Toronto’s Quiet Hauntings: Seven Places Where the Past Still Lingers

I’m back from Toronto now after a five-day trip that was meant, first and foremost, to be about hockey. Games, arenas, long walks through the city between puck drops, that was the plan. But Toronto has a way of reminding you that it’s older than it looks. Between the glass towers and packed streets are buildings, bridges, and districts that carry much longer memories, and once you start noticing them, it’s hard to ignore the stories attached to those places.

While I was there, I kept thinking about how often certain locations come up whenever Toronto’s paranormal history is mentioned. These aren’t dramatic tales or exaggerated legends meant for tourists. They’re accounts that have circulated quietly for decades, usually shared by people who weren’t looking for anything strange and didn’t expect to experience it. What follows are seven of those locations, places I either passed by or stood near during my time in the city, each tied to reports that refuse to fully fade, no matter how modern Toronto becomes.

One of the most frequently mentioned locations is the Fairmont Royal York Hotel. Over the years, guests and staff have described unexplained encounters in the building, including footsteps on empty floors, sudden changes in temperature, and brief sightings of a woman in a red dress near the elevators or mezzanine level. There is no confirmed identity associated with the figure, and accounts vary, but the image of a woman in red has become part of the hotel’s long-running folklore. Whatever the explanation, the reports tend to surface independently of one another and are usually described as fleeting rather than dramatic.

Fort York carries a different kind of weight, rooted firmly in documented history. The site saw heavy fighting during the War of 1812, and many soldiers were killed during the Battle of York in 1813. Visitors and staff have reported unexplained sounds in the barracks, including footsteps on wooden floors and voices coming from empty rooms. Some have also claimed to see a figure in nineteenth-century military uniform walking the grounds after dark. These accounts are typically brief and indistinct, blending easily into the fort’s historical atmosphere rather than standing apart from it.

The Don Jail, with its long history of overcrowding, harsh conditions, and approximately seventy executions, sits at the centre of several persistent stories. The last executions in Canada took place there in 1962. Among the most commonly repeated reports is that of a woman seen in the upper cell blocks after the building was closed, often described as appearing briefly before disappearing. Others who worked in the building have spoken about shadowy movement between cells, sudden cold air in enclosed corridors, and the sound of footsteps echoing when no one else was present. During redevelopment work in the early 2000s, some workers also reported unexplained noises in areas that had already been stripped back.

The Prince Edward Viaduct occupies a more complicated place in Toronto’s history. For decades, the bridge was associated with a high number of suicides, a fact that contributed to its reputation long before the installation of barriers in the early 2000s. Over time, stories emerged of pedestrians hearing whispers or sensing a presence while crossing the span, particularly during quiet hours. Others have described seeing a figure near the railing that vanished when approached. These accounts are generally treated as part of the bridge’s folklore, shaped by its difficult history rather than tied to any single documented event.

In Cabbagetown, the Toronto Necropolis reflects its nineteenth-century origins both in appearance and reputation. Visitors have reported seeing figures moving between gravestones or near the mausoleums, often described as disappearing when noticed directly. Others have mentioned hearing footsteps on gravel paths or experiencing sudden drops in temperature while walking through the grounds. The cemetery contains the graves of early settlers, soldiers, and victims of past epidemics, and the reports tend to mirror the quiet, restrained atmosphere of the place itself.

Mackenzie House on Bond Street has been associated with unusual reports for more than a century. The house once belonged to William Lyon Mackenzie, and some of the most frequently mentioned experiences involve unexplained noises, particularly around the old printing press. Staff and visitors have described hearing it shift or click after hours, even when the room was locked. Others have reported brief sightings of a figure in the hallway or the sensation of being touched while climbing the stairs. These stories have persisted long enough to become part of the house’s identity, regardless of how they are interpreted.

The Distillery District completes this group of locations. Long before it became a cultural and entertainment district, it was an industrial complex where accidents were not uncommon. Today, people walking through the area late at night have reported hearing footsteps behind them that stop when they turn around. Others have described seeing a man in period work clothing near former production buildings, often only for a moment. Staff have also spoken about doors opening on their own or feeling watched while locking up. As with many former industrial sites, the stories tend to centre on routine moments rather than overtly dramatic events.

After spending time in the city, what stood out most was how easily these places blend into everyday life. People walk past them without a second thought, commuters cross bridges with long histories, and old buildings sit quietly beside newer ones, their pasts largely ignored. Whether the stories attached to these locations are psychological, historical, or something else entirely, they persist because they’re tied to real places and real events. Toronto may not market itself as a haunted city, but after walking its streets, it’s hard to deny that some parts of it feel like they’re still holding onto something unfinished.

These seven locations are only part of that picture. Other stories surfaced during and after the trip, tied to places just as ordinary on the surface, and just as persistent once you start paying attention.