Best Dark Tourism In Canada: It Cannot Get Gloomier Than This

Sep 30, 2024

Last Updated on: Aug 29, 2025

Travel Guides

Even if you don’t believe it, Canada has many locations and abandoned sites with ghostly stories and a dark history. 

Haunted places like the Fort Edmonton Park and Princess Theatre in Edmonton or the Disaster-struck Alberta Frank Slide are a few examples of how dark tourism in Canada offers a vivid experience. 

Further, sites like Asbestos (now Val-des-Sources) show how mining asbestos has caused long-term health hazards to Canadian people and victims beyond borders. Also, there is Halifax, where an explosion took the lives of around 2000 people in 1917.

So, let’s explore the sites that are scary and unusual. 

THESE Are The Best Sites For Dark Tourism In Canada 

Best Sites For Dark Tourism In Canada

In 2020, the small town of Asbestos changed its name to Val-des-Sources or the Valley of the Springs. However, the name change could not wipe off the history of diseases and suffering as it once had the largest asbestos mine in the world. 

So, like the nuclear plantations that pushed numerous human lives to death, Asbestos in Canada was also a town of breathing poison. Today, it is one of the most prominent destinations for dark tourism in Canada. 

Regarding dark tourism, Canada has many sites that tell the tale of human tragedy or are infamous for spooky experiences. Let me share brief accounts on these sites If you want to walk into the shadows. 

Asbestos 

Asbestos, a town in southern Quebec, once epitomized health-hazard horrors. Asbestos mining is not done here today, but breathing problems and other hazards caused by that “magic or miracle mineral” persist in the town. 

The town had an open-pit mine for mining chrysotile asbestos, and it boomed for a century. However, in 2011, the mine stopped its operations.  

Unfortunately, the use of asbestos became huge by the mid-20th century. It was a chosen material for roofing, insulation, and fireproofing. Slowly, it was discovered to cause many health hazards for people working in the industry or residing near an asbestos plant or mine. 

Asbestos

Despite the drop in global demand and many other countries banning the use, import, and export of asbestos, Canada kept at it until 2018. Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister, banned the use, sale, import, and export of asbestos in 2016, and the ban came into effect in 2018. 

Nevertheless, today, the town of Asbestos, or Val-des-Sources, is a popular dark tourism site with an abandoned mine. The mine now looks like a gigantic playground.

Halifax 

Halifax 

In June 2016, the Canadian Government designated the Halifax explosion as a “national historic event.” Halifax was a busy port for the loading and unloading of food, aid, relief, and other essentials during World War I.

On an unfortunate day, 6 December 1917, the French ship SS Mont-Blanc and SS Imo, a Norwegian ship, collided. Both were carrying explosives, and the collision caused a major explosion. Almost 2000 people died, and many were injured, registering it as the biggest manmade explosion before the atomic bomb disaster

This human tragedy, however, was a milestone in changing the medical scenario of Halifax. The improvement in pediatric surgeries and the establishment of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind were the two most prominent examples in this regard.

Today, the Fort Needham Memorial Park is a prominent site for dark tourism in Canada. The commemorative plaque there gives you a brief account of the incident. Also, the Halifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower here has an annual memorial service for the explosion on 6th December.

Edmonton: The Hub Of Dark Tourism In Canada 

Hub Of Dark Tourism In Canada

Edmonton has many destinations for paranormal encounters, and Fort Edmonton Park is one of them. At the paranormal tours here, you can explore many paranormal equipment and encounter many experts for some otherworldly experience.

You can also visit the haunted buildings of Edmonton. The stories of these buildings will scare you to the bit. Also, you never know when an unknown entity gets close to you, and you can feel the breath. 

Princess Theater: The Most Haunted Place In Edmonton

Another important haunted landmark here is the Princess Theater. In the 1920s, the theater was about to have an additional rental space. A bride-to-be rented that space, but her fiance left her on their wedding day. 

So, she committed suicide by hanging by the neck. When the staff of the hotel found her, her body was swinging from the rope. 

She was wearing a beautiful wedding gown. Legends have it that her ghostly figure is still seen at the theater. She is seen climbing down the stairs, wandering the theater halls, and moving around the projection room. 

Historic Mackay Avenue School Archives & Museum: Meet The Restless Spirit

Moreover, when in Edmonton to experience haunted activities,  Historic Mackay Avenue School Archives & Museum should be your destination. Many people have experienced a sense of choking, being grabbed, or disturbed at this place.

It is said that a construction worker called Peter fell from a third-floor window during renovation work in 1912. His restless spirit still lives here, and many informal investigations have captured strange silhouettes and erratic electromagnetic fields recorded here, which also vouch for paranormal activities here. 

The Museum of Fear and Wonder

It is unusual to find a rural museum of horror in the Southern Alberta rural valleys. It is eerie to the bone with Ouija boards and ventriloquist dummies. 

The little jack o’lantern dollhouse, Kiddo, leather doll, and the haunted doll, Robertina, are the most prominent collectibles here. Also, the artificial human body parts and life-like human bodywork made of wax are the creepiest things you will come across. 

All the collectibles in the museum are carefully placed to create a sense of fear. The aim is to show how people emotionally react to certain things. Also, Brendan, one of the founders of the museum, does not believe that things can be haunted or they can be related to paranormal activities. 

According to him, things, at the most, can cause a sense of uneasiness. Thus, all the items in the museum provoke discussion about the psychological impacts of different objects on different people. For example, an adorable doll can be an object of fear or discomfort for a person who has suffered childhood trauma. 

Even dolls or toys can get old and develop an eerie appearance through wear and tear. They can look messy or dirty, creating repulsive feelings.

Thus, the Museum of Fear and Wonder is not about paranormal experiences or activities. It is a place to understand the human psychology behind fear and wonder. 

Saskatchewan Ghost Towns – Insinger

Saskatchewan Ghost Towns Insinger

As India has Kuldhara, Canada has Saskatchewan, where time stands still, and the deserted town lives in the shadow of the past. Unbearable winter in the Prairie region made the residents desert the place.

In the 1800s, many European people came to Canada and got free land to set up a working farm within a year. Thus, this prairie became a bustling residence of farmers and their families.

Visiting Saskatchewan And Its Many Wonders

Visiting Saskatchewan And Its Many Wonders

In Saskatchewan, you will notice a Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The old church with a domed roof stands as a witness to the bygone era.

Do you know that Saskatchewan has so many ghost towns (more than 30) that there is a “Ghost Town Trail” here? You can drive around the route to explore the towns individually.

As you walk through the ghost towns of Saskatchewan, you will never feel alone. There is a constant feeling of someone following or walking with you.

Even looking at the most dilapidated structure, you will feel like someone will come out of it any moment.

I had plans to get inside some of the structures. However, a knotty feeling in my stomach stopped me. As hours passed, I started feeling anxious and left the place.

The Ghost Towns of Alberta – Rowley

Ghost Towns of Alberta Rowley

If I were to decide, I would name Alberta the capital of dark tourism in Canada. If the haunted places of Edmonton are not enough, you can explore Rowley.  

The small hamlet of Rowley in Alberta has deserted railway cars and buildings. However, it also tells some inspiring stories.

Rowley used to be a town with 500 inhabitants in the 1920s. The Great Depression hit the place, making the residents leave. A lack of rain led to the drying up of the crops.
Moreover, a fire destroyed many of the small buildings.
However, only eight surviving residents of Rowley did a commendable job of transforming Rowley into a heritage site in the 1980s. They transformed some of the buildings. 

Very few people know that movies like Bye Bye Blues or Legends of the Fall have some of these buildings as their locations.

Visit Rowley in the summer, as it offers free tours in the season. Also, the pizza parties here on the last Saturday of every month are fun! These pizza parties are fundraisers for restoring the buildings and preserving history here. 

THESE Are The Places You Can’t Miss At Rowley

The historical buildings to visit in the ghost town of Rowley are:

  • Rowley Trading Post (Built in the 1920s)
  • A Printing Press
  • A School
  • Now Abandoned Former Hospital
  • Abandoned Railway Tracks
  • A Saloon with Swinging Doors (Dedicated to the memory of a previous owner)
  • Municipality of Starland Office
  • Canada National Telegraphs Building

Along with these historical structures, you will also find a building labeled Funeral Home and Embalming. Going inside, you will find paraphernalia and historical artifacts used in Bye Bye Blues.

The only thing I find creepy about Rowley is the mannequins. The residents have used mannequins in many places to recreate the scenarios of the 1920s. 

So, if you have a faint heart, avoid peeping through the glass windows of the historical buildings. It is not very pleasant to find a mannequin looking back at you. 

However, overall, the experience was like being at the location of a classic Western movie. 

Alberta Frank Slide 

Alberta Frank Slide 

Alberta Frank Slide is one of the most tragic spots for dark tourism in Canada. 121 years ago, this place witnessed the deadliest slide in Canada. The tragic incident took the lives of 100 people.

What Happened At Alberta Frank Slide?

It was 4:10 am on 29th April 1903. The 600 people in the mining community were still asleep as Mount Turtle crumbled down and released 110 million metric tonnes of rock. This incident took the lives of around 100 people. 

Even today, if you pass through Highway 3 of Alberta or visit Frank Slide, you will find bodies and various belongings still buried under rocks. 

It was loud enough they could hear it up by the town of Cochrane, 200 kilometers away,” said Joey Ambrosi, the facility supervisor of the Alberta Frank Slide Interpretive Center. This interpretive center, built in 1985, tells the true stories of human tragedy and dismisses the myths around it. 

However, the intrigue around this biggest slide does not end here. The mountain moves a few kilometers from each other, and scientists suspect it will come down again. 

Having said that, there is still time for such an incident, and it will not be as deadly as the one that happened in 1903. 

When at Alberta Frank Slide, don’t forget to visit The Crowsnest Pass. A landslide and a mine explosion in 1910 badly hit the area. Again, at a stone’s throw away is the Hillcrest town where 189 miners died of a coal-dust explosion on 19th June 1914. 

Also read

Share on Social Media

Sibashree is a travel, culture, and leisure writer who has been writing since the age of 12 and professionally since 2014. With more than a decade of travel writing experience and journeys across India and several parts of the world, she brings a deeply personal and thoughtful perspective to her work. A student of English Literature and Mass Communication, Sibashree has always viewed travel as more than movement — for her, it has been a way of understanding people, cultures, and herself. Her passion for spiritual exploration has also led her to many unusual and meaningful destinations over the years. Outside of writing, Sibashree enjoys watching European cinema, reading about global politics, and reflecting on the stories hidden within everyday places.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

title-img Related

READ MORE momondo flights

Momondo Flights: Should You Try This Platform For Booking Flights In 2023?

BY  sagnika Jul 12, 2023

Are you a traveler and love to explore the world? Still, the cost of traveling is getting difficult for you to manage. Book from Momondo flights to save money on your next trip. Momondo Flights is a website that can be used to book multi-stop flights, and for that, you have to select the option "multi-stop" from the dropdown menu. You then have to download the locations and the dates accordingly. The website is also an application that can be used to check the available deals cheaper than other websites. The website has many low-cost companies to choose from. Hence, users can get various options to book and travel quickly. The platform is free to check, compare and book from; hence, you can save some money on your bookings the next time you do it from Momondo flights. Momondo Flights: Should You Try This Platform For Booking Flights? Momondo is an organization that was founded in 2006 in Denmark. The brand is owned by KAYAK, an American meta-search engine, and American Travel Agency. It is Booking Holdings Inc who are managing KAYAK. Booking Holdings Inc is a service provider that operates and manages world travel and travel-related services. They have leadership on the global scale as they manage other providers such as Agoda, OpenTable, Priceline, and Booking.com. When comparing Momondo flights with other booking platforms regarding hotels, car rentals, flights, and others, it has been observed that there are certain factors of the website which are better than others. Flexibility is one of the most significant factors where the website allows users to check flights around different vacation dates and holiday destinations. You can download the Momondo flight app on your phone, which will help you keep a tab on your travel itinerary and bookings. What Are Momondo Flights? Momondo is a search site and a travel aggregator that helps individuals search for hotels, flights, activities to do, and car rentals for vacation. Individuals searching for the cheapest flight fares, car rentals, hotels, and other services can use Momondo. Momondo Flights are the section of Momondo where you can find flights that are available at cheaper rates compared to the prices of Google Flights. To search for flights, you must put in the dispatch and visit the location and the dates you travel. To see cheap flights Momondo, it takes a little longer to search; however, it provides search results that are comparatively cheaper than Google Flights. When the website searches for the results, there is an icon in the form of a wheel that keeps spinning throughout the investigation. Features Of Momondo Flights When booking flights on the Momondo flights website, you need to use specific filters that will help you get better search results. The filters on the site are present and visible on the left-hand side of the display. The filters include trip times, alliances, number of stops, airports, aircraft, price, economy or first class, and booking sites. Anywhere Feature The feature "Anywhere" on the website is where users will find flight deals related to different travel destinations worldwide. The different types of flight deals, including domestic and international, make it possible for confused people to decide on a goal. Date Flexibility Tool The "Date Flexibility" tool is another significant feature of the Momondo flight's website as it helps users with flexibility in travel dates. It helps them to get the cheapest deals based on the assigned dates mentioned on the website. There is the word "exact" in the right-hand corner, which, if you select it, you will be able to see the deals available 3 days prior and 3 days later than the given date. Your departure and arrival dates consecutively allow travelers to decide on a date based on the best deals. Multiple City Selection Of Flight Another significant feature identified on the website is "Multiple City," which, when selected, will help users check diverse options for round trips. This feature allows the users to check the different flights entering and departing at the desired destination around the date. Flight Alerts Setup You can set up flight alerts that help you check all the updates about the desired flight on Momondo cheap flights. The app sends notifications when installed on the phone, and the website sends details to your inbox if you are subscribed to the "Flight Alerts" option. The fluctuation in flight prices can be evaluated through this feature, making it easier for you to manage all available flights. The website sends 2 emails weekly to provide all the details regarding the desired flight details and information. Pros And Cons The advantage of the Momondo Flights brand is that users can discover offers, discounts, and deals through the feature "Deals." So, if you are looking for Momondo flights cheap options is viable. Another benefit is that the booking site has options for flexible dates. Hence, you can make the booking accordingly. An added advantage of the website is that it provides free services, and users do not have to pay any charges. The disadvantage of using Momondo Flights is that they have mid-range deals, which are only sometimes the cheapest out of all the deals you get. Another cause for concern is that there are no exclusive deals on Momondo Flights; hence, even when you use the platform, there is no guarantee that you are getting the best of deals. You might be busy, and too many notifications might disturb you. Momondo Flights do not have any option to control the notification. Hence, it can be challenging to manage. Should You Try Momondo Flights To Book Flights In 2023? The website of Momondo Flights is a legit site that you can use in 2023 to book cheap deals on flights, hotels, car rentals, and other facilities you might require. The platform is easily accessible, and you don't have to worry about checking the deals on other websites. As a flight search engine and aggregator, the Momondo Flights website is worth it, and you can find your travel inspiration here. You can also find cheap deals through this website, making it an affordable option for your budget-friendly plan. Conclusion Please read the article to learn about Momondo flights and whether you can use it to book cheap deals in 2023. Comment below about your next travel destination and whether you visited Momondo flights to check out cheap deals. Read Also: Everything About Breeze Airways: Breeze Airways Reviews, Features, And More! Norse Atlantic Airways Reviews And Other Information To Check Out Is Spirit Airlines Safe? Get Your Answer Here!

READ MORE Spring Travel And Eye Health Tips

Spring Travel And Eye Health Tips

BY  Abdul Aziz Apr 28, 2023

Spring is the perfect time to embark on a journey with your loved ones to explore new and exciting summer destinations that cater to your preferences and needs. While traveling can be an exciting and enriching experience, it is important to take proper care of your eyes to ensure a stress-free trip. Your eyes may be exposed to a variety of stressors, including different environments, climates, and long flights, which can affect your vision and ruin your vacation. To ensure that you have an enjoyable trip without worrying about your eye health, read below! Tips To Take Care Of Your Eyes During Vacation! We have got the best tips for you in order to have a healthy vision on your trips and have the best time of your life! Pre-trip eye exam Prior to traveling, it's important to schedule an appointment with an ophthalmologist. They can examine your eye health and provide recommendations on how to protect your eyes from any potential risks you may encounter while traveling. They can also ensure that your glasses or contact lenses prescription is up-to-date to avoid any discomfort or vision issues during your trip. So, add to your calendar this appointment with your optician and you are not going to regret it at all. Polarized sunglasses Moreover, sunglasses are a must-have accessory for anyone traveling to sunny destinations. However, not all sunglasses provide the same level of protection. It's important to invest in polarized sunglasses that are designed to block harmful UV rays. Polarized sunglasses are known to reduce glare as well as improve the clarity of vision. This makes them an excellent choice for anyone who loves outdoor activities. Rest your eyes Of course, long flights or road trips can be exhausting, and staring at a screen or reading a book for an extended period of time can cause eye strain and headaches. To prevent this, take a break every hour or so and close your eyes or look at something in the distance. This will give your eyes a chance to rest and reduce the risk of developing eye strain. Stay hydrated As you might already know about eye health, the fact is that dehydration can cause dry eyes, and being on a long flight or train ride can exacerbate this issue. To prevent this, make sure to drink plenty of water throughout your trip. Drinking enough water can also help to reduce the risk of developing eye infections, especially if you wear contact lenses. Eye drops Last but not least, dry eyes can also be caused by environmental factors, such as air conditioning, heating, or pollution. In these situations, artificial tears or lubricating eye drops can help to keep your eyes moist and comfortable. It's important to pack these drops in your carry-on luggage, especially if you're traveling to a dry or polluted area. This way you will not feel your eyes to be itchy or hurting, you will feel ready to embark on this new adventure! Keep Contact Lenses Handy It is very important that you are able to take care of your prescribed contact lenses if you have any, when you are on your trip. Ensure that you are taking them off in regular intervals and keeping them in the safe and prescribed space with the solution. While it is true that you may not get everything at hand all the time, ensure that you are carrying the lens solution with you all the time. Avoid using other substitutes like water in this case. Carry extra pair It is important that you are carrying an extra pair of eye care all the time when you are on your trip. Have you ever considered what might happen if you lose your prescription medicine or your medicated sunglasses when you are on vacation? Well, if that is something that you want to avoid it is important that you always carry an extra set of lenses, glasses, and your eye medicines with you. Avoid or use minimal eye-makeup Last but not least on this list is the fact that it is important you are not using a lot of eye makeup when you are on your trip. These things attract and trap or retain a lot of dust and dirt. This might make it difficult for you to have an enjoyable trip at the end of the day. It is also best to avoid using too much eye makeup as this may cause a risk of an eye infection. Bottom Line If you found the answer that you were searching for I hope that this article has been of help to you. If there are any other queries related to the same, feel free to let me know. All that you need to do is scroll down till you reach the end of this article and drop your doubts and queries in the comment box below. And I will be there to answer them all for you! Read Also: Hopper Flights Review- Login, Services, And Travel Experiences Myenvoyair Review – Registration, Login And Benefits In 2023 Using Google Flights To Find Cheap Flights In 2023? All That You Need To Know!

READ MORE Great City Of Sydney

The Top Things To Do When Visiting The Great City Of Sydney

BY  Abdul Aziz Nov 14, 2023

If you are an Australian national or you are someone visiting from another country, then it’s likely that you will want to visit one of the most famous cities in the world. The Great City Of Sydney is an incredibly interesting and friendly place to visit, and many people across the world have this very location on their bucket list right at this moment. It is a city that you will constantly see on the television and talk about online and for many good reasons. There is so much to see in this particular city, so if you have planned any vacation time there, then it’s important that you don’t miss out on some of the top tourist attractions. Begin With Sight-Seeing You are quite fortunate in that there are several sight seeing Tours of Sydney that are available to you, but one piece of advice would be to make sure that you book well in advance because these are incredibly popular and they sell out in a very short space of time. Once you have one of these tours under your belt, you might want to get a little closer to some of the more famous landmarks that we currently have. The following are just some of the top things that you should be doing when visiting the great city of Sydney. Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge –   This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you really do need to take advantage of while in this great city and you can even climb the bridge at night. People have done it before and raved about how exciting it was and how they were able to see the whole city from the very top. It is a very safe thing to do, and the people who work on the bridge take health and safety very seriously indeed. Go see the Opera House –  If you are into architecture, then the Sydney Opera House will blow your mind. It is a very unique building, and there is nothing like it anywhere else in the world. You can enjoy it from a distance or get up close, and you would be encouraged to try to take in a concert or some kind of performance while you are there. Visit the many beautiful beaches –  There are so many to enjoy, and you can even take the ferry out to experience beaches that have been very prominent on the television in popular Australian TV shows. There is beautiful, clean sand as far as the eye can see, and it is the perfect place to spend an afternoon just relaxing and taking in the views. Conclusion The one thing that many people say about Sydney is that the people who live there are incredibly friendly and don’t be surprised if they ask you questions about where it is that you’re going to visit and maybe they will even give you some advice on some local tourist attractions that you might not be aware of. This may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you, so it's important to make the most of it while you can. Well, that was all about the Great City Of Sydney and its marvelous destinations. Save this article for the next time you are traveling here! Read Also: Budget-Friendly Travel Ideas In Australia Romantic Getaway Tips: 9 Romantic Tips To Celebrate Couples Vacation New South Wales Southern Highland Helicopter Tour