Haunted places are like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow for the macabre and grotesque. There’s nothing like exploring the spookiest places; to feel all the hairs on your body stand on end; to sense that something is breathing down your back.
There are a lot of places in the world to experience the scare of a lifetime. Toronto is notoriously known for housing some of the eeriest areas. If you’re gearing up for one ghostly adventure this side of town, there here are Toronto’s most haunted spots of all time.
The Old Don Jail
Isolated prisons are often the breeding ground of all things scary. The Old Don Jail is among the creepiest, as it is known to have witnessed all sorts of carnage during its time. Many troubled souls continue to roam the area no thanks to its reputation for mistreating inmates. One of the most famous ghosts in the Old Don Jail is that of an angry female inmate who hung herself. To this day, her presence is reportedly seen and felt by paranormal enthusiasts who brave the prison. Don’t forget to check out the unmarked burial sites with human remains within the area.
Royal Ontario Museum
The ROM is reported to be haunted by the ghost of its first ever director, Dr. Charles Currelly. Eyewitness accounts him wearing a nightshirt and wandering through the East Asiatic section. Plus, the now-debunk neighboring McLaughlin Planetarium is also reported to house sad little girl spirit who likes to sit and watch shows with living audience members. Talk about a show stopper.
Mackenzie House
If the story of a ghost literally slapping the lady of the house doesn’t send chills down your spine, we don’t know what will. The Mackenzie House is yet another wickedly haunted spot in Toronto. T.O.’s first mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie, still wander around the house after dying there. Numerous stories have attributed it as intensely eerie, with rocking chairs and printing presses moving on their own and countless apparitions seen throughout the house. Enter at your own risk.
Keg Mansion
The Keg Mansion isn’t only known for its delicious, juicy steak. It’s also gathered quite the paranormal reputation thanks to the phantom laughs and voices heard throughout the area. An apparition of a woman hanging herself has also been reported. Oh and the staff are constantly guarded by an ever-looming presence that follows them wherever they go. So if you want the scariest stories for dessert, this is the place to be.
Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres
Toronto is also well known for its numerous haunted theatres. One of the most famous places is the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres. There have been reports of theatre seats slowly unfolding during the wee hours of the morning. Employees and patrons have also shared their stories about seeing the presence of a woman they fondly call, “Lavender Lady” because of the scent of lavender that accompanied her. Another ghost who has been dubbed as “Sam” also roams the halls of the theatre, playing a faint trombone sound for everyone to hear. Cold spots have been felt throughout the vicinity. So when the lights dim, you better make sure you’re seated beside an actual human being.
Massey Hall
Massey Hall is a runner up among the spookiest theatres in Toronto. Apart from a man in old-timey clothes roaming the backstage, reports of a couple roaming the aisles late at night have been cited.
Old City Hall
Here’s the thing: No less than 50 spirits are said to haunt the Old City Hall. That includes Arthur Lucas and Ronald Turpin, the last two men hung to their death in Canada, Judges have also heard hair-raising footsteps and felt their robes tugged on the rear staircase. Moans of incarcerated prisoners who are yet to find peace have been heard from the cellar. Plus, another presence is felt in the northwest section of the attic. So if you really want your heart beating out of your chest by the end of the journey, this is where you have to be.
Lower Bay Station
The hidden, abandoned subway station just below the Bay is merely used for storage and film shooting. Sure it may be empty for the rest of us mortals but the station has seen one constant passenger: A ghostly lady in a long red dress, said to float along the rails near the tunnel entrances. Witnesses have also described the lady in red to have no legs and black holes where her eyes should be.
University College
The U of T campus’ houses its most famous ghost — a Russian stonemason by the name of Ivan Reznikoff who to this day, wanders the halls of the university. He was said to have been murdered by a fellow mason named Paul Diabolos, during construction of the College in the 1850s. Diabolos reportedly buried the corpse under a stairwell, where it was found after a fire in 1890. Tip? Look for the axe mark on the door next to Croft Chapter House, accompanied by the two spooky gargoyles outside of Croft Chapter House: one is assumed to be Reznikoff while the other Diabolos laughing at him.