Ghosts of New Westminster

by Greg Mansfield and Amanda Quill

As paranormal investigators who’ve spent decades looking for ghosts in British Columbia and beyond, between us we’ve visited hundreds of haunted places. But there’s something special about New Westminster that keeps drawing us back. We have a certain attachment to the ghosts of New Westminster, and we’ve had the privilege of witnessing some of these supernatural phenomena firsthand.

Let’s take you on a journey through some of the most haunted locations in New Westminster.

CPR Station: A Hub for Historical Hauntings

One of New Westminster’s most intriguing haunted places is the old Canadian Pacific Railway station. Built in 1899, this historic building has witnessed countless arrivals and departures – and not all of them have moved on.

During our many visits to Kelly O’Bryan’s Restaurant, which now occupies the old station, we’ve discovered some fascinating paranormal activity. Staff members share stories with us of unexplained phenomena, including mysterious footsteps of a woman in high heels on the upper floor, a self-opening door to the kitchen, and an inexplicable occurrence with a particular dining table where stacked chairs repeatedly fall for no apparent reason.

Perhaps most intriguingly, customers have witnessed the apparition of a young girl at the top of the interior staircase, vanishing into thin air, while others have seen strange shadows and the silhouette of a woman throughout the restaurant. The basement seems especially active, too, with employees reporting soft, disembodied voices calling their names.

Recent paranormal investigations have even captured electronic voice phenomena (EVP) recordings in the basement, suggesting that this historic transportation hub continues to host some of the most active ghosts of New Westminster.

Irving House: Where the King of the River Still Roams

One of our favorite haunted locations is Irving House. Built in 1865 for Captain William Irving, the “King of the River,” this historic home is now a museum. It’s also a hotbed of paranormal activity. The ghosts of New Westminster seem particularly active here, with numerous reports of unexplained phenomena.

The house itself seems alive with energy. Visitors often report hearing strange noises, seeing walls shiver, and even catching glimpses of a petite lady in period dress – believed to be either Elizabeth Irving or her daughter Mary. The master bedroom, where Captain Irving died in 1872, often shows an unexplained indentation on the mattress, as if someone’s still lying there.

Some employees at the Irving House Museum catch the distinct smell of pipe tobacco wafting through the halls – a signature of the captain’s presence. The white feathers that occasionally drift down the staircase and the faint sound of bagpipes outside add to the home’s mysterious atmosphere.

The Met Hotel: A Home for Some Ghostly Residents

The Met Hotel, housed in the historic Burr Block, stands as one of the few survivors of the Great Fire of 1898. It’s also home to some of the most active ghosts of New Westminster. During investigations here with her Coldspotters team, Amanda has encountered some fascinating phenomena.

In 2012, Amanda recorded an EVP of a female entity who identified herself as Mary, a former prostitute. The hotel’s most famous spirit, however, is George, a former caretaker who died in his basement lodgings. Staff members often report seeing him floating through hallways and walking through walls.

The basement, where George lived and died, has a particularly heavy atmosphere. During one investigation, a Coldspotters member experienced George’s playful side when invisible hands clapped loudly in front of her face – a prank that, we later learned, George was known for playing during his lifetime.

Samson V Museum: A Personal Encounter with a Sailor’s Spirit

The Samson V holds a special place in Greg’s heart, as it’s where he had one of his most memorable paranormal encounters. In October 2022, while exploring the inside of this historic snag boat, Greg witnessed something he’ll never forget – a shadow figure moving swiftly through the galley. The apparition was grey and transparent, with the clear form of a man wearing a thick sweater and sporting cropped hair.

This ghostly figure is believed to be Frank Creeden, the vessel’s chief engineer who died of a heart attack in the engine room in 1942. Over the years, many staff members and visitors have reported similar sightings, describing the full-bodied apparition of a sailor who brushes past before vanishing into thin air.

The Gatehouse: Echoes of Incarceration

The Gatehouse, once the entrance to the notorious B.C. Penitentiary, is a present-day monument to New Westminster’s darker history. The ghosts of New Westminster seem particularly active here, perhaps due to the building’s connection to countless troubled souls who passed through its doors.

Amanda has had several remarkable experiences here, including seeing a full-bodied apparition of a man on the ground floor. The basement, which once housed holding cells, seems to be a focal point for paranormal activity. During investigations, we’ve recorded multiple EVPs, including the voices of adult males and, surprisingly, a little boy and a barking dog.

Fraser Cemetery: Spirits Among the Stones

Fraser Cemetery, established in 1869, offers a different kind of haunting. Here, the ghosts of New Westminster take on a gentler nature. Visitors report seeing a young woman in a white Victorian-era dress who appears to guide people toward specific gravestones. There’s also a playful spirit of a little boy who’s been seen perched on benches or playing among the monuments.

During an investigation with our celebrity ghost-investigator friend, Robb Demarest, and some Coldspotters members in 2021, we witnessed the distinct, heavy smell of rose perfume following us throughout the lower half of the cemetery. Roses were out of season at the time, however, and none could be seen anywhere. When Greg called out to ask who was wearing the perfume, the scent suddenly went away. One of our team members who knows about such things said it was the scent of the cemetery’s guardian spirit.

Bernie Legge Theatre: Spectres in the Spotlight

The Bernie Legge Theatre in Queen’s Park has become known for its theatrical ghosts. Three distinct entities are said to haunt this venue: a “Woman in White” who appears as darting white lights between seats, a mischievous little boy who kicks the backs of seats, and an old fisherman who appears in reflections in the lobby and green room.

The Paramount Gentleman’s Club: A Stage for the Supernatural

The Paramount, which once hosted a scene in the original adaptation of Stephen King’s “It,” has its own share of supernatural activity. Staff have reported seeing chairs move on their own, bathroom doors slamming shut, and apparitions of both a woman in white and a little boy.

The Ghosts of New Westminster: Their Stories Live On

These ghosts of New Westminster aren’t just random phenomena – they’re echoes of the lives that helped shape this city. As paranormal investigators, we’ve learned that sometimes the most important part of ghost hunting isn’t just documenting the supernatural but understanding and preserving the stories behind these hauntings.

The next time you’re walking through these historic streets, remember – you might just be sharing the sidewalk with some of New Westminster’s oldest residents.

If you’d like to see many of these haunted places for yourself, Amanda leads a fascinating Ghosts of New Westminster walking tour from August to early November.

And if you want to delve deeper, you can find more detailed accounts of some of these locations and other haunted places in Greg’s book, Ghosts of Vancouver: 41 Haunted Places, available on Amazon.