What It's Like To Play Pokémon Go In Canada's Capital | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

What It's Like To Play Pokémon Go In Canada's Capital

Ah, Ottawa. Home of Beavertails, Alanis Morissette, and an amazing Pokémon Go Community.

23
What It's Like To Play Pokémon Go In Canada's Capital
Personal Photo

I'm one of the lucky 900,000 people that calls Ottawa home. Am I lucky because of the endless tourist attractions? How about the festivals, the great food or the amazing diversity of culture we have?

No! I'm lucky because Ottawa is an absolute goldmine for Pokémon Go!

Here is a quick rundown of how Pokémon Go operates in Canada's Capital.

Confederation Park, one of the most well known and most visited tourist attractions in town, is packed with Pokémon Go players at any time of day, on any day of the week. One day, our mayor casually strolled down for a visit and played for a little while.


You might get a discount on products, depending on your team choice.

When the game was first released, some businesses were offering discounts on food or services, depending which team you represented (for the record, many were in favor of Team Mystic!)

We get $12,000 worth of parking tickets in one weekend.

There's one spot that has always has 3 active lures, and by far has the best spawn rate of rare Pokémon in Ottawa. The community was quick to discover this gem, but the park has minimal parking. People took it upon themselves to create their own parking spots, which resulted in hundreds of tickets.

"What team are you?" Is the new icebreaker.

If you see someone staring intently at their phone around town, it's pretty safe to assume that they're playing Pokemon Go. I've walked past hundreds of people playing the game, and I've received everything from smiles, to passing comments about team choices, to full out conversations because of the game.

You get excited with a group of strangers, who soon become friends.

When there's a lure set up, people flock to it. When a gym changes color, people get audibly excited or upset. And when a rare Pokémon spawns, you'll almost always hear one person announce it to the group, and you'll feel the energy swell around you. It's beautiful.

You end up on CBC News.

That's me and my boyfriend. We were playing Pokemon Go at Confederation park one day when a reporter came up to us and asked if we knew anyone who had started dating because of the game. Well, we knew people. Us! We got interviewed and were on the news because of it. It was an interesting experience.

If this is the way things will be forever in Ottawa when it comes to social trends, I can die happy. Because I have yet to meet a kinder group of people than the people I've met through Pokémon Go.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

188500
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

13847
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457065
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26144
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments