Ghost Stories of Alberta

Barbara Smith

Sep 1993 · Dundurn

About this ebook

Contrary to popular belief, ghosts do not necessarily reside in draughty old castles and ancient graveyards. In this book, the author has collected ghost stories specifically from Alberta where she has discovered strange tales of hauntings in schools, restaurants, theatres, hotels, government buildings and modern houses from Calgary and Edmonton to rural areas and the Rocky Mountains. Several spine-tingling tales are legendary accounts of native spirits who still inhabit the land.

In Edmonton, two former firehalls are widely reputed to be haunted; the McKay Avenue School is said to have at least half a dozen spirits; and employees of radio station CKUA have experienced a ghostly presence. "Alberta's Most Haunted Place" is probably the Deane House and Tea Room at Fort Calgary, where a number of different ghosts are taken for granted by the staff.

This eerie collection of supernatural tales includes, among others, the story of the Medicine Hat ghost train; the strange phenomena in a rural "castle" that cannot drive its owner away; the hauntings of the Banff Springs Hotel; the ghostly arsonist in a photograph at Chateau Lake Louise; evil ghosts of the Alberta Badlands; the beautiful lady in white who haunts Prince House in Heritage Park; the Canmore Opera House spirits; and the ghostly bookworm.

Ratings and reviews

When I was a small girl, about 5 years old Living in Blairmore, Alberta, I was awoken from my sleep by a group of voices. They were very, very loud and all saying the same thing over and over again. The voice tone was hushed but the sheer numbers of them made it sound like a huge mob. I was scared but got out of bed to find out where they were coming from. I wasn't sure if it was inside or outside the house, or down the hall. I crept down the hall to find nothing, but I still heard the voices. I woke up my mother but she heard nothing. Thinking maybe I had a night mare she rocked me to sleep. The voices continued for a while, off and on and mother would keep the light on for me so I could see there was no body there. I forgot about the incidents over time and gave it a nothing never no mind after I moved away. When I moved back as an adult, It began again. The same scenario, but this time i heard very clearly..rhubarb,rhubarb,rhubarb,rhubarb,rhubarb. very very many voices. Anybody else experience this phenomenon? I know I am not the only one. The local Natives know of this.

About the author

Barbara Smith's two previous books - Ghost Stories of Alberta (1993) and Deadly Encounters (1993) - have already become bestsellers. Her meticulous research and her ability to recreate social and personal histories are just two of the reasons her stories make lively reading. A resident of Edmonton, Barbara is a member of the Writers' Guild of Alberta.