Its Halloween day and to close out the “Scare Your Pants Off” month for this year it is time to go for the main event and list the top 20 haunted locations in Canada in no particular order, since I don’t think I have seen anyone do this before so let me be the first unless a Youtuber beats me to the punch, which part of our home and native land has seen any of paranormal spirits rumble based on their history and reputation of either abandoned or currently operated buildings to this day and it was difficult to decide which one should be on this list and have it under 20so let’s begin with this countdown to close out our Halloween month.
22. Lower Fort Garry – Manitoba
Starting off this entry is one of Manitoba’s oldest sites in the Province. Built in 1830 along the banks of the Red River, in its hay day was built after the original fort located in what is now Winnipeg, Manitoba was destroyed in a flood four years prior. The fort was a bustling trading spots for fur as it also housed the governor of the Hudson Bay Company, Sir George Simpson but it also served as a supply depot for settlements across the Red River for Indigenous and European people. The fort also served as a military outpost once in 1846 where British Troops were sent to deal with a dispute between the United States and Britain over the Oregon Territory line. In 1870 during the Red River Rebellion Louis Riel took to arms in Upper Fort Garry and French Riflemen would take arms in Lower Fort Garry, however none saw active duty for battles.
Today it is one of Canada’s National Historical sites but also has seen many paranormal spirits haunt the halls, many attending staff have heard sounds of metal being hammered in a blacksmith shop where a man and his son were said to have died within the office of an explosion, a ghost of a little girl within one of the guest cottages that has said to have died from Tuberculosis and the spirits of a man and a woman in one of the prisons in the fort. It was also featured on SyFy’s “Ghost Hunters International” in 2012 for their third and final season of their programming run.
21. Gravelbourg School – Saskatchewan
This small rural town southwest of Regina has a school that was once a former convent is haunted by its former residents. In its day it was a boarding school for boys and girls hoping to retain speaking French. In the fourth floor it has been said that spirits that walks along opening then closing doors, the ghost of a girl who died of Tuberculosis returns to haunt the school and a young school boy who has said to have haunt the auditorium levels of the school where he was last seen alive, the school is still operating too this day as many people still often report sightings.
20. Waterfront Station – British Colombia
In Vancouver, B.C. stands Waterfront Station, built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1915 still operates to this day for travelers to experience Vancouver life and culture. This are is often called one of B.C.’s haunted locations, reports of guards were recorded to have seen apparitions of ghosts wander at night and 1920 music is heard where the spirits have said to be dancing. Another report of a guard seeing an old woman of white trying to reach him as he ran away from fear, other reports of a guard terrified witnessing desks moving on its own and outside said to have seen a ghost of a former railcart engineer named Hub Clark to have died after slipping and knocked unconscious as a railcart ran over his body as he lied decapitating his head. People to have seen this headless spirit carrying a lantern seeking for his head.
19. Holland Cove – Prince Edward Island
Located in Rocky Point a settlement near P.E.I., lies Holland Cove with a tragic past. It was founded by Captain Holland a surveyor for the King of France, upon settling in he brought his wife over to visit the new world. However, it took longer than expected and his wife unfortunately fell through the thin ice. Captain Holland was stricken by grief over the loss of his wife. Several days later Holland reported seeing an apparition of his wife calling out to him in seaw. Local legend states that if one sees her when the tides rise in July, it is said that the person drowns immediately after.
18. Mallard Lodge – Manitoba
Located in Portage la Prairie in Manitoba, Mallard Lodge was built in 1932 by businessman Donald H. Bain to be a hunting lodge, then later it was established as a research station for the University of Manitoba in 1966 by Jennifer M. Shay. The lodge was closed in 2011 due to flood damage when the banks of Lake Manitoba rose. When it was operating people reported hearing disembodied footsteps walk along the halls, lights flickering and a bell ringing by its lonesome. The ghost of a worker that was sealed within the walls of the lodge is said to have haunt the area as well. Now since the lodge is closed, the spirits now fully and reclaim it as their own.
17. Grand Theatre – Ontario
Located in London, Ontario a community Southwest of Toronto is an auditorium theatre opening in 1901 and was the launching careers of famous actors like Sandra Oh, the late Leonard Nimoy and seen many performances of great plays, as this was the favorite spot for Ambrose Small a successful businessman who was very wealthy to visit. On December 2nd, 1919 Ambrose Small disappeared after last seen depositing one million dollars to his bank account and was never seen again. Some say his wife had him killed for his earnings and cremated him, some say that a police inspector into the investigation was paid off and involved for the disappearance of the businessman. But some say the ghost of Ambrose Small has ben reported to return to the scene of his disappearance and visit to watch plays.
16. Five Fisherman Restaurant – Nova Scotia
In the bustling city of Halifax, Nova Scotia lies the Five Fisherman Restaurant a place where you can dine the fine cuisine, this spot has also been of hotbed of Paranormal activity within the city. People reported seeing spirits of days gone by from previous tragedies including spirits from Titanic and in 1916 the windows from the restaurant were blown open after an Norwegian steamliner called the SS Imo collided to a French cargo ship called the SS Mont Blanc and exploded causing extensive damage that resulted in 2000 lives lost and 9000 injured in one of Canada’s tragic maritime disasters in history and the building served as a funeral home for the deceased in both tragedies, but the restless spirits have not moved on. People have reported to hear knocking sounds within the building and one notorious spirit called Drake no not that one is said to make his presence.
15. Bell Island – Newfoundland
Located in Conception Bay, Bell Island served as a hotspot for Iron to be dug up during its glory days dating back in 1578 when a merchant to have said that have found Iron and after its initial discovery England set many to dig them up way into the 1950’s where the mines began to close one by one until the last Iron mine closed in 1962. But this former mining operation is to have said to be haunted by the former workers who have died here still to be mining and digging, another part of the island called Dobbin’s Garden to have been said to be the home of a spirit called the “Bell Island Hag”. During the first World War it has been said German sailors landed in the area resupply, a woman was to have been killed here as people thought it was trick by fairies ignoring the cries for help.
14.Blackville – New Brunswick
A small village in New Brunswick near the Dungarvon woods is said to be possessed of a wandering restless spirit. Urban legend states that a man named Ryan a well-liked and respected Irish cook lived here to make a living and bringing many of his possessions along including a money belt, however Ryan was found dead and his money belt was missing, some say his boss killed him as his body was buried nearby. Then one night the sounds of a whooping sound were heard throughout the night scaring the daylights out of the sleeping lumberjacks and fled the area. It was too much that they brought aa professional exorcist to perform an exorcism in the woods but people to this day have seen the ghost of Ryan calling out it was also made into a song by Michael Whelan in 1912.
13. Fort Battleford – Saskatchewan
Along the lakes of the Saskatchewan River lies Fort Battleford a fort to where the Northwest Police would call home. During the year of 1885 tensions between first nations and Britain were at a fever peak and exploded with the North-West Rebellion. In April 2, A Cree leader by the name of Wandering Spirit lead his band of warriors to take many European settlers and priests’ hostage nine would resist and would pay for their lives. In retribution their Chief Poundmaker was arrested and the men involved in this massacre were hanged as Sir John A. McDonald state in a letter “the executions… ought to convince the Red Man that the White Man governs.” Yeesh.
Today it is a national historic site but reports to have surface that the area is haunted by spirits of the past, one story states of a surgeon to have been seen, another story is said of a ghost of a officer rather to be taken alive committed suicide during the Indian raids, people have reported within the headquarters have seen objects thrown around and apparitions in the fort.
12. The Screaming Tunnel – Ontario
Near Niagara Falls, Ontario lies a limestone tunnel that became a hot bed of an urban legend. The tunnel was made for drainage water to flow outward from farmlands nearby and was often used to transport animals and other uses from side to another, however something else may lurk behind these walls. Local legends state that a young girl was killed here by her father when he lost a custody battle so with a fit of anger chased to find the young girl as when he did the father then doused her in gasoline and lit a match. You can pretty much tie up what happened next. Another legend states a young girl died here after being raped and her body was burned to hide the evidence. Paranormal investigators reported screams in the tunnels and an apparition of a man which is said to be the ghost of a man which is said to be the girl’s father walking towards anyone who stands in the middle of the tunnel.
11. Acadia University – Nova Scotia
Acadia University was opened in 1838 and home to many students including previous known Alums including players for sports, members of the Canadian government and journalists however here lies supernatural beings. People have reported seeing an apparition of a Baptist woman who hanged herself in the second floor of the school called ‘The Well’ upon finding out she was pregnant dating back to the 12th century, her ghost were seen by faculty members in one of the campuses. Other reports of lights flickering unexpectedly, objects moving around and unexplained sounds of disembodied voices crying out were also seen in the building.
10. Nahanni National Park – Northwest Territories
Located far west from the city of Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, this national park was opened in 1972 then was expanded that would later become a UNESCO world heritage site home to many animals, forests, and Virginia Falls twice as high from Niagara Falls in Ontario for eager canoeists to witness. The name Nahanni came from the language of the Dene a First Nations group that lives within the Athabaskan areas which includes areas close to Yellowknife.
But this historical site has had another name “the Valley of Headless Men”. Often because reported sightings of people seeing ghosts of headless spirits wander the forest through the hiking trails. Historical reports of strange cases happened within the area, in 1908 two brothers were last seen eagerly awaiting to find Gold but was never seen again. In 1917 a Swiss prospector named Martin Jorgensen built his cabin also seeking for gold then many people saw a Cabin fire and the skeletal remains was found but headless and lastly in 1945 a man from Ontario was found dead in his sleeping bag. The area is also a hot bed of UFO sightings in the night sky and Bigfoot sightings, could this be also be the home of ghosts looking for their heads?
9 Fort Garry Hotel – Manitoba
In the busting downtown area of Winnipeg, Manitoba lies the Fort Garry Hotel first opened in December of 1913 open for anyone to spend some nights and witness many of what the city offers, the hotel has been visited many times by famous people including Queen Elizabeth during her visit in 1939. However, one room is said to have a visitor that hasn’t left that room at all. People reported room 202 in the hotel of a spirit of a woman who committed suicide after hearing her husband died of an automobile incident and struck with grief and one famous believer to the ghost story was Liberal MP Brenda Chamberlain.
8. Cathedral of Holy Trinity – Quebec
The province of Quebec is home with history. One such is the Cathedral of Holy Trinity a church opened in 1804 for the Angelical Diocese of Quebec as home to the Parise of Quebec and la Paroisse de Tros les Saints. It was declared a historical sight in Canada on 1989 and given a plaque for 1993. This site does have a spirit roaming around, in the 19th century a girl died from a fire as people witnessed her burned body as she was buried, people reported to seen a spirit who haunts the church while sounds of a piano being played.
7. Peggy’s Point Lighthouse – Nova Scotia
Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse is one of Nova Scotia’s historic landmarks with tourist’s flock to watch the sea aside the warning sign so why is it there? Legends say the wife of the owner of the lighthouse called Margaret who was given the nickname Peggy who survived a shipwreck but lost her children would walk across the rocks at night. One night Margaret and her husband danced along the moonlight however he slipped along the rocks and then died. She would later leap off the rocks to die. Reports of people have seen a spirit of a woman dressed in blue standing on the rock ledges to jump.
6. Empress Hotel – British Colombia
Victoria’s Empress Hotel is one of the city’s oldest hotels opened in 1908 then expanded years afterwards, this hotel is also reported to have a large amount of ghost sightings one notable spirit is Francis M. Rattenbury the creator of the hotel who was killed in England in 1935 have been seen where is painting has been hanged, another ghost sighting is the spirit of a woman who died of natural causes a worker reported to have seen a figure dangle about the ceiling and many more.
5. Seal Island – Nova Scotia
A small island in southwestern Nova Scotia called Seal Island is home to a wreckage. In 1891 the SS Ottawa ran aground as a young Stewardess Anne Lindsey tried to rescue for help for her boat, but she would capsize and then drowned. When she was discovered she was given a proper buried at a church, but other reports showed she was buried alive when her grave was disinterred, nevertheless her spirit have been said to haunt Seal Island to this day.
4. Banff Springs Hotel – Alberta
In Banff, Alberta lies the Banff Springs Hotel the province’s oldest built hotel that opened in 1888 for the Canadian Pacific Railway the property lies along Banff National Park and it soften one of the province’s best toured attractions. It was crescent as a national historic site in 1988 here in this hotel have been haunted by spirits. One notable spirit is a bride dating back from 1920 who was eagerly waiting to be married to her groom but died on the steps of the hotel some say something spooked her some say it was accident but her ghost has been seen by guests and staff as a bride walking along the marble steps waiting for her husband another famous spirit is a bellman who helps people providing whatever they need as he have done after his death in 1975.
3. Old Fort Erie – Ontario
Located in Fort Erie, Ontario and built in 1764 the fort was under British occupation during the war of 1812 and was bounced around by American and British troops with Indigenous allies, in August of 1814, 1000 British troops died as the Americans was able to re capture the fort it was the bloodiest day in Canadian history. After the war was over it was designated as a historical sight in 1933 thought the staff has reported to see the ghosts of wounded British and American troops, other reports to have said about a headless surgeon waiting to assist others long as the battles were over.
2. Crow’s Nest Pass – Alberta
When you enter Crow’s Nest Pass you just see rocks lying on the ground however this spot near Turtle Mountain was the epicenter of a tragedy. Here was the small village of Frank, Alberta a busting village that was wiped off the map from April of 1903 a rockslide buried the town and killed 90 people. The cause of the rockslide was a train stopping and pulling out from the mines that caused the limestone to fall. Some say that the ghosts from the former town of Frank haunt passers go by when trying to dig up the rocks.
1. Bedford Basin – Nova Scotia
Along the Halifax harbor lies Bedford Basin named after the 4th duke of Bedford John Russell, today it is where Canada’s maritime fleet observed the area and a nearby military base train. Sailors reported that ghosts have a phantom rowboat seen paddling along the river in foggy nights, but also the entire area is haunted by the ghosts from Indigenous to Canadian soldiers, from French and British and families. In addition, people have reported anomalies like black shadow figures and disembodied voices calling out to passersby. Are these the spirits of soldiers patrolling the area as they have years ago?
And that will do it for this Halloween month so stay tuned for next year’s edition of the Scare Your Pants Off Month and back to our regular scheduled WordPress articles in November and to start the month off is our Lost Media Files piece so have a safe and pleasant Halloween and apologies for not having this done way sooner.
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