Trending: How Pokemon Go reignited my love for Toronto
Posted July 18, 2016 7:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Like any long-term relationship, sometimes it takes a little added spark to bring things back to life. For me and the city of Toronto, that was Pokemon Go.
After 10 years of living in one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, I’d started to take my surroundings for granted. No longer did I pay any mind to the small details that drew me to the area in the beginning.
When Pokemon Go became available in Canada on Sunday, I didn’t give a second thought to downloading it. As a gamer, I was excited to see what all the fuss was about. But it wasn’t long before I stopped dropping lures and trying to attract Drowzees, and became obsessed with finding Pokestops.
Pokestops are locations around the city where players can load up on supplies such as Pokeballs and incense. They are also usually located at historical landmarks and art installations around the city.
Suddenly the neighbourhood I thought I knew so well was rife with life.
I took to the streets, excited to see my neighbourhood with new eyes. To find art installations I’d never noticed before down alleys I didn’t even know existed. Buildings I’d walked by dozens of times before without catching my attention were now the object of my obsession as I soaked in more of the city’s history.
Minutes turned to hours as I roamed one street to the next, discovering my city as if for the first time. The ache in my legs was real but the need to carry on greater.
And as I went, I’d see others trekking the same path.
We’d flash each other a knowing smile or even share a few words about the places we’d discovered and how we felt like tourists in our own backyard. The feeling of community is real.
It’s easy to poke fun at this gaming craze as an outsider, but it’s impossible to deny the educational benefits.
In the last few days I have learned more about my city than I have in years, and I’m excited to explore other neighbourhoods and drink in their history and art.
Thanks to Pokemon Go my love for this city has truly grown.
