Buck Hill has a legend about a logger’s family during the Depression. The daughter vanished one night while chasing the pet dog, who had run off. Theh logger searched for her and eventually went mad. His ghost still searches for her, and his lantern is seen as ghost lights in the area. The balls of light, seen at close range, are baseball-size white, amber or green lights that will occasionally flare up to much larger.
Buck Hill
Health Sciences Centre
The Health Sciences Centre is rumored to be visited by ghostly staff and patients. Footsteps and calls to the elevator have been reported, as well as crashing sounds, unexplained lights, malfunctioning electronic devices and more.
Barber House
At the Barber House, built in 1862 by American pioneer journalist and businessman Edmund Lorenzo Barber, a grisly story is told. So it goes, a father who lived here once killed his family, and then himself. Strange lights, mists, voices and other sounds have been reported by witnesses.
Nanaimo Bastion
The Nanaimo Bastion is an octagon-shaped fortification built in the 1850s and open to visitors in summer. One ghost here may be Kanaka Pete, who was imprisoned in the Bastion before he was hanged. It’s also said to be haunted by a ghostly woman in a long dress, and an image of a bearded man has shown up in a pattern made by the grain of wood.
Globe Hotel
Globe Hotel, which now houses a radio station, is said to be haunted by a ghostly woman in a period dress seen floating down the stairs or in the kitchen. Crying and poltergeist activity are also reported.
Newcastle Island Park
Newcastle Island Park is said to be haunted by those who have died in the mines beneath Newcastle, and by the ghost of Peter Kakua, a Hawaiian who murdered his wife, in-laws and baby daughter with an axe. His ghost is seen on the beaches at dusk.
Cameron Lake
Cameron Lake is said to have several ghosts, as well as the Cameron Lake Monster. One ghost is Grandpa Bonny, who inhabits one of the cabins and makes himself known with phantom pipe smoke. Ghost lights have been reported on the trails.
Harbour House Hotel
At Harbour House Hotel, the ghost of Walter Herzog, murdered here in 1973, is said to walk. Moaning, strange whispers, and faulty electronic devices have been reported here.
Qualicum Heritage Inn
Qualicum Heritage Inn, originally a 1937 boys’ college, is said to be home to several apparitions, moans, voices, cries, chanting, laughter, and lights that go on and off by themselves. One ghost has been nicknamed Buddy.
Princess Mary Restaurant
Some reports say the Princess Mary Restaurant has closed. It was housed on the Princess Mary, a passenger ship that was scrapped in 1951 and more recently used as a cafeteria for a tug- and barge-building operation. It was said to be haunted by a former captain’s wife who hanged herself in the wheelhouse. The ghost has been known to move utensils and even wash stacks of dishes.
