With the start of the Halloween season comes a chill in the air. The smell of fallen leaves floats on crisp, chilling winds. Also, warm drinks are back in full swing. But, yes: it’s the time of year when people start to think of ghouls and ghosts.
I recently went on one of Victoria’s Ghostly Walks. For people who like ghost stories, the Ghostly Walks are an amazing experience.
Two of the best things to have with you on the walk are a sense of intrigue and an open mind. As the tour started, my friend and I joined the crowd gathering in the main lower courtyard of Market Square. The guides knew how to get the groups gathered and separated so they weren’t on top of each other during the tour.
The guide I had for the tour had a really good story voice and knew their material. It can be hard at times to make sure that the history that goes along with the paranormal aspect of the story is just as interesting. We started off with a story that took place right in Market Square that, like most good ghost stories, involves a murder. The guide was lively in telling the stories and their enthusiasm was infectious.
We then left Market Square and went out onto the streets of downtown. The next ghostly location we walked toward was Swans. After that story—sorry, not going to spoil it for you—we headed down Store Street. We stopped for the next location on the edge of Chinatown.
The next two stories concerned the two main bridges going into downtown. The night air was a bit more humid once we got closer to the bridges.
Our route took us to the Point Ellice Bridge (or, as most people in Victoria call it, the Bay Street Bridge). One of the stories gave me insight on why my aunt hated to be stuck on that bridge in the middle of rush hour. To be honest, the stories about the deaths surrounding the old Johnson Street Bridge always did interest me a little more, maybe because that bridge was actually pretty new as far as Victoria history goes.
There were a few more stops on the way before we ended the 90-minute tour downtown in Bastion Square.
With the dark and chilled air that night, the Ghostly Walk was a spellbinding experience. I can definitely say that every penny spent on the Ghostly Walk was well spent (it doesn’t hurt that Camosun College students get a student discount). Anyone who appreciates learning about some local history, even if they’re not a fan of ghost stories, can have a fantastic evening out doing the walk.
Ghostly Walks’ Halloween season goes until Sunday, November 3; the start of the tours is in the archway entrance to Market Square. See discoverthepast.com for more information.