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Supernatural
B.C. attracts visitors from beyond - 20081103
Darcy Wintonyk, ctvbc.ca
While B.C.'s tourism motto may be "Super,
Natural British Columbia," it may also have another,
more ghostly, interpretation.
From war heroes to disgruntled performers
soloing from beyond the grave, British Columbia is rife with
tales of homegrown supernatural activity. Robert Belyk, a
five-time author on paranormal activity in the province, says
even the biggest skeptic can get on board with a good ghost
story.
"Whether you believe in it or not, the
lore is so fascinating," says Belyk.
And widespread. British Columbia is widely
considered to be Canada's most haunted province. One of the
theories to explain the surplus of paranormal occurrences
is the blanket of rain that "haunts" B.C.'s south
coast.
"Some people believe the amount of rainfall
is directly related to hauntings," says Belyk.
"Countries like Ireland and England are
notorious for paranormal activity, and they have a very similar
climate."
Belyk also says the laid back attitude of
West Coasters means more British Columbians are willing to
talk about their encounters with the undead.
"We don't have any hesitation to talk
about our ghosts," says Belyk. "We don't put a great
deal of value about worrying about the religious overtones
of these things, and so some great stories get out there."
Here is a list of some famous and lesser known
"haunts" in the Lower Mainland where paranormal
activity has been documented.
New Westminster: Fraser Cemetery
New Westminster's Fraser Cemetery has long
been a haven for paranormal experiences.
You may think a resting place for the dead
is quite a natural stomping ground for ghosts; but it's something
that surprises ghost expert Robert Belyk.
"Normally they don't like to hang around
those places," he says.
Archie Miller grew up close to the Fraser,
and worked as an archivist for the city of New Westminster
for many years. He says several people have reported seeing
a young woman walking through the graves in a Victorian-era
dress.
"She kind of waves at them," says
Miller. "They look down at a relative's stone and then
she's gone.
Others say they've been pushed by a mysterious
force towards a gravestone. Miller describes one woman who
was by herself and distinctly felt someone put a hand on her
waist and move her along a row.
"She was alone but her reaction was immediate
that someone stuck up behind her," Miller says. "When
she turned around there was no one there, but where she was
standing was right in front the grave she was looking for."
One of the most recent sightings was the sighting
of a little boy on a bench in the mid 1990s.
Burnaby Central Park
Founded in 1891, this 90-hectare park in the
centre of Burnaby is high on eerie encounters. Four or five
ghosts have reportedly habituated on the wooded property,
scaring hikers and park-goers. One of the most interesting
apparitions is a young woman who speaks in tongues at the
edge of the forest.
"Its gibberish -- just a totally unrecognizable
language," says Belyk.
Belyk believes the ghost is a woman who was
killed in the park in the 1950s by a fireworks display.
"One of the fireworks went askew and
hit her in the temple, killing her," says Belyk. "I've
long suspected this is the ghost of the park. She's certainly
been the most active."
Vogue Theatre
The legends of ghosts at Vancouver's Vogue
Theatre are almost as prominent as the singers who have performed
at the venue since it opened in 1941.
Former house manager Bill Allman calls the
basement the "ghost highway," where there have been
many apparitions and spirits.
Allman himself has heard someone playing the
drums when the theatre is completely empty. "As I came
out of the basement I heard it and when I got to the top of
the stairs the playing stopped," says Allman.
"So you have this phantom player sitting
on his kit and I can tell you, he was not very good."
In the projection booth upstairs there have
been reports of a more menacing apparition who sits in a theatre
chair with a scowl. It even appeared to an actor in the middle
of a performance.
Allman says while he's been unnerved, he's
never been terrified.
"Ghosts in old theatres are just part
of the landscape."
Hycroft Mansion
Vancouver's Hycroft mansion is one of the
city's most stately homes, and is also reported to be one
of the most haunted houses. The 20,000 square foot Shaughnessy
home was used as a veteran's hospital from 1943-1960, but
is now owned by the University Women's club.
There are reportedly seven ghosts in the 30-room
home, including an older man in a First World War officer's
uniform. The ghost is believed to be Alexander McRae, a prominent
politician and war hero who built the home in 1909. His wife
Blanche is also known to cause some disturbances.
Since the University Women's club bought the
property in 1962, the home is often used as a film set - something
author Robert Belyk says explains the hauntings.
"Ghosts don't like film crews coming
in," he says. "Just about anywhere you have film
crews coming in you have a problem with ghosts."
Belyk says most ghosts are very proprietarily
oriented, and take strong objection to change.
"They come in and move things around
and ghosts don't seem to like that."
Irish Heather
The historic district of Gastown has long
been known for its ghostly apparitions. The first European
settlement in the city, The Irish Heather pub was originally
Vancouver's first police station, something that may explain
the presence of the paranormal.
The pub's bathrooms used to be jail cells,
and restaurant diners have reported sound of clattering chains
and slamming cell doors. The ghost is so famous he has earned
the moniker "The Ghost of Gastown."
Robert Belyk believes the presence of the
ghost may not be as strong since the historic building underwent
renovations this year.
"Ghosts hate changes," he said.
"Especially renovations."
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