Ghosts – Page 2 – Living Library

Ghosts of Mount Tzouhalem and Stone Butter Church

On July 21st, I was in the Cowichan Valley for the filming of Harold Joe’s new documentary, Tzouhalem. Produced by Les Bland Productions and by Harold himself, the film will attempt to unpack the oral stories and urban legends surrounding the near-mythic figure of Chief Tzouhalem, who Mount Tzouhalem is named after.

What makes this project unique is that Harold is a Quamichan traditional Gravedigger. The Quamichan Nation acknowledges the existence of human and nonhuman spirit entities, so strict protocol is observed during funerals in order to avoid problems with either. Harold’s role often calls upon him to repatriate human remains and to help disembodied ancestors find peace.

Chief Tzouhalem had a complicated relationship with this same spirit world. So who better to investigate the legends surrounding him than someone familiar with his teachings? Tzouhalem was a member of the nation Harold is, as well, which means Harold has access to oral histories no other investigator would ever be able to acquire. Continue reading “Ghosts of Mount Tzouhalem and Stone Butter Church”

The Best Ghost Stories in Fiction

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. 1843.

Christmas used to be the time of year to tell ghost stories, both in Western cultures and in many other parts of the world during those longest nights of the year. Charles Dickens’ tale of a miserly man who finds redemption through the help of undead spirits is a timeless holiday classic that has never been out of print. Lucky for the equally Scrooge-like amongst you, this haunting novella can be read for free online at several archive sites.

The Turn of the Screw and Other Tales by Henry James (1898). 2010.

Henry James is often said to have been one of the greatest writers in the English language and his ghost stories are still considered some of the best ever written. In Turn of the Screw, a governess looks after two children on a remote estate while their single father works in the city. She begins to see two apparitions on the property, and slowly comes to believe the children are communicating with the ghosts she feels are evil. This Broadview edition includes an introduction and appendixes that will probably haunt you for the rest of your days. Containing samples of James’ relevant nonfiction, his inspirations, reception, and “Study of the Supernatural in Nineteenth-Century England and America.” Continue reading “The Best Ghost Stories in Fiction”

Secret Door Podcast: The Haunting of Vancouver Island

The interview “The Haunting of Vancouver Island with Shanon Sinn” was released by Secret Door Podcast on October 17th. In this episode, I was interviewed by Melissa Martel about The Haunting of Vancouver Island as well as other regional ghost stories.

Melissa also lives on Vancouver Island — in the Courtenay area — so the interview was unique in some ways because she’s more knowledgable about Vancouver Island folklore (outside of the Victoria area) than anyone else who has interviewed me so far. Besides talking about Vancouver Island, we discussed our beliefs and/or skepticism in regards to ghost hunting devices and touched on several other topics as well. Continue reading “Secret Door Podcast: The Haunting of Vancouver Island”

Student Mentorship & Paranormal Activity

This Spring, I was asked to mentor a grade eight student who was attending the Waldorf School in Duncan. For those unfamiliar with the Waldorf system of education, it values imagination and creativity, but in a practical way. Since its creation in 1919, the Waldorf model has become a highly valued education system used around the world.

Savannah Heard was preparing a presentation on the paranormal. Continue reading “Student Mentorship & Paranormal Activity”

Some Other Sphere Podcast: Shanon Sinn – The Haunting of Vancouver Island

“Shanon Sinn – The Haunting of Vancouver Island” was released by Some Other Sphere podcast on February 27th. In this episode, I was interviewed by Rick Palmer about The Haunting of Vancouver Island and our region’s ghost stories.

Because it’s a United Kingdom podcast, I found Rick’s choice of which stories to focus on interesting. We talked about First Nations spirituality, Vancouver Island’s sense of place, made comparisons to European folklore, and much more.

Continue reading “Some Other Sphere Podcast: Shanon Sinn – The Haunting of Vancouver Island”

The Haunting of Vancouver Island: Book Trailer and Giveaways

It’s officially Halloween, and The Haunting of Vancouver Island is one year old! And what better way to celebrate, than by sharing it with the rest of the world through a short, but deadly sweet, book trailer. There will be giveaways in the weeks to come as well. Continue reading “The Haunting of Vancouver Island: Book Trailer and Giveaways”