Canada’s vast landscapes are more than just breathtaking wilderness and quiet towns — they’re also home to eerie legends that have echoed through generations. From haunted lighthouses on stormy coasts to shapeshifting spirits in ancient forests, the supernatural is stitched into the very fabric of our folklore. These stories blend Indigenous traditions, colonial history, and age-old whispers carried by the wind — making Canada one of the most mysterious and haunted nations on Earth.

Let’s take a walk through the mist and meet the legends that haunt the Canadian imagination.

1. The Wendigo – The Spirit of the Winter Woods

Perhaps the most chilling of Indigenous legends, the Wendigo comes from Algonquian folklore. This malevolent spirit is said to be the embodiment of greed, hunger, and the unforgiving cold of the northern forests. Appearing as a gaunt, emaciated creature with glowing eyes and a heart of ice, the Wendigo is known to possess humans and drive them to cannibalism. The deeper you wander into the woods, the louder its whisper grows...

Where to explore it: Northern Ontario, Quebec, and the boreal forests of Manitoba.

2. The Ghost Bride of Banff Springs Hotel

This luxurious mountain hotel in Alberta is a jewel of Canadian heritage — and a hotbed for ghostly sightings. The most famous spirit is the Ghost Bride, a young woman said to have died tragically on her wedding day in the 1920s. Guests and staff have reported seeing her gliding down the staircase in a flowing white gown, forever searching for the life she lost.

Where to feel it: Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta.

3. The Headless Brakeman of Vancouver

The tale of the headless brakeman is one of Western Canada’s most enduring railway legends. It’s said that a railway worker was decapitated in a freak accident on the tracks near Vancouver. To this day, locals report sightings of a lantern swinging in the dark, carried by a ghost still searching for his lost head.

Where to hear it: Railway lines around Vancouver and the Fraser Valley.

4. The Dungarvon Whooper – New Brunswick’s Screaming Spirit

In the dark woods near the Dungarvon River, the ghostly wail of the “Whooper” has terrified locals for over a century. Legend has it a young Irish cook was murdered by a lumberjack crew for his money, and now his spirit haunts the forest, howling through the trees. The unnerving cries are said to still echo in the stillness of night.

Where to listen: Dungarvon River near Miramichi, New Brunswick.

5. The Lady in White of Montmorency Falls

This tragic tale comes from Quebec, near the roaring Montmorency Falls. According to legend, a woman named Mathilde threw herself into the falls after losing her fiancé in battle. Now, her ghost — always in a white dress — is said to appear in the mist of the falls, mourning for eternity.

Where to spot her: Montmorency Falls, just outside Quebec City.

Why These Stories Still Matter

These legends do more than give us goosebumps. They reflect the deep cultural roots of our land — from the sacred spirits of Indigenous nations to the echoes of colonial tragedy and local lore. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these stories bind us to our history and the land in ways that are both beautiful and eerie