Ghostly Activity at Hatley Castle

Royal Roads University, B.C., Canada - February 2, 2007 - There's way more going on at Hatley Castle than academic study and scholarly endeavours, a report by occult specialists suggests.

After an overnight visit to the landmark building at Royal Roads University in Colwood last fall, the investigators seem to have confirmed suspicions that the building is haunted, reporting they saw various male and female spirits, felt areas of strong energy in some rooms, and heard knocking from other areas.

"When we first arrived inside the castle, I saw a greyish mist ... on the staircase in the main foyer area -- it appeared to have a long skirt," one of the investigators said in the report.

"In the basement, I heard the sound of drums. I felt the spirit down there was male and connected to the military."

The findings are part of a report by B.C. SPIRITS, a Vancouver-based non-profit organization that investigates ghostly encounters. The university released the report yesterday.

Hatley Castle was built by coal baron James Dunsmuir in 1908. It was later used as part of a military college, and now the university.

The six investigators, accompanied by technicians and university staff, visited the building on Sept. 30, 2006, between 10:10 p.m. and 3:30 a.m. when no one else was inside. Data was collected with still and video cameras, as well as recorders for sound and temperature.

Shortly after midnight, an investigator looking at photos heard whispering, which he said didn't come from anyone in his group.

When one of the group called out, "If there is anyone present, would you please give us a sign?" there was the sound of "distinct knocks" that seemed to respond whenever the question was repeated.

One of the investigators began to feel very warm to the point where she felt feverish. As minutes passed, she returned to normal.

On the fourth floor, an investigator felt "a male presence watching us."

In the billiard room, one investigator spotted a little girl in the corner wearing a hat with a ribbon on it. Another felt a male's presence there that she said was named Robert.

In the third-floor boardroom, investigators felt "a very strong energy."

Outside the castle, an investigator heard the sound of horses while another heard the clanging of a bell.

University spokeswoman Stephanie Slater, who accompanied the investigators, said she's not surprised at the report's findings because it reflects what she heard and saw that night.

"They want to come back and do another investigation next fall so we'll certainly accommodate them."

Ghosts at Hatley Castle