A Wildwood resident is questioning the lack of a polling station in her area for the upcoming federal election.
Jackie Chipps said in the past she has voted at the Wildwood fire hall, which is within walking distance from her rural home.
Chipps said as a senior who doesn't drive she typically only goes into Williams Lake once a month for supplies and has already been this month.
"I vote in every election," said Chipps, who was surprised and frustrated when she received her voter card directing her to vote at an in-town polling station.
At the Elections Canada office in Williams Lake, the Tribune was told the fire hall in Wildwood has been the place people have voted in the past and is really the only option in the rural community.
Wildwood Elementary School officially closed in 2015.
While there was support for the fire hall to be allowed for use as a polling station once again, in the end, the Cariboo Regional District chose not to approve it.
Instead, residents of Wildwood and area now will be directed to the Gibraltar Room at the Cariboo Memorial Recreation Complex on election day, April 28, from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.
They also have the option of voting at the Elections Canada office at Village Square, 118 First Ave. North, Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from noon until 4 p.m.
Voting can take place at the office until 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 22.
They can also take advantage of advance voting opportunities on April 18, 19, 20 and 21 from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. at the Seniors Activity Centre at 176 Fourth Ave. North.
Information about voting by mail is also available on the Elections Canada website www.elections.ca.
Chipps said without any public transit in her area, she will be facing a $50 taxi ride each way to vote in town.
When contacted regarding the use of the Cariboo Regional District's (CRD) Wildwood fire hall, the Tribune was informed of a CRD policy which does not allow public gatherings at fire halls, a policy which has been under discussion, but has remained in effect since 2021.
Gerald Pinchbeck, manager of communications for the CRD, said the Wildwood fire hall had been permitted as a polling station in the past.
"We had board policy related to the Deka Lake fire hall, that the fire hall be used strictly for fire department activities and not as public or community occupancy because those usually conflict with fire department operations," Pinchbeck told the Tribune.
Previously, a management level decision was made to provide access to voting to open up the fire halls as polling stations, especially for communities that didn't have schools or other facilities, he explained.
"They are having issues with Wildwood fire hall. The equipment bays are not suitable spaces for voting to occur and the hall doesn't have suitable access and egress for the public. It's not designed for accessibility and the space itself is pretty small."
Pinchbeck said management went and looked at the hall when Elections Canada was trying to book voting spaces and a decision was made by management that they would maintain the policy and not use it as a polling station.
"I get that it's difficult for a lot of people to leave their community to actually go and exercise their right to vote. We acknowledge that Wildwood doesn't have an appropriate facility for that to happen, but the fire hall isn't the location to fill that need."
When asked how she manages living in a rural area, Chipps said she loves the area and doesn't usually have any issues.
"I'm sure whoever made this ruling doesn't have to take a taxi for $100 to vote," said Chipps.
