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🎃 Haunted Canada: The Spookiest Spots From Coast to Coast

There’s no shortage of spooky places in Canada. While we can’t list them all, we thought we’d feature 10 “haunted” places from coast to coast. Some are hotels if you want to spend the night, while others are old houses, castles, and even an entire forest.

So, whether you’re looking for a hotel to spend the night on October 31st, or just looking for something that makes the hairs on your neck stand up, here are some spooky places around Canada.

Oh, and if you ever had a ghostly encounter in Canada, hit reply and tell us!

Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel (Banff, Alberta)

This iconic “Castle in the Rockies” has a few ghostly legends that have been floating around for decades (and no, not just from guests who’ve had one too many at the Rundle Bar):

1. The Ghost Bride — Easily Banff’s most famous spirit. Legend says a young bride tragically fell down the grand staircase on her wedding day in the 1920s. Guests and staff have since reported seeing a woman in a flowing white gown gliding through the ballroom or dancing alone in empty hallways. Romantic? Sure. Creepy? Absolutely.

2. Sam the Bellman — A friendly ghost! Sam Macauley, a former Scottish bellman, loved the hotel so much that he apparently never checked out. Staff say he still “helps” with luggage or unlocks doors for guests — usually when no one’s around. Does this mean we still have to tip?

3. The Missing Room (873) — The legend goes that an entire room on the eighth floor was sealed off after a horrific family tragedy. Some guests claim to have seen ghostly figures or bloody handprints appear on the door where the room once was. The hotel denies the story, of course… which somehow makes it even spookier.

The Fairmont Banff Springs may be luxury at its finest, but it also proves that even five-star hotels can have deadly good service.

The Marr Residence (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)

If walls could talk, the Marr Residence would probably just scream. Built in 1884, this historic home is the oldest building in Saskatoon still sitting on its original site — and it’s got the ghost stories to prove it.

Once used as a field hospital during the North-West Rebellion, the Marr Residence has seen its fair share of drama, pain, and maybe a few lingering souls. Visitors have reported a grumpy male spirit in the basement (rude, but at least he’s consistent), a mysterious child’s face peeking through the window, and even the faint echo of ghostly laughter drifting through empty rooms. Some say a nurse from its hospital days still roams the halls, tending to patients long gone.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, this heritage house proves that Saskatoon’s history isn’t just alive — it’s undead.

Gibraltar Point Lighthouse (Toronto, Ontario)

Toronto may have Drake, but it also has ghosts — and one of the oldest haunts in the country. Built in 1808, the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse has been lighting up (and creeping out) visitors for over 200 years.

According to legend, the first lighthouse keeper, John Paul Radelmüller, met a grisly fate in 1815 after a drunken brawl with soldiers from nearby Fort York. The men supposedly dismembered him (yikes) and buried the pieces near the lighthouse. Years later, another keeper reportedly dug up a jawbone — and since then, people have sworn they’ve seen lights flickering in the tower, heard moaning in the fog, and felt cold spots even on hot summer nights.

Whether it’s Radelmüller still keeping watch or just Toronto’s lakefront playing tricks, one thing’s for sure: this lighthouse has more than just a bright past — it’s got a dark presence.

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver (Vancouver, BC)

They call it “The Castle in the City,” but this Fairmont’s most famous guest checked in decades ago — and never left. Built in 1939, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is one of the city’s grandest landmarks, known for luxury, history… and a ghost with impeccable style.

Meet The Lady in Red, believed to be Jennie Pearl Cox, a Vancouver socialite who died in a car accident outside the hotel in the 1940s. Since then, countless guests and staff have spotted her gliding down hallways or stepping into elevators that mysteriously open on their own — usually on the 14th floor. Some say she’s harmless, others say she’s searching for something (or someone) she lost long ago.

So if you ever feel a chill or see a flash of crimson in your hotel mirror, don’t worry — it’s just Vancouver’s most fashionable ghost making her rounds.

Hatley Castle (Victoria, BC)

Don’t let the fairytale looks fool you — Hatley Castle might be one of Canada’s prettiest haunted mansions. Built in the early 1900s by the wealthy Dunsmuir family, this grand estate near Victoria has a dark, lingering sadness woven into its walls.

After their son James “Boy” Dunsmuir was lost at sea during WWI, it’s said that both his spirit — and that of his heartbroken mother, Laura — never truly left. Students and staff (it’s now part of Royal Roads University) have reported footsteps in empty rooms, cold drafts that come from nowhere, and the faint scent of cigar smoke drifting through deserted hallways. Some even claim to have seen a woman in Edwardian dress wandering the corridors at night, searching for her lost son.

It’s elegant. It’s eerie. And it proves that even in paradise, ghosts like to stick around for the view.

West Point Lighthouse (PEI)

Looking for a haunted spot with a side of stunning coastal views? West Point Lighthouse delivers both—if you dare!

Locals whisper that the lighthouse is haunted by a former keeper who never left, and visitors have reported eerie footsteps, mysterious lights, and chilling cold spots even on sunny days. With its remote location and windswept cliffs, it’s the perfect place to feel the hair on the back of your neck stand on end.

Bonus: the sunsets here are almost as killer as the ghost stories.

Fun fact: We stayed here a couple of years ago. Although we didn’t experience anything “haunted”, we did make a video about the experience, which you’ll see in the “watch” section of this newsletter.

Government House (Regina, Saskatchewan)

Step inside Saskatchewan’s most elegant—and eeriest—residence!

Government House is said to be haunted by the spirit of a former lieutenant-governor who still roams its grand halls. Visitors report cold drafts, mysterious footsteps, and objects moving on their own, all set against the backdrop of chandeliers and velvet curtains. It’s history with a side of chills—perfect for anyone looking to mix a little culture with their scares this Halloween.

Watson’s Mill (Ottawa area)

Step inside one of Canada’s oldest operating mills.

Watson’s Mill has a reputation for ghostly sightings, from shadowy figures roaming the floors to mysterious footsteps echoing through the wooden beams. Locals say the spirits of former mill workers still linger, keeping watch over the creaking gears and historic machinery. Perfect for a spine-tingling mix of history, charm, and chills this Halloween!

Signal Hill & Commissariat House (St. John’s, NFLD)

Perched above the Atlantic, Signal Hill isn’t just famous for its views—it’s a hotspot for ghost stories, such as the Black Widow.

Visitors report eerie footsteps, unexplained voices, and shadowy figures in the Commissariat House, one of Newfoundland’s oldest buildings. From stormy nights to historic battlegrounds, the area has a chill factor that’s more than just the sea breeze. History buffs and thrill-seekers alike will get goosebumps here!

La Corriveau Forest (Saint-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-de-Lévy, Québec)

Deep in Saint-Joseph-de-la-Pointe-de-Lévy lies a forest with a dark past… and an even darker legend.

La Corriveau, a woman executed in the 18th century for murder, is said to haunt these woods. Locals whisper that her restless spirit roams among the trees, her eerie cries carried on the wind. Brave visitors might feel icy chills, hear ghostly footsteps, or catch a glimpse of a shadowy figure—perfect for anyone craving a true Quebecois fright this Halloween!

Halloween Events

Looking for something to do this Halloween? Here are a few events to enjoy…

• Pumpkins After Dark (Multiple Cities): Walk-through pumpkin art experiences: thousands of hand-carved and lit pumpkins; photo ops; Halloween decorations; family-friendly but also impressive scale.

• Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland (Vaughn, ON): Probably Canada’s largest scare-theme event: dozens of haunted mazes + scare zones + live shows + rides turned into fright experiences.

• SCREAM (Edmonton, AB): Massive indoor Halloween dance / immersive event, huge footprint (hundreds of thousands of sq ft), very “nightlife meets horror” energy.

• ScreamFest (Calgary, AB): Experience bone-chilling scares in Calgary’s premier haunted house. Journey through darkness, face your fears, and uncover the haunting secrets within.

• Fright Nights (Vancouver, BC): Experience the largest haunted house in Western Canada.

• Toronto Halloween Show (Toronto, ON): Huge consumer show: everything Halloween-related under one (or a few) roofs — costumes, décor, makeup, props, etc. Great for people wanting Halloween shopping and inspiration.

• Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village (Eastern Ontario): Beautiful pumpkin displays (thousands of pumpkins) in a historic village setting. Excellent for families and photographers.

• Fort Fright at Fort Henry (Kingston, ON): The Fort becomes a scary fortress: haunted setups, walk-throughs, immersive scares.

• Bluenose Ghosts Festival (Dartmouth, NS): Experience a haunted mansion, escape room, and simulated casket ride, along with spiritual readings and a haunted selfie park.

• FearFest (Grand Falls, NB): Various locations in Grand Falls host this spine-tingling festival featuring haunted houses, escape rooms, and more.

Watch

Although we didn’t see any ghosts, we did spend a night in the West Point Lighthouse Inn on Prince Edward Island. Whether you’re seeking out a potentially spooky encounter or just looking for a unique accommodation next to the ocean, check out this video to see what it’s all about…

Beaver Bites

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• “MasterChef Canada” season three champion Mary Berg, host of the popular Mary Berg Show, has unveiled her 13 favourite restaurants and hidden food gems in Toronto.
  
  

• Canada has its share of great winter festivals, but we’re not the only country with snow and ice. Here are some of the best winter festivals around the world.
  
  

• You know those bag tags airlines issue that we never seem to use? Well, they’re now the source of a new scam where fraudsters use the information from discarded airline baggage tags to claim “missing items” that aren’t theirs.
  
  

• Looking for a reaaaaally nice hotel? These are some of Canada’s best.
  
  

• Next time you’re feeling squeezed in Economy after waiting for a delayed flight, you can rejoice with a free “cold one”. Air Canada will now provide complimentary alcoholic drinks to passengers flying in economy, making it the first North American legacy carrier to offer free booze for all.

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