Pokemon Go has swept across the country like wildfire, even in Barrhead where businesses such as Blue Heron Bowling and the Barrhead Museum were not aware they had been labeled ‘hotspots’ by Niantic (the company which released the game) — both museum curator Alcinia Scratch, and Gladys Dotzloff, of Blue Heron Bowling, said they were not aware of it.
According to Barrhead RCMP Sgt. Bob Dodds, it has caused many interesting conversations because of that fact.
“I’ve noticed a fair number of kids playing,” Dotzloff said, adding it was generally late in the day when such activity occurs. “I never knew what they were doing though. Isn’t that something? To me, I think it is very interesting, to know the alley is a hotspot for this phone game.”
Scratch agreed, adding in her opinion, locations were chosen due to the pairing between Niantic and Google Maps.
“I’m willing to bet the majority of the businesses that are listed similarly don’t know they are,” she said, adding the museum itself has only been findable on Google Maps since last year.
“I thought it was silly that we weren’t on there and now we’re part of a video game,” she said.
Hotspots and Poke Gyms are scattered throughout the downtown and fringe areas of Barrhead - businesses such as the Flower Shoppe, Rose Chapel Funeral Home and the Post Office, as well as St. Anne’s Church, Bethel Pentecostal, the Barrhead Church of God, the 47th Street Church of God, and every single post along the Blue Heron Boardwalk, the splash park, Millenium Park and Beaver Brook Park are all considered ‘PokeCentres’ or hotspots.
The Church of the Latter Day Saints, Barrhead United Church, Barrhead Christian Reformed Church, the curling rink and the Back Forty store are listed as gyms, and players can ‘train’ their captured Pokemon by pitting them against other players in these places.
Barrhead resident Jay Anonson, 22, said it is a great way to stay active.
“I’ve gotten caught up in the ‘Go craze myself, and I think it’s a neat way to get lazy people out and about,” he added.
“I’ve never been a fan of it, but I know my kids are,” Dodds said, adding he thinks the game is a positive thing for the community. “It’s getting people off their butts and outside, and that’s impressive.”
One thing Dodds said he is worried about however, is personal safety.
“I really hope people are continuing to be aware of their surroundings and aren’t causing any problems in businesses,” he said, adding the department has not received any complaints at this time. “I know there will be complaints eventually, from trespassing to pedestrians crossing the street without watching for traffic, and I don’t want to see anyone get hurt because they were walking on the road hunting for a rare Pokemon or something, so be careful and use your heads.”
And in case you were wondering, there are no Pokemon, gyms, centres or otherwise, located at the police station, nor the fire hall, at least to the best of his knowledge, Dodds said.
