Posts tagged with “Ontario”
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Canadian Urban Exploration

I'm a Canadian urban explorer, based in Ontario. I love the old places, history and thoughts of how our own future might turn out. Every explorer has their own reasons for what we do.

When i lived in Toronto, I explored downtown. My favourite places were the old buildings along Yonge, Queen and Spadina streets. Any time I caught the bus somewhere in Toronto I would find a new location to come back to with my camera. I love the old buildings with old stone work and weathered wood, glass and iron.

Urban exploration is about more than old buildings or abandoned buildings. Some urban explorers prefer drains and tunnels. Some go higher, much higher and take photographs from the rooftops of tall buildings and other tall structures like bridges. Some explorers stay on ground level (like myself). There is a lot to see right in front of you.

Do You Think About a Life After People?

I like watching Life After People and Aftermath (created by History Television in Canada). I also like books about the end of the world and how people and civilization/ society rebuild or recreate themselves. I can look at artistic creations with predictions of utopias and our possible futures for ages. I love to see how things might turn out, how we (as a society) weather the storms of our own existence. I also like to see how the buildings and other man-made creations and structures erode and weather through time. These buildings, our creations, are like our presence into the future. At some point they could be all we have left to show who we are.

This is what I feel when I look at abandoned, derelict and ruined places. There's a sense of loss, mystery and a feeling of endurance and strength.

The Red Dot

Did you ever see a sign up with nothing but one large red dot? Would you know that was a "no trespassing" sign? It is.

I think you would have to be an explorer (or at least a road tripper of some kind) to know that. Most people would see that red dot and maybe wonder about it, maybe not really notice it. An urban explorer will be curious, or already know what the red dot means.

In the city there are not many signs spray painted with red dots. City sites have nice professional signs that let you know where you shouldn't be.

However, you can't explore without crossing onto private property or going through the 'staff only' areas. Explorers have always had to take a few risks, have some adventures, in order to make their discoveries.

Find Places to Explore

Handy Links for Canadian Travellers and Explorers

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Exploring the Sad and Blue House

The Adventure of the Little Sad and Blue House

One of the old, abandoned rural places which I explored over the summer. The location is, Ontario.

I don't like to give away too much about the location because not everyone likes to just have the adventure of looking at an old place. Some people will still do harm, take things, or leave garbage around the site. Worst of all are those who cause damage because these places are owned by someone and they will only be left forgotten as long as they remain care-free and ignored.

Once an abandoned property becomes a problem, gets too many visitors, starts to become wrecked, the property owner will have to do something about it, like demolition. Demolition is the final end for ruined, old places. Once they are demolished there is no adventure left for anyone and, the history of the old place is just a memory.

I like to see old houses before they are gone. I like the history and the idea of documenting and preserving the history, and workmanship/ architecture of those old houses. Mainly, rural farm houses around Ontario.

There is also something sort of romantic and mysterious, alluring about an old house.

I did not go inside.

This is something many people ask and expect. But, going inside does not feel right to me. It's a personal choice. I think there is a thin line between exploring and trespassing. Going inside, just seems to cross the line for me.

Not that I have never gone inside an abandoned house. I'm careful about it. Mainly because it is dangerous. Floors are not so steady after years of weathering. Often the houses I like to photograph the most are those which are the most ruined. So, not very safe to explore them from the inside.

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Working With the Barrie Historical Society

Barrie is a small city in Ontario, Canada. I'm the webmaster for the Barrie Historical Society. (The Barrie Society has closed/merged with Simcoe County Historical Society). I've just taken on the job, as a volunteer so the site is not quite ready for prime time yet. But, I wanted to share the historical photos/ postcards I have found of Barrie, so far. (It's also a good way to keep another back up copy of the images as I do find more to add).

The Barrie motto is on the coat of arms: People are the City.

A Bit About the City of Barrie's History

Barrie is a city on Kempenfelt Bay in Simcoe County, Ontario. Former and merged community names include Nine Mile Portage and Kempenfeldt. Allandale and Innisfil are not officially merged with Barrie but they share some resources and public services.

First Nations People used the western shores of Kempenfelt Bay to rest and stop over before continuing on the portage which linked Kempenfelt Bay through Willow Creek, connecting Lake Simcoe to the Nottawasaga River which flows (eventually) to Lake Huron.

Barrie's Military and Industrial Heritage

Barrie became a settlement with houses and warehouses in 1812. Barrie was a military outpost, an important supply depot for the British forces. The old portage route was used for communication, military personal, supplies and equipment to and from Fort Willow and Georgian Bay / Lake Huron.

In 1833 the community was named for British Admiral Sir Robert Barrie, in command of the naval forces in Canada and a frequent traveler along the portage route.

After the war Barrie thrived on industry. Huge trees were logged and shipped out to become masts for British ships and railway ties across Canada. During the winters massive blocks of ice were cut from Kempenfelt Bay then shipped down to Toronto, Buffalo and New York for refrigeration use. There were three warehouses to store the ice so it could continued to be kept and shipped out during the rest of the year.

In 1865 the railway connected Barrie to the City of York and all the growing industry the young Toronto.

The Barrie Tanning Company was the oldest industry and stood until being demolished in 1979.

Modern Barrie History

In the 19th century Barrie was a final stop in the underground railway, allowing slaves from the US to build new lives in Canada. Shanty Bay was named and developed from this.

In 1950 Highway 400 became an express route for commercial, business and personal travel between Barrie and the rest of central Ontario.

Minets Point (a popular beach and picnic area in the 1950's) had a dance hall which burned to the ground in the 1960's.

On 31 May 1985, one of the most violent and deadliest tornadoes in Canadian history, an F4, struck Barrie.

In June 1987 the sculpture, Spirit Catcher by Ron Baird, came to Barrie from Vancouver, B.C. where it had been part of Expo '86.

Barrie hosted Live 8 Canada in July 2005 at what was Molson Park and is now known as Park Place. Most of the site (stage, buildings and trees) has since been destroyed for commercial development.

Well-known residents have included Jeff Buttle, Olympics bronze medal winner for men's figure skating in 2006.

Fire has been a problem for Barrie's historical buildings in the past and has still been the cause of loss as recently as 2007 when the Wellington Hotel was lost due to arson. (The case is still ongoing).

In 2011, Barrie was the 34th largest city in Canada.

Barrie Places and People

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Finding and Exploring Canadian Ghost Towns

Exploring Ballycroy, Ontario

My first ghost town exploration (Ballycroy) fell pretty flat. I had found it on the map. I got my directions so I could drive there. I brought my camera, I was ready. I had read about the old town in a newspaper article about local history. There was a photograph of an old ruined stone wall and a vintage illustration of the original town as it once would have been.

But, the ghost town wasn't there. Or, not much of it. I found one building remaining but it had been renovated from the old general store into a modern home. I didn't see so much as the old outhouse left standing along side the house.

There were woods around but all marked as private property with "No Trespassing" signs up on the fences. I knew there was more, likely in the private property area. But, I didn't know who owned it to ask for permission to explore farther in.

I did see the sign for the town of Ballycroy and a heritage plaque. That was my first ghost town adventure.

Ballycroy: The 1st Ghost Town that Wasn't There

Exploring Malcolm, Ontario

The next time I wound up in a ghost town I found even less to see. One historical plaque to mark the spot, that was it!

I did drive down the road a bit and see some black young male cattle. They were romping around, beating each other up and doing other things you can imagine young men doing. I felt a bit sad, knowing they were likely to have a short life ending up on a plate in some kitchen or dining room. But, they were having a good time that day.

How to be a Ghost Town Explorer

Ghost town exploring is not all you would expect it to be. New explorers will find a destination and arrive there with great expectations. Just like in the movies.

Expect less and you won't be too disappointed.

Sure there are some ghost towns with a lot more to see. These are sometimes tourist attractions now. If you really want to find a ghost town you need to go off the beaten path. I know of one which I may never get to see myself. It's in an area which has become immersed under water most of the year. It is only reachable by canoe. There is a bridge which you could risk driving across, with the right vehicle.

Generally, ghost towns are just a memory and a heritage plaque.

Tips for Finding Ghost Towns

  • Read local history and make notes about the locations.
  • Read local legends, like ghost stories, and see if any of those towns have fallen off the map a bit.
  • Watch the local news and newspapers. Search their websites for ghost stories and ghost towns.
  • Go to your local library, try the history section.
  • Pay attention to the writers when you find a book about local history. Contact them and ask for tips on places to see.
  • If you can find a local paranormal/ ghost hunting group, join up. Show up when they get together to explore or give tours.
  • Look on Flickr, search for photos from urban explorers in your area. Try other photography sites with the same plan.
  • Join, and participate in, activities with your local historical society. Keep your membership card handy when you are out exploring.
  • A great map of your area, including back roads, is a huge help in finding ghost towns - especially once you are on on the road. Look at your map, observe dead end roads that seem to leave blank spaces on the map. Look for blank areas where a town might once have fit in.
  • Learn something about architecture, so you will know what you're looking at when there isn't much to see other than some foundations and the scattered remains of a building or two.

Guides to Exploring

There are Ghost Towns Across Canada

Photo Galleries and Resources

Historical Societies

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Ghostly Haunted Ontario Groups and Links

This is mainly a link farm while I work on putting the sites I have found into a web directory on this domain.

Canoe.ca: Haunted Ontario
The Toronto and Ontario Ghost and Hauntings Research Society
Terry Boyle: Haunted Ontario
The Haunted Walk: Kingston and Ottawa, Ontario.
Burlington Ghost Researchers
Haunted Hamilton
Whitby Ghost Walks
Ghost Tours of Niagara
Flickr: Ghosts of the Niagara Region
Haunted Ottawa
Canadian Haunters Association
Suite101 by Jason Gray: Tales of Haunted Ontario
Wikipedia: Ghost Towns in Ontario
Abandoned Ontario: Haunted Houses in Ontario
Facebook: Most Haunted Places in Ontario
St. Thomas Elgin Paranormal Society
Facebook: London Ontario Ghost Squad
Paranormal Knights of London
Spirit Matters for Durham Region
Paranormal Toronto

Canadian Links:

CBC Digital Archives: Halloween and Tales of Canadian Ghosts
Paranormal Studies and Investigations Canada
The Halloween Project: Celebrating all things Halloween in Canada.
Canadian Haunters Convention.
Ghost Towns Canada.ca
Ghost Town Pix.com
Haunted Sites in North America: Haunted Sites in Canada by Province

  • Ontario Rural Ruins on Flickr\
  • Creepy Ontario\
  • Urban Exploration Ontario on Google Groups\
  • Ontario Abandoned Places\
  • Abandoned Houses of Ontario on Facebook\
  • Northern Ontario Abandoned\
  • Abandoned Ontario on Flickr