In the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba, stands the Fort Garry Hotel, a majestic relic of Canada’s railway boom in the early 20th century. Officially opened on December 11, 1913, this châteauesque masterpiece was constructed by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway to cater to the elite travelers crisscrossing the country. Designed by Montreal architects George Ross and David MacFarlane, the hotel was initially planned as a 10-story structure but grew to 13 stories during construction, making it the tallest building in Winnipeg at the time. Modeled after Ottawa’s Château Laurier, its elegant limestone façade and towering presence have since cemented its status as a National Historic Site of Canada, designated in 1981, and a Manitoba Provincial Heritage Site in 1990.
The hotel’s name pays homage to Upper Fort Garry, a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post that once stood near the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers. Originally slated to be called “The Selkirk Hotel” after the Selkirk Settlers, the switch to “Fort Garry” reflected its proximity to this historic site. From its grand opening—described by the Manitoba Free Press as an “opening ball of great brilliancy”—the hotel welcomed a parade of luminaries, from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth during their 1939 royal tour to entertainers like Louis Armstrong and Liberace. Yet, beneath its opulent exterior lies a darker legacy: a reputation as one of Canada’s most haunted places.
The Ghost of Room 202
At the center of the Fort Garry Hotel’s spectral lore is Room 202, a modest yet infamous suite on the second floor. According to local folklore, this room is haunted by the spirit of a woman who met a tragic end. The story goes that, many years ago, she received devastating news of her husband’s death in a car accident. Overwhelmed by grief, she is said to have hanged herself in the room’s closet, leaving behind a lingering presence that refuses to check out. While the details of her identity and the exact timing of this event remain shrouded in mystery—lacking concrete historical records—the tale has taken on a life of its own, fueled by guest accounts and whispered rumors.
Visitors to Room 202 have reported eerie phenomena that defy explanation. Some claim to hear footsteps pacing around the bed at night, while others describe the sound of wire hangers scraping inside the closet. A cloaked figure has been spotted hovering at the foot of the bed, and there are tales of the closet light flickering on without human intervention. Perhaps most chillingly, former Ontario Liberal MP Brenda Chamberlain recounted a disturbing experience in 2000: she awoke to the sensation of an unseen presence climbing into bed beside her—not once, but twice. Such stories have made Room 202 a magnet for paranormal enthusiasts, who book the room hoping to encounter its ghostly resident.
Beyond Room 202: A Hotel Full of Spirits
The hauntings at the Fort Garry Hotel extend far beyond Room 202. The second floor, in particular, is a hotbed of supernatural activity, but apparitions and odd occurrences have been reported throughout the property. In the hotel lounge, staff and guests have glimpsed a woman—sometimes identified as the same spirit from Room 202—sobbing quietly, her ethereal form drifting through the space. Meanwhile, the dining room has its own phantom: a man seen sitting at a table in the early hours, only to vanish when approached. One employee, cleaning the kitchen in 1989, heard strange noises from the locked dining room and, upon investigating, caught sight of this spectral diner before he disappeared into thin air.
Other tales add to the hotel’s mystique. Guests have reported blood dripping down the walls of Room 202—a vivid image straight out of a horror film—though no physical evidence has ever been found to support these claims. In the ballroom, a security guard once discovered ten candles arranged in a star shape on the floor, despite the room being locked and unused that night. And then there’s the ghostly woman in a ball gown, said to glide through the halls, perhaps a remnant of the hotel’s glamorous past. These stories, while varied, share a common thread: the Fort Garry seems to hold onto its history in ways that transcend the physical world.
A History Steeped in Drama
The Fort Garry Hotel’s haunting reputation may be rooted in its tumultuous past. Built between 1911 and 1913, the project was not without tragedy. Construction accidents claimed lives, including a worker buried alive by heated excavation material in February 1912. That same year, Charles M. Hays, president of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, perished aboard the Titanic just months before the hotel’s completion, casting a shadow over its early days. Though some speculate his spirit lingers in the halls, there’s no direct evidence tying him to the hauntings. Still, the hotel’s early years were marked by ambition and loss, setting the stage for its eerie legacy.
Over the decades, ownership changed hands—from the Canadian National Railway after the Grand Trunk’s nationalization, to the Perrin family in 1979, and later to Quebec hotelier Raymond Malenfant in 1988 after a period of financial strife. Each transition brought renovations and revitalization, yet the ghosts remained. Today, under managing partners Richard Bel and Ida Albo, alongside the Laberge Group, the Fort Garry Hotel thrives as part of Choice Hotels’ Ascend Collection, blending historic charm with modern luxury. But its spectral residents, it seems, are permanent fixtures.
The Allure of the Unknown
What is it about the Fort Garry Hotel that keeps these ghost stories alive? Perhaps it’s the building itself—a towering, castle-like structure that feels like a portal to another era. Its châteauesque architecture, with pointed arches and steep roofs, evokes a sense of gothic romance, the perfect backdrop for tales of restless spirits. Or maybe it’s the sheer volume of human experience contained within its walls. Thousands have passed through since 1913, each leaving behind a fragment of their story. As the hotel’s own literature notes, “It is said that the Fort Garry is haunted, which is no surprise at all. Thousands of people have walked these halls, each with their own story to tell.”
For skeptics, these accounts might be dismissed as imagination run wild—creaky floors and old wiring exaggerated into supernatural encounters. Yet for believers, the Fort Garry offers a tantalizing glimpse into the afterlife. The lack of definitive proof only adds to the intrigue, inviting guests to become part of the narrative. Whether you’re a thrill-seeker booking Room 202 or a curious traveler wandering the grand lobby, the hotel promises more than just a stay—it offers a brush with the unknown.
Conclusion: A Living Legend
More than a century after its doors first opened, the Fort Garry Hotel remains a Winnipeg icon, its silhouette a defining feature of the city’s skyline. Its history is a tapestry of elegance, tragedy, and mystery, woven together by the countless souls who’ve crossed its threshold. The hauntings, whether real or imagined, are now as much a part of its identity as its limestone walls or luxurious suites. For those brave enough to explore, the Fort Garry Hotel is more than a National Historic Site—it’s a living legend, where the past whispers through the corridors, and the ghosts, perhaps, are never far away.