Vancouver History

I did a double-take reading BBC News when I thought our beloved new stadium design was the featured image for a report on soccer. But without hesitation I sprung to find answers, and I learned there’s some “inspiration” in BC Place.

Did you know that legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix lived in Vancouver during his early childhood? Well he did, in what was once Vancouver’s primarily black neighbourhood, Hogan’s Alley (on the southern edge of Chinatown/Strathcona). That neighbourhood was destroyed and eventually displaced the small minority once the viaducts were constructed. Few remnants from that neighbourhood remain, one such landmark (at least to those that value Jimi’s contribution to music) is a the home of Nora Rose Moore Hendrix, who was Jimi Hendrix’s grandmother.  

Unlike many places in the world Vancouver is a relatively young city. Therefore, it doesn’t have that grand history and naturally not as many ghoulish tales from beyond. However, in a little over a century Vancouver has amassed a few haunted tales that we believe are worth sharing. Here are the top 5 haunted locations in Vancouver. Be careful the next time you’re there, you never know what lurks just around the corner. Happy Halloween!

Hycroft Mansion, located in the upper class neighbourhood of Shaughnessy, is a 20,000 square foot home. It’s also a place with a history of well documented paranormal activity. Unlike the other supposedly haunted Vancouver attractions, Hycroft Mansion is home to seven ghosts that love to peruse the halls of this 30 room abode.

Our next haunted Vancouver tale takes us to the elegant Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Not only is it one of the nicest buildings in town, it’s also home to what many believe is the nicest ghost in the city, the famous Lady in Red. She’s been around for half a century and the hotel doesn’t deny her supernatural existence, in fact they embrace it. They have named a cocktail after her and she is widely known by hotel staff.

The Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown is one of the hottest paranormal spots in Vancouver. Since Gastown is the oldest part of town, it’s only natural that it would be home to a lot of paranormal activity. The story at The Old Spaghetti Factory is that of a ghost of a train conductor. Apparently he died in a train crash sometime at the turn of the century and still roams the popular dining establishment.