Like any other city Winnipeg has its fair share of ghost stories. A few years ago I even went on a local ghost tour through the streets of Winnipeg with my sister-in-law for a bit of fun. I really don’t know whether or not I believe in the existence of ghosts, but sufficient doubt remains in my mind that I won’t just come right out and say I don’t believe.
Perhaps it’s because I like the mystery and history behind ghost tales that I don’t ponder it too closely. I think I lean toward the idea that ghosts in some form do exist but that they have no impact or influence in the real world.
Now this tour while giving me an insight into the stories behind some of Winnipeg’s tales didn’t convince me one way or another, in fact I’ve got to say it was kind of…well cheesy but I did enjoy the experience.
I don’t think my sister-in-law and I will ever forget the reading the psychic who was part of the tour gave to me while traveling from one site to the next. Psychics are another one of those things I remain quite skeptical about. Even in my skepticism however I still consider the possibility that some people may have a second sight or whatever you want to call it. I’ve just never met any of them.
The psychic on this bus tour suggested that I would never marry or have children, this despite the fact that I was blatantly flashing my wedding rings in front of her face the entire time while having been married for many years and having already given birth to two children. While she may have gotten every single prediction about the events to come in my life wrong it was worth a laugh.
Now where was I? Oh yes the most famous of haunted places in Winnipeg.
This suite is supposedly haunted by a woman who hung herself in the closet after learning of the death of her husband in a car accident. People have reported everything from something getting into bed with them, a woman standing at the foot of the bed and bloody footprints appearing upon the covers.
Several other areas of the hotel have ghost stories as well, a woman in a ball gown has been seen in the back stairwell, a mystery man in the dining room as well as a man and woman in old fashioned dress walking the 2nd floor hall.
#2 - Upper Fort GarryAll that remains of Upper Fort Garry is a small section of wall and a set of gates. It is said that two men one of which was innocent of his crimes were hung either on or near this gate and that the innocent man remains in defiance of his sentence.
#3 - Vaughan Street Jail
This entire building has ghost stories most which stem from the gallows in the central courtyard where there is also a small graveyard. This building was a combination jail and asylum where men, women and even children (the youngest of which recorded was a mere 5 years old) were held.
I have been inside this building which is now closed to the public and I can attest to the creepy feelings being inside it produces. Whether it is the ghost tales or simply seeing the way suspected and convicted criminals as well as people labelled insane were treated I don't know.
#4 - Mother TuckersOriginally a masonic temple built in 1895 it was converted in 1970 into a restaurant and lounge called Mother Tuckers.
Since then stories of odd things have been consistently reported. Food which spoils in a day despite proper storage, footsteps in the attic, voices and sounds heard when no one is in the building, inanimate objects moving on there own and chairs which if sat upon will eject there occupant
#5 - Hamilton House
T.G. Hamilton studied the paranormal world, hosting countless seances and photographing many odd occurrences during them. This collection of photographs and his research materials remains stored at the U of M and is said to be "The best evidence to date that there is something of the human personality which remains after death." What I find to be it's most interesting story is that of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, writer of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries who is said to have attended several of the seances both before and after his death.
