Whispers From Winnipeg’s Past: Top Ghost Tours For Those Who Dare
Winnipeg is a vibrant, multifaceted city with lots of fun to offer but when it’s nightfall, out comes its storied past that continues to haunt curious minds.
If there’s only one thing I can recommend to any first-timer in my city, it’s a ghost tour. It’s such a unique (and fun, depending on whom you ask) way to discover its alleys and get to know its bevy of secrets.
Put on your brave face, bring out your flashlight, and maybe have some liquid courage as I introduce some of the top ghost tours in Winnipeg!
Official Ghost Tours in Winnipeg
1. Winnipeg Ghost Walk
The walking tour along Exchange District will unveil the tragic past and fatal happenings at the Cube before it is the performance venue that we know now.
Are you a fan of performance arts? A chilling tale of “invisible” performances at the Burton Cummings Theatre might be right up your alley.
You’ll also get to know which buildings in the downtown area are peppered with haunted tales.
Another option for a spooky night is a walkthrough of the Seven Oaks neighborhood.
You’ll set foot inside the oldest haunted house in the city with only a candle to light your path. It’s highly recommended, but beware, it’s not for the faint of heart.
2. The Haunted Winnipeg Ghost Tour by Winnipeg Trolley Company
What better way to have a ghostly experience in the city than being guided by the author of Haunted Winnipeg himself? Matthew Komus and Winnipeg Trolley Company bring you the Midnight Conductor!
Matthew will narrate some of the most chilling tales of the city, including otherworldly sightings and executions.
Are you able to handle more? You’ll also learn about the doctor-turned-seance master in the early 20th century.
3. Tripvia’s Smartphone Audio Ghost Tour
For an official tour that you can do on your own time, consider Tripvia’s audio tour where you can be your own guide! You can download their free app to access your purchased audio and explore the spooky destinations at your convenience.
Secret tunnels, trapped souls at Marlborough Hotel, and the dark past of Hamilton House are just some of the highlights of this tour. Think you can handle that?
Not only do you get to visit these places, but you’ll also have access to trivia questions as you carry on with your adventure! The interactiveness of this tour is really what sold it to me, and I think it’s something that first-time visitors will enjoy, too!
Once the residence of the former Premier of Manitoba, Sir Hugh John Macdonald, Dalnavert Museum (or MacDonald House) is now one of the city’s best remnants of the past.
The house has been restored into a museum and filled to the brim with Victorian-era furnishing.
My favorite part of this house is arguably its creepiest room–the “nursery”. Dolls that look like they come alive at night are placed on the bed and chairs.
Macdonald’s son, Jack, died at 19 years old in this very home. It’s believed by many Winnipegians that his spirit lives on inside.
Other Haunted Locations for a Self-Guided Ghost Tour in Winnipeg
If you prefer not to spend money but still want to go on a ghost tour, here are some of my suggestions:
1. Fort Garry Hotel
The jury’s still out on what really happened at Fort Garry, but some say that Room 202 has a resident spirit. It’s said to be of a woman who hung herself in the closet after learning that her husband was tragically killed in a car accident.
There were also reports of a bloody wall, and in other iterations of the story, it was a cloaked lady just creepily standing on the edge of the bed. Imagine waking up to that in the middle of the night!
If you dare, why not book a night in the infamous room and see for yourself?
2. St. Norbert Monastery
Now, this is not an active monastery but rather the ruins of one.
It’s actually the Trappist Monastery in the neighborhood of St. Norbert. Its bare bones and overgrown surroundings contributed to the eerie atmosphere when I visited it a few times before.
Since it has turned into somewhat of a park, kids usually ride their bikes there in the afternoon. If you do choose it as a stop in your tour, many locals (including myself) highly recommend a midnight visit!