Urban Legends in Quebec Canada

Considering Canada's wide expanses of wild and uninhabited land, it's no wonder the country inspires a considerable amount of myths, ghost stories, and urban legends. Not to say creepy stories don't come out of Canada's major cities - Toronto and Montreal both feature supposed paranormal presences as well. From lake monsters to wolf people, traditional Inuit legends often mix with more recent stories to create some of the most terrifying tales in the world.

Like creepy myths and urban legends from across the globe, Canada possesses its own brand of scary stories. An infusion of French and Inuit culture gives Canada's urban legends a distinctly regional twist. The country has many ghost stories and legends about terrible beasts who may have slain people and wreaked havoc long ago. Canada's history includes some compelling UFO stories as well, due to its remote landscapes. It's known for its maple syrup, hockey, and moose, but you might be surprised by what creepy creatures and legends Canada might hold.

Headless Ghosts And 'Titanic' Passengers Roam Old Montreal

The historic neighborhood of Old Montreal in Quebec's largest city draws numerous locals and tourists each year thanks to its history and old world charm. People believe Montreal is the most haunted city in Canada and many of Montreal's ghosts live in Old Montreal.

The city's oldest road, Saint-Paul Street, supposedly becomes a walkway for the paranormal at night. Visitors often report seeing ghostly horse-drawn carriages or an apparition of Marie-Joseph Angélique wearing the same white robe she had on when was terminated. The former lady of the evening Mary Gallagher is also reported to appear on William and Murray Streets every seven years - looking for her head, taken off by her onetime best friend.

Visitors can also find hotbeds of ghostly activity in Old Montreal's graveyards, especially in North America's largest intact cemetery, Mount Royal. People claim to see apparitions wandering around the plots at night and hear giggling, creaking, and other eerie noises. Ghosts supposedly include several people who perished on the Titanic and an often-seen Algonquin man who looks over the cliff to the city below.

Haunted graveyards in Old Montreal aren't limited to outside the city. Dorchester Square park lies above a grave said to hold around 70,000 skeletons who passed from cholera.

A Mysterious Ghost Ship Burns In The Northumberland Strait

The Northumberland Strait lies between Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and has reportedly been home to a phantom ship for many years. Numerous people claim to have seen a vessel catch fire, burn for several minutes, and then mysteriously disappear. One woman said she saw crew onboard scrambling to douse the flames.

Entire groups of people have supposedly witnessed the burning ship when riding the ferry between the strait. Rescuers have tried approaching the phantom vessel, but find nothing there. One sailor even remembers sailing through flames before they mysteriously disappeared.

Divers have failed to find any wreckage in the area.

A Man Was Burned By Radiation After A UFO Encounter In Manitoba

In 1967, Stefan Michalak ventured out into the woods around Falcon Lake near Winnipeg, Manitoba in search of silver and quartz. He was startled by a gaggle of geese, but then noticed two cigar-shaped crafts hovering in the air. One flew away, but the other landed.

Michalak waited half an hour before approaching. He heard mechanical whirring noises, smelled sulfur, and felt warm air as he got closer. He noticed an open door panel; coming from inside were colored lights and voices muffled by a constant humming.

Suddenly, the door panel closed, and a blast of gas from the craft knocked Michalak off his feet; his clothes were set ablaze. He managed to take them off and made his way back to town. He felt extremely sick, dizzy, and had burns on his stomach resembling a grid.

Doctors discovered Michalak's sickness was caused by radiation, and officials who checked the alleged encounter site discovered radioactive soil samples and metal melted into the rocks. Several government departments investigated the incident, but concluded the case would forever remain unexplained.

A Lady In Red Haunts Toronto's Lower Bay Station

Below Toronto's Bay Station lies another subway station known as Lower Bay Station. The Toronto Transit Commission reportedly opened the station in 1966 while experimenting with routes, but soon realized if the route was ever delayed, it would slow down the entire subway system.  It was shut down only six months later.

They later built the current Bay Station on top, connecting the two platforms with a red door only accessible to employees. Workers and occasional movie productions still use the old station, but numerous workers claim to have seen a phantom Lady in Red wandering the tracks.

People say she has no legs and only black holes for eyes; her apparition only lingers for 30 seconds. Workers have felt cold spots and sensed drafts in areas where they shouldn't be present. Some think it's possible the Lady in Red fell or was pushed onto the tracks, but no records of any such accident exist. Others think it's more likely she was a former resident of Potter's Field, a cemetery for social outcasts and the poor, which the city attempted to relocate in 1855 to build the station.

Wendigo Hunt People In The Woods Of Ontario

Native American tribes from throughout the northeastern region of North America tell tales of a malevolent, 15-foot tall, flesh-eating monster called the Wendigo. Born from dark human acts, the Wendigo uses its magic to track any person who unwittingly walks through its territory. The creature is associated with harsh winters and famine. It is said to have long claws, sharp teeth, glowing eyes, and can possess people who display greed, gluttony, and excess.

Modern reports and sightings have been recorded since the 1800s, most notably in the town of Rosesu, MN. There, whenever the creature was seen, an unexpected passing soon followed.

People still report sightings of the Wendigo, primarily in Northern Ontario.

The Spirit of a Girl Haunts the Screaming Tunnel

Although the Grand Trunk Railway closed down long ago, one tunnel below the tracks is allegedly quite active. According to urban legend, if a person stands in the middle of the so-called Screaming Tunnel and lights a match, a strong wind will blow out the flame and visitors can hear a woman's scream.

Multiple stories explain the eerie sound. One explanation says a young girl was caught in a barn fire and tried to escape, but ended up stuck within the tunnel. Another version of the legend claims the girl was severely mistreated and burned to hide the evidence. A third version alleges the girl's father got rid of her by setting her ablaze.

Dozens of People Met Their End in the Headless Valley

In 1908, people began finding headless forms in Northwest Canada's Nahanni Valley. Some attributed the suffers to the Waheela, a giant, wolf-like creature that hunts in packs of two or three. An estimated 44 cadavers have turned up in the valley since then, including a prospector whose cabin burned to the ground in 1917 and an unknown miner found still in his sleeping bag in 1945. The area appropriately became known as the Headless Valley.

While the slayings could also be attributed to native groups, competitive prospectors, or hungry grizzlies, many still believe the mysterious packs of Waheela are to blame.

A UFO Base Lurks Below The Surface Of Lake Ontario

Conspiracy theorists claim aliens have created hidden underwater UFO bases all over Earth, including one that supposedly lies below the surface of Lake Ontario. People say they often see unexplained lights over the water. One resident of nearby Hamilton, Ontario reported walking home from work when he noticed glowing orbs in the sky. He felt a strange sensation that caused him to freeze. The 10 orbs floated for several minutes before flying out towards the water.

Another story claims a group of people witnessed the floating lights in 1981. They noticed an orange flying-saucer-shaped craft traveling alongside their car. While the craft was in their vicinity, the car radio became nothing but static. The group followed the strange object only to see it fly over Lake Ontario, descend at an angle into the water, and ultimately disappear below the surface.

Others who have claimed to have seen the lights say they are orange in color and most often appear between Toronto and Oakville.

A Phantom Worker Falls from University Of Toronto's Soldiers' Tower

The University of Toronto built a Gothic-style structure around 1924 as a memorial for students who perished in WWI. According to legend, a worker fell while polishing the bells housed in the tower in the 1930s.

Since then, students claim to see lights inside the tower and the worker's ghost wandering around the nearby grounds. Others have supposedly seen a man fall from the tower, but when they approached to check if he was alright, they found nobody there.

The Ogopogo Monster Lives In Lake Okanagan

In 2018, two families relaxing along the shore of British Columbia's Lake Okanagan claimed to witness a mysterious creature rising from the water. "I saw this black form come out of the water - cylindrical - and then roll," one man said, describing the almost 50-foot-long, snake-like creature. Within three weeks, two more people saw the same thing and believed it to be Canada's legendary Ogopogo.

The first modern documentation of the monster was in 1972, but indigenous legends mention the creature long before that, calling it the N'ha-a-itk, a long creature with humps and a horse-like head that rises from the lake during storms.

Numerous people claimed to see the Ogopogo swimming or peeking above the waves, and have captured photos and videos of the creature. The Ogopogo became such a beloved part of Canadian folklore that the government commissioned an Ogopogo postage stamp in the 1990s.

Scientists believe the creature may be a primitive whale that shows itself more often in the fall when boat traffic dies down and the water temperature cools.

A Slain Lighthouse Keeper Wanders Outside Gibraltar Point

Built in 1808, the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes. During the War of 1812, lighthouse keeper JP Rademuller kept a careful watch on the harbor until he mysteriously disappeared in 1815. Although details differ from story to story, soldiers allegedly slew Rademuller and hid his remains around the lighthouse. Years later, another lighthouse keeper began digging up the area and discovered what's believed to be Rademuller's jawbone.

The lighthouse became a popular local tourist destination for both its history and potential for the paranormal. Some people claim to hear phantom moans, while others say they've seen Rademuller's ghost wander the area. When visitors approach the door to the lighthouse, they sometimes detect loud banging noises coming from inside.

The Cabbagetown Tunnel Monster Lurks Underneath Toronto

In 1978, a 51-year-old man encountered a strange creature in a tunnel by the Cabbagetown neighborhood of Toronto while searching for a lost kitten. After walking about 10 feet into the tunnel, he spotted something move. He swung the flashlight in its direction and saw what appeared to be a

three-foot-tall, monkey-like creature with gray fur and glowing orange eyes. This "living nightmare" said to him, "Go away. Go away." Horrified, the man ran.

Friends urged him to share his story, so he contacted the Toronto Sun about a year later. He and a reporter found the cave once more - and a perished cat. The two guessed the other end of the tunnel led into Toronto's sewer system. No one has ever spotted the Cabbagetown Tunnel Monster again.

The Ghost of Richard Christie's Mistress Lingers At Regis College

The building that now houses Regis College in Toronto used to be the private mansion of Richard Christie, the son and heir to the founder of Mr. Christie's Cookies. The building contains a windowless room hidden within the inner structure of the house complete with its own bathroom and entrances located behind wood paneling. According to legend, Christie's mistress lived in this space, and they conducted a secret affair.

Although he bribed a servant to bring the woman food, Christie failed to spend as much time with her as she wanted. Supposedly, she grew so distraught with his absence that she garrotted herself in the secret room. Christie and the servant buried her in secret, but he found himself unable to deal with his grief and ruined the family business.

Students and other visitors to the secret Room 29 have seen doors opening and closing on their own, and some women claim to have entered only to find themselves mysteriously locked inside.

The Nennorluk Waits Off The Coast Of Newfoundland

According to legend, explorer Sir Humphrey Gilbert came face-to-face with a sea monster on his way back to England from Newfoundland in 1583. The lion-like creature he described fit the description of the Nennorluk, a cryptid from many Inuit stories around parts of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Said to have white fur, large ears, and stand as tall as an iceberg, the beast feasts on seals and humans, if they get close enough. Inuit people believe the Nennorluk does not swim, but instead moves from place to place by walking along the bottom of the ocean. They claim this is the reason the creature is not usually seen away from the shore. An 1847 sighting, however, alleged protrusions resembling antennae once appeared in the water, and the surrounding people heard a terrible roar.

British Columbia's Most Famous Architect Haunts The Buildings He Designed

Two buildings in Victoria, British Columbia, designed by Francis Rattenbury are said to be haunted by the artist himself. Rattenbury was one of British Columbia's most famous architects and became a target for local newspapers.

Although he originally lived and worked in Victoria, he garnered a bad reputation for his salacious affair with Alma Parkenham. After divorcing his first wife, Rattenbury married Parkenham and moved to England, but was slain in 1935 - presumably by Alma and her new lover, George Stoner.

Visitors to the Empress Hotel claim to have spotted a ghost of a thin mustached man walking through the halls. Others say his ghost can be seen haunting the British Columbia Parliament Buildings.

The Loup-Garou Stalk the Forests Of Quebec

When the French began to immigrate to Quebec in the 17th century, they brought many of their folk stories along with them. One tale was about human-beast hybrids known as loup-garou or rougarou, also known as werewolves.

According to legend, loup-garou are cursed and placed under a spell for 101 days, forced to change form every night. Unlike werewolves in other cultures, loup-garou have the ability to shape-shift into dogs, cats, pigs, oxen, owls, or calves, and retain awareness while in both forms.

Stories claim those who draw the blood of and recognize one of these creatures will be able to see the loup-garou's true form.

A Family Was Cursed In Baldoon

After John McDonald refused to sell his land in Baldoon, Ontario to an old woman in the 1830s, his family's home became a hotspot of paranormal activity. The family heard eerie footsteps in the kitchen, items inside the house flew around, and phantom hands threw rocks.

Some claim the family put marks on the stones and tossed them in the river, only to find the same marked stones back in their home. Fires started spontaneously all over their land until the entire house went up in flames.

The McDonalds moved in with family next door, but the mysterious events continued. As many as 26 people claimed to have witnessed these strange occurrences, and eventually, the family sought help from a young girl able to read stones. She told McDonald to fire at an unusual goose with a black head that was seen wandering the property. He did as she suggested, and targeted the bird in the wing.

McDonald tracked the bird, and it led him to the old woman's house, where she sat with a broken arm. The mysterious occurrences never happened again.

The Thetis Lake Monster Struck Several Teenagers

Sometimes referred to as the Canadian Lizard Man, the Thetis Lake monster first appeared in 1972, when it allegedly came out of the lake and went after two teenagers. The kids claimed the five-foot-tall monster looked like the Gill-man from The Creature from the Black Lagoon. While they were trying to escape, the cryptid managed to scratch one across the hand with its barbed, webbed claws.

A few days later, others claimed to witness the beast:

 Its body was silver and shaped like an ordinary body, like a human being body, but it had a monster face, and it was all scaly with a point sticking out of its head and great big ears and horrifying eyes.

The second set of witnesses eventually admitted they made up their story, but the first two never went back on their claim. People forgot about the monster for many years, until, in 2011, another person claimed to have been charged by a beast with claws and scaly skin.