KENORA – The address of the Kenora-Rainy River returning office for this provincial election is the same as last time: the Ukrainian Hall at 509 Fourth St. N.
That’s largely because “we don’t have a lot of options” in a small city like Kenora, said Jaye Wesley, the electoral district’s returning officer.
There weren’t many options, but Wesley said she considers the building “a perfect set-up” for her staff’s needs.
“It has the space. We have a locked room for the financial office, we can lock up the ballot boxes,” she said.
“It's got a large space in the back … so when things start to come in, we can lock things up there and people can do the counting in private. And we also have a downstairs spot that we do the training in.”
Add plentiful storage space, an outside access ramp for people with disabilities, large and fully accessible washrooms, and the building is an excellent site from which to run the election in this riding, she said.
Feb. 27 is election day, but one can already vote in-person at the returning office on any day until 6 p.m. on Feb. 26. The Kenora office is open for advance voting 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Advance polls at various locations in the district – which includes Fort Frances, Rainy River, Ignace, Dryden and many First Nations – will be held Feb. 20-22. Locations will be disclosed on voter information cards that will be mailed out later this month.
You can also apply to vote by mail. The deadline to apply is Feb. 21, and government-issued ID is needed.
In Kenora Rainy River, incumbent Greg Rickford (PC) is being challenged by Anthony Leek (Liberal) and Rudy Turtle (NDP).
Voting is open to residents of Ontario who are Canadian citizens and 18 or older. The Elections Ontario website has answers to questions on voter registration, ID requirements, accessibility and other matters.
