Calgary’s Most Haunted Buildings

The Centre for Advanced Paranormal Investigation researches three haunted buildings in Calgary

With shorter days and colder temperatures, we have the perfect setting for telling spooky ghost stories. But are the stories we share really just stories?

The Centre for Advanced Paranormal Investigation (CAPI) uses equipment to test paranormal theories and dispel myths. CAPI has researched numerous buildings in the city and discovered that these three are most definitely haunted.

If you’re up for an eerie Halloween, here are three buildings you might want to visit.

The Deane House

A lot of myths centre around the Deane House, which sits on the other side of the Inglewood bridge from Fort Calgary. The house was built in 1906 but only moved to its present location in 1926. Allegedly, suicides, murders and other accidental deaths have occurred in this home throughout the years, although only two deaths can be confirmed.

CAPI investigators have accumulated proof that the building is “most definitely haunted.” Photographs taken in the hopes of documenting evidence are often blurry and inconclusive, and charge on fully charged recorders will drain upon entering the attic. Paranormal researchers refer to this as “a vortex” or an electromagnetic disturbance.

According to those who frequent the house, a disconnected telephone will often ring followed by the smell of cigar smoke. Perhaps even more enigmatic is the bloodstain in the attic that frequently changes in size and colour. The bloodstain sits just outside of a closet, which will not remain locked despite the efforts of staff. Staff are quoted as saying they’ve tried to lock the closet only to return and find the door open and the lock lying on the floor. Any objects left in the closet will be found outside of the closet, a few metres away, with the doors open.

The Cross House

The Cross House, now Rouge Restaurant, was built in 1899 by Alfred Ernest Cross. The house became a historical site in 1977 and was transformed into a restaurant in the mid 1980s. It is situated in the heart of Inglewood.

This is one of CAPI’s earliest investigations, which “ended up being very productive, in a paranormal way.” Investigators were told spooky stories by staff, which helped them focus their research. It’s not uncommon to hear boisterous laughter coming from the basement, while kitchen staff have also reported bizarre phenomena: frying pans move on their own and the very heavy freezer door has snapped shut all on its own.

Perhaps most bizarre is an event captured on film by CAPI researchers during their investigation. When recording a room, all team members will state their name before walking away from the room. This is done to verify anomalies. During the investigation, after all of the researchers are out of the room, a voice speaks directly into the camera microphone. The investigation report states, “a voice says directly into the camera microphone ‘boo-ha-ha’ and the orb flies away from the camera.”

Fun fact: Rouge’s chef Paul Rogalski has admitted to now believing in ghosts.

Knox United Church

Knox United Church is one of the CAPI team’s favourite places to visit, as they “have never been disappointed with this beautiful historic location.”

It is believed that multiple spirits haunt this downtown church. CAPI has recorded several stories: footsteps have been heard after hours, several members of the church’s congregation have seen a woman in early 20th century attire walking through doors, and an organist has been slapped for playing incorrectly.

In November 2005, a team of CAPI researchers went on a paranormal tour through the church. A number of different women were spotted: some were praying, knitting or gossiping. Paranormal researchers feel that the church is full of energy, but full of positive energy. While the building is haunted, the activity is not disruptive.