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A few of Toronto’s weirdest PokéStops

By Steve Kupferman
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The clever thing about Pokémon Go is the way it turns a city—any city—into a virtual world. Players can look at their phones and see “PokéStops” scattered across Toronto’s street grid. Each stop is a hub of activity, where players can stock up on virtual supplies and capture Pokémon for their collections. The game, officially released in Canada yesterday, is so popular that many of these locations are continually buzzing with visitors.

It’s unclear exactly how the game’s developer, Niantic, went about deciding where to place PokéStops. Many are found near public places, like parks or churches. Sometimes, though, they’re on random corners, near businesses or in front of people’s homes. And then there are the real outliers: PokéStops in places that are, let’s say, not Pikachu-approved. Here are the oddest ones we’ve found so far. If you know of any other weird ones, send them our way.

A few of Toronto's weirdest PokéStops
Caddy’s. Image from @nudnas/Twitter
Caddy’s
The elderly Eglinton Avenue strip club is about to get a bit of extra foot traffic, thanks to a ringing endorsement from Pokémon Go. Come for the Squirtles, and stay for the… eh, never mind. Location: Eglinton and Danforth

 

A few of Toronto's weirdest PokéStops
Zanzibar. Image from @bunnyhero/Twitter
Zanzibar
Another classic Toronto strip club gets a boost! Brand synergy idea: have all the dancers do Pokémon cosplay. Location: Yonge and Elm
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A few of Toronto's weirdest PokéStops
Cumbrae’s. Image from @serahmarie/Twitter
Cumbrae’s
A simple mistake, or a PokéStop caption writer with serious woman issues? Location: Queen and Manning

 

A few of Toronto's weirdest PokéStops
Minion fire hydrant. Image from Mackenzie Manabat/Facebook
Minion Fire Hydrant
Pokemon Go creates an unintentional crossover with another cartoon series. Location: Steeles Avenue, Scarborough

 

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A few of Toronto's weirdest PokéStops
Drumstick man. Image from @zairagaudio/Twitter
Drumstick Man
And here’s an unintentional ice cream sponsorship. Location: Somewhere downtown

 

A few of Toronto's weirdest PokéStops
Memorial plaque. Image from Shauna Chan/Facebook
A child’s memorial plaque
Kevin Latimer died in 2004 after falling out a window during a court-ordered visit with his father. The memorial plaque’s PokéStop status has his mother understandably upset. Location: St. Luke’s Church, in Burlington

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