz and the Office of Neighborhood Involvement invite you to the 27th annual Spirit of Portland awards ceremony where nineteen community leaders will be recognized by the Portland City Council.  All are welcome and encouraged to attend.  A reception with cake will follow the awards presentation.  The event will be broadcast live on Cable Channel 30, thanks to Portland Community Media.

“The Spirit of Portland awards are Portland’s Oscars. They are a tribute to the many amazing community and neighborhood leaders who contribute to our thriving civic life in Portland,” Commissioner Amanda Fritz, Commissioner-in-charge of the Office of Neighborhood Involvement.

How awardees were chosen

Awards are chosen from nominations submitted by Portlanders, by a selection committee of representatives from the Neighborhood District/Coalition offices, Business Associations, non-profit community organizations, the Mayor’s and City Commissioners’ offices, the Office of Neighborhood Involvement, and past award winners. In addition, the Mayor and each City Commissioner recognize individual and organizational leaders.

Award recipients were chosen based on meeting the following criteria:

1. Assisting in the implementation of outstanding projects,
2. Enriching and revitalizing our community and neighborhoods,
3. Providing the community with a special service,
4. Demonstrating responsiveness, creativity and civic values,
5. Raising cross-cultural awareness, and,
6. Acting as good steward of the environment.
   

The 2012 Spirit of Portland Award winners are (links lead to bios):

Community Stewardship                                                  

Kathy Fuerstenau                                                         

Bruce Murray                                                           

 

Outstanding Organization

Bradley Angle

Albina Head Start

 

Independent Spirit                                                      

Charlene Williams        

       

Emerging Community Leader                                    

Chabre Vickers

 

Community Harmony                                                 

Gigi Lambert                                                                

Linda Nguyen

                                                                                   

Outstanding Partnership

Arlene Kimura

 

Neighborhood Association of the Year                                              

Ashcreek Neighborhood Association                                   

 

Sandy Diedrich Environmental Stewardship

Friends of Mt. Tabor Park– Weed Warriors

 

Mayor Sam Adams                                                     

Gwyneth Gamble Booth

Dr. Preston Pulliams

 

Commissioner Nick Fish

Grant High School Community Garden Team

University of Portland Women’s Soccer Team

 

Commissioner Amanda Fritz                                     

Business Association of the Year: Northeast Broadway Business Association

 

Commissioner Randy Leonard

Rodney Haven

 

Commissioner Dan Saltzman

Oregon College of Oriental Medicine

Miriam Green, Oregon DHS, Child Welfare Program Manager

Accessibility

The DoubleTree facility is ADA accessible for wheelchairs. The Office of Neighborhood Involvement will make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities and/or language interpretation needs upon request.  Please notify us no less than four business days prior to the event by phone 503-823-9970 City's TTY at 503-823-6868, or by the Oregon Relay Service at 800-735-2900.

Transportation

The DoubleTree at the Lloyd Center is near stops for Trimet service lines 70, and 77; Blue, Green and Red Max lines; and the Portland Streetcar CL line.

Co-sponsor

DoubleTree by Hilton Portland is a co-sponsor of this year’s Spirit of Portland event, providing the venue at a significant discount to the City to support this community celebration.

For more information 

Nickole Cheron, Office of Neighborhood Involvement

503-823-9970

[email protected]   

www.portlandoregon.gov/oni/spiritofportland

Portland Fire & Rescue Will Conduct a Drill at The Fox Tower (805 SW Broadway)

On Friday, October 26th, 2012, Portland Fire & Rescue will be conducting a drill at The Fox Tower (805 SW Broadway).  The purpose of this drill is to re-acquaint firefighters with the building's fire protection systems and to allow firefighters to test firefighting techniques that would be used to combat fire in a high-rise building.  The drill will take place from 6:30pm-9:30pm and will include Portland Fire & Rescue, Fox Tower management, Building Engineers and representatives of the building's alarm company. 

The Fox Tower (as with most modern high-rise structures) is equipped with fire pumps. These pumps ensure that adequate water is available on the higher floors for firefighters to use; they also supply building fire sprinkler systems.  Firefighters will be evaluating the capabilities of this system, as well as testing new tools and techniques developed for use in the very unlikely event that the system (which has built-in redundancies) fails.  This is a rare opportunity for firefighters and the lessons learned will be shared throughout the region to ensure that local responders remain as effective as possible.  The Fox Tower is one of the safest high-rise buildings in the region, due to innovative systems and vigilance by building personnel.

Portland Fire & Rescue gratefully acknowledges The Fox Tower for this valuable training opportunity.   The media is welcome and encouraged to attend.  Again, the details are as follows:

Date - Friday, October 26th, 2012
Time - 6:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Location - 805 SW Broadway (The Fox Tower) Participants - Portland Fire & Rescue, TMT Development, Fox Tower Management, Building Engineers and representatives from Simplex Grinnell

Contact Info: Lt. Damon Simmons, Media Pager (503) 940-6003

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to Evening Attic Fire in NE Portland

Firefighters from Alberta Park Station 14 were dispatched on report of smoke in a structure. A neighbor reported hearing an alarm and smelling smoke. The neighbor then reported looking inside and seeing the smoke increasing. Shortly afterwards dispatch upgraded to a residential fire response, adding 3 additional Engines, 2 Trucks, 3 Chief Officers and a Fire Investigator.

Upon their arrival, Engine 14 reported light but increasing smoke issuing from the rear of the structure. Crews were immediately assigned to locate and extinguish the fire as well as performing Search & Rescue operations. Additional crews were placed on the roof to provide ventilation for the interior crews. Cutting holes in roofs allow for hot gases and smoke to clear, making the space more tenable for potential victims and improving visibility for firefighters.

After a brief search the fire was located in the upstairs knee-walls and attic space and quickly suppressed. There were no injuries. A Fire Investigator is on scene identifying the cause and damage estimates. Updates will be posted when available.

18:59 Initial dispatch to smoke call

19:01 Upgrade to Residential Fire

19:04 First unit arrives

19:21 Incident Recalled　

Contact Info: Firefighter / PIO Tommy Schroeder Media Pager: (503) 940-6003

Portland Fire & Rescue responds to vehicle crash on Woodstock

Firefighters were dispatched to a car accident on 83rd and Woodstock at 8:37 pm Saturday night. When they arrived they found 2 occupants still trapped inside one of the vehicles. Engine 11 (Lents) and Station 25 (Woodstock), which houses an engine and a truck, quickly formulated a plan of rescue, which involved pulling protection hose lines, stabilizing the vehicle, and gathering all the necessary equipment to extricate the victims safely.

Fire crews used the "Jaws of Life" , a rescue tool powered by a hydraulic pump. The Jaws of Life was first used in 1963 as a tool to free race car drivers from their vehicles after accidents. Both occupants were transported to the hospital by AMR.

Portland Fire & Rescue, in conjunction with Portland Police, would like to remind all that the wet weather brings slick roads. Be especially careful when driving this time of year and ALWAYS wear your seat belt.

Photos courtesy of Greg Muhr (PF&R)　

Contact Info: Inspector Ron Rouse, Portland Fire & Rescue P.I.O., 503 940 6003

Portland Fire & Rescue Responds to residential fire in Northeast Portland

At 11:47 am, firefighters from Portland Fire Station 2 (Parkrose) responded to a house fire at 3730 NE 112th Ave. When fire crews arrived, they found smoke emitting from the Basement and 1st floor. Firefighters entered the home and quickly extinguished the blaze which was located in the basement. Firefighters used ventilation fans to remove heat and smoke from inside the home.
 
While searching the home, firefighters found one dog and one rabbit trapped inside the basement area. Unfortunately, the dog (a miniature Doberman pinscher), and the rabbit were overcome by smoke.  Firefighters from Engine 12 brought the dog outside and began resuscitation efforts, using our animal CPR kit to no avail. Pet resuscitation kits are carried on all Portland Fire & Rescue Battalion Chiefs command vehicles.

Volunteers from the Trauma Intervention Program were called to assist the family as they work through this difficult situation. The home is uninhabitable and the family will be assisted with housing by the Red Cross.

Fire investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire. Damage to the home has been estimated at $60,000.

Contact Info: Contact: Lieutenant Michael Silva, Media Pager (503) 940-6003

Portland Fire Marshal lifts burn ban

Portland Fire Marshal issues burn ban; Red Flag Conditions Weather forecast calls for Red Flag conditions with gusty winds and low humidity. The potential for rapid fire spread is high. Due to the relatively high temperatures combined with predicted winds the Portland Fire Marshal has issued a total ban of all outdoor burning effective immediately. All outdoor burning including recreational fires are prohibited within the city of Portland. This ban is based on weather conditions and community fire safety needs and will remain in effect until weather and fire danger conditions improve.
Citations may be issued to those who violate the outdoor burning ban.
Cooking outdoors in approved propane or charcoal barbecues is allowed during this total burning ban.
Recreational fires, campfires and fires in outdoor fireplaces or chiminea type devices are not allowed during this burning ban.
Future updates will be provided when the burn ban is lifted.

Contact Info: Contact Information: Lieutenant Michael Silva, Media Pager (503) 940-6003

Portland Fire & Rescue responds to apartment fire

Firefighters were dispatched to an apartment fire (3244 se 90th pl.) at 08:27 am. Station 11 (Lents) arrived first and quickly ensured that all of the occupants were evacuated. Engine 19 (Mt. Tabor), Station 25 (Woodstock) and Station 7 (Mill Park) responded as well, and assisted with fire suppression and venting the structure of smoke. An ambulance was also dispatched to check on a patient for smoke inhalation.

The fire was primarily contained to the bathroom of the unit. Firefighters had to open up the walls with their axes to makes sure that the fire didn't spread.

A fire investigator is on on scene to determine a cause. A damage assessment is forthcoming. Photos courtesy of Dick Harris (PF&R).　

Contact Info: Ron Rouse, Portland Fire & Rescue P.I.O., 503 940 6003

Portland Fire & Rescue battles two alarm fire

Fire crews were dispatched to an apartment fire (1807 ne Alberta st) at 05:59 am and arrived to "heavy smoke" coming from the first and second floor windows. Initial concerns were towards the occupants of the structure so firefighters made sure everyone was evacuated. Engine 14 (Vernon), Engine 24 (Swan Island), Station 8 (Kenton) and Station 13 (Lloyd Center) were on the initial response. Due to the amount of smoke, the age of the building, and the time of day, the incident commander called for more resources (Second Alarm).

Firefighters were able to locate the fire, which originated in the bar located in the complex. A cat was also rescued and placed on oxygen. The Red Cross was called out to assist 3 occupants of the complex.

Fire Investigators are still on scene to determine a cause and a damage assessment. Updates will be added as they are received.

Photos courtesy of Dick Harris; Contact Info: Ron Rouse, Portland Fire & Rescue P.I.O., 503 940 6003