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NANAIMO, BC Situated at the entrance to busy Departure Bay and nearby Nanaimo harbour, thousands of passengers pass Newcastle Island daily. However, few likely know of its dark history—nor reputation for being one of the most haunted islands in the Pacific. The origins of the story go back to the Nanaimo of 1868 and a Continue reading
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VALDEZ ISLAND, BC Often, some of the best ghost stories are those that stand the test of time and the encounter newspaper columnist Jack Scott had on Valdez Island in the summer of 1961 is a textbook example. A decade later, Scott would relay the events of that night in a column in the Vancouver Continue reading
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QUALICUM/PORT ALBERNI, BC For whatever reason, some places seem to be meccas for the strange and otherworldly and Vancouver Island’s Cameron Lake is certainly one of those places. Located 20 kilometres west of Qualicum Beach down Highway 4, the lake and surrounding area hold tales of everything from ghosts to Sasquatch to even an elusive Continue reading
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CAMPBELL RIVER, BC Some of my favourite stories are the lesser known ones. Short, simple and, all too often, unsubstantiated, what they lack in detail, they make up for in a certain real-life allure. In all the years I’ve read and researched hauntings on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and ensuing coast, I’ve never heard Continue reading
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Sooke, BC Although this is a fairly well known story [at least to those from the Victoria area] the accounts of this highway spectre are so consistent; the circumstances behind their death so tragic, that no collection of BC ghost stories would be complete without it. Highway 14 [also known as Sooke Road] runs west Continue reading
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POWELL RIVER, BC Our final stop on our Powell River road trip, takes us back to the historic Townsite area of the city, to the much adored [and very haunted] Patricia Theatre. As Canada’s oldest continuously operating movie theatre, the Patricia first opened its doors in 1913 at its original location across from the Rodmay Continue reading
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GIBSONS, BC Compared to many of its modern day counterparts, Gibsons’s Pioneer Cemetery is a decidedly spooky place. Located in an isolated mountainside forest, it conjures up images of something from a B-grade horror movie. Sometimes referred to as “Boot Hill” by locals, this small internment plot nestled at the base of Mount Elphinstone is Continue reading
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LUND, BC Our next stop takes us north of Powell River to Lund, the northern terminus of Highway 101. Featured prominently in this idyllic community on the edge of Desolation Sound is the historic Lund Hotel. Built in 1895, the inn offers comfortable rooms, a great pub, and stunning views of nearby Malaspina Strait. And, Continue reading
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POWELL RIVER, BC Just a block from the Rodmay is another very haunted hotel, The Old Courthouse Inn. Once the town’s provincial building, the historic inn served as the local police station, jail, clerical offices, and courthouse, hence its namesake. Built in 1939, it operated as a government facility until 1974, when more modern facilities Continue reading
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POWELL RIVER, BC There are no shortage of reportedly haunted locations in Powell River. Whether it’s the area’s abundance of historical structures or the land in which they sit upon, this isolated community of 13,000 on the northern Sunshine Coast is home to at least four well known paranormal hotspots, which we will be featuring Continue reading
About us
Coastal Shadows aims to provide readers with tales of the strange and otherworldly specific to coastal British Columbia. We want to hear your stories. coastalshadowscontact@gmail.com
COASTAL SHADOWS 