Have you ever experienced something really eerie that gave you goosebumps?
Like feeling a sudden cold breeze or sensing someone’s eyes on you?
Ghost stories are a thing all around the world, and Canada is no different. There have been plenty of spooky ghost encounters, strange sightings, and mysterious events in towns and cities across the vast land of Canada.
From one end of the country to the other, and in the spirit of Halloween, let’s board on a journey to some of the scariest and most haunted places in Canada. Whether you’re curious about ghosts or a skeptic, here are some chilling stories of ghostly encounters from all over the country.
Halifax, N.S
Before the 5 Fishermen Restaurant found its home on Argyle Street in downtown Halifax, the building had a different purpose. It was once a place where people who had passed away were cared for. Now, this might not seem unusual, but there’s a remarkable history behind it.
The John Snow & Co. Funeral Home, the previous occupants of this building, played crucial roles during two tragic events in Halifax’s past: the Titanic sinking in 1912 and the devastating Halifax Explosion in 1917.
Many grieving families came to this funeral home during those dark times. And if the stories are to be believed, some say that the souls of the departed may still linger within its walls.
Usually, ghostly sightings occur before the restaurant opens in the afternoon or after it’s closed for the day. However, there’s a unique incident when something supernatural happens in the middle of the dinner rush.
As a hostess guided a couple to their table, she suddenly felt an intense sensation brushing against her face. When she returned to the hostess stand, the maitre d’ was astonished to see a bright red handprint on her cheek as if she had been slapped by an unseen force.
Quirpon Island, Newfoundland & Labrador
In the frigid Atlantic waters between Newfoundland and Labrador, there once was an island believed to be inhabited by demons. The Isle of Demons was a phantom island, appearing on maps in the 1500s to 1600s but later proven nonexistent. It’s now thought to be Quirpon Island near Newfoundland.
The island is associated with a tragic tale of betrayal in 1542. Marguerite de La Rocque, a French noblewoman, and her lover were abandoned there by her uncle, who was enraged by their affair. They faced terrifying encounters with what they believed were demons in the form of wild beasts. Marguerite survived, even hunting a white bear, but her lover and baby did not.
After spending two long years on the Isle of Demons, Marguerite’s rescue finally came when fishermen saw her signal fire. She returned to France and became a minor celebrity thanks to her remarkable story. Marguerite de Navarre, the sister of the King of France, was the first to write about her harrowing ordeal.
However, even though Marguerite survived, it’s believed that her spirit, along with that of her beloved, continues to linger on Quirpon Island, haunting it today.
King’s County, P.E.I
In King’s County, Prince Edward Island, there’s an old road connecting Valleyfield to Queen’s Road that crosses the Montague River, leading to Goblin Hollow. This place is known for its persistent fog and eerie sightings of a moaning woman who was murdered there nearly 200 years ago.
Ann Beaton, a single mother, met a gruesome and unsolved end in 1859 near this hollow. Her murder remains a mystery, partly due to a bizarre investigation technique involving villagers touching her body to identify the killer.
Since then, strange occurrences have been reported at Goblin Hollow. Horses getting spooked, car troubles and sightings of a distressed woman in the fog add to the mystery and intrigue of this haunting location.
Miramichi, N.B
Today, French Fort Cove in Miramichi, New Brunswick, is a serene nature park favored for activities like kayaking and canoeing. However, in the mid-1700s, this area was a battleground as the British and French fought over what would become Canada.
French Fort Cove got its name from a French settlement of Acadians. Among them was Sister Marie Inconnue, a nun from France who assisted the settlers.
She soon earned the respect and admiration of the townspeople. When British soldiers threatened the settlement, the Acadians turned to Sister Marie to safeguard their valuables secretly.
Sister Marie willingly accepted the task, but her unwavering loyalty would prove tragic. One night, British soldiers, or in some versions, pirates or madmen, ambushed her, demanding the treasure’s location.
Sister Marie, stubborn, refused to reveal it and paid with her life. The soldiers beheaded her and cast her headless body into the waters of French Fort Cove. Her body was later sent back to France, incomplete.
Legend has it that without her head, Sister Marie’s soul could never find peace, and her spirit remains tethered to Miramichi. She endlessly searches for her missing head, pleading with visitors to help her find it, or some have claimed to see her holding her decapitated head, begging for a proper burial with her body. The ghostly presence of Sister Marie Inconnue continues to haunt French Fort Cove.
Dawson City, Yukon
Macaulay House in Dawson City, Yukon, is not just a haven for a diverse group of artists but also a place with some paranormal activity. These eerie encounters have sparked curiosity and inspired intrigue among the artists-in-residence.
It’s more than just the usual creaks and bumps in the night; several individuals who have lived in the house claim to have witnessed ghostly apparitions and heard mysterious sounds within its walls.
One resident artist, Jude Griebel, took it upon himself in 2007 to document these ghostly tales from past occupants of Macaulay House and compiled them into a book titled “Footsteps in The Macaulay House.” These stories add an extra layer of mystique to this already captivating place.
Some of the accounts are spine-tingling. One artist recounted a chilling encounter with the ghost of a child who approached their bedside in the dead of night. Another spoke of seeing disembodied figures pass through mirrors within the house. These uncanny occurrences have left their mark on those who experienced them.
To add to the intrigue, Macaulay House has a rich history of transient inhabitants even before it became an artist’s residence.
Unfortunately, the records of its history are incomplete, making it difficult to pinpoint the origins of these potential hauntings. The enigmatic past of the house only deepens the mystery surrounding these ghostly phenomena.
Whether these spectral encounters are genuinely a source of inspiration for the artists or leave them with raised hairs and unanswered questions remains a topic of ongoing fascination. The intersection of creativity and the supernatural within the walls of Macaulay House adds a layer of intrigue and wonder to this unique artistic retreat.