From Ikea to a horse-racing track, Winnipeg polling stations look different this election
CBC
Instead of shopping for furniture or grabbing meatballs, some Winnipeggers were casting ballots at the city's Ikea store on Monday.
The large retailer converted some of its food hall space into a polling station for the 2021 federal election.
"Too bad I didn't need anything here today — do a little shopping," voter John Mirus said outside the store on Monday, election day in Canada.
The unusual polling station is one sign of how this year's election is different from previous years because of the pandemic.
Elections Canada had to find some non-traditional polling locations large enough to ensure voters could practise physical distancing, after the province said schools could not be used as voting locations, citing concerns about the potential spread of COVID-19.
Local malls, community centres and the Assiniboia Downs race track also served as polling stations this year.
Elections Canada has limited the number of people allowed inside polling stations at one time to ensure adequate physical distancing, which meant more people had to lineup outside than in past elections.
