The Paranormal Blog

In the past few months we have received three separate emails and messages from differing for-profit businesses claiming to be "Canada's Most Haunted" ... all from southern Ontario yet! As if the rest of Canada's provinces and territories do not even count!

Yes, gentle reader ... if you have surmised that this is a completely unprovable and tad outrageous claim ... you would be correct in our opinion. No credible researcher or investigator could make this claim as their are no hard statistics to back it up for one. No scientist would ever make this claim as there would be far too many variables to consider. Simply put there is no such thing.

A psychic could also never back such a claim unless they have travelled cross-country and visited every reported "haunted" location ... which would take decades if not a lifetime to accomplish.

So why would anyone make this claim ... and do everything to publicise it? Particularly a for-profit business?

Well for starters it could be an attempt to cash in on the fame of the British series "Most Haunted" ... but even that program has had to list itself as entertainment only to avoid claims of fraud. Read the BBC article.

Perhaps they believe that advertising a ghost will increase profits for their business?

This is an interesting thought as most companies would rather not publicise a potential "haunting" for fear of ridicule. Often we must present what is called a non-disclosure agreement before investigating a public or private building for that very reason. The more well known and more established a company the more likely they will request absolute discretion and privacy.

One must ask the obvious questions if a business is making such a claim:

Why are they making this claim?

What is motivating them?

If it is to generate more business, how legitimate are their claims?

Are they for real? Are the stories completely exaggerated? Are they embellished upon or sexed-up? Or can an outright hoax be suspected?

There are a handful of businesses here in southern Ontario that are not shy about their ghost stories such as The Keg Mansion in Toronto, Jester's Court in Port Perry, and The Angel Inn in Niagara. However, their stories are of interest to their enterprises, and not the main thrust.

In other words they do not need to make sensational Hollywood-style claims to run very successful businesses and they don't. The ghosts are more a compliment or after-thought to an otherwise fine establishment.

So remember when confronted with seemingly outrageous claims, particularly when they involve YOU loosening YOUR wallet ... "caveat emptor" or "let the buyer beware" ......

All of the above is our opinion of course, but it is based on our years of experience within this research, our own reputation, and our deepest admiration and respect for our witnesses who are ordinary people who just happen to have had extraordinary experiences.