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Supernatural British Columbia: British Columbians believe in big ghost energy

VANCOUVER: With Halloween days away, new research from BC Hydro finds almost half of British Columbians believe in ghosts and the supernatural with many seeking a paranormal experience.

The survey[1] shows of those who believe in supernatural beings, 34 per cent believe in spirits and 26 per cent believe in ghosts. Over one third have encountered a supernatural being like a ghost or spirit, but some even reported seeing Bigfoot/sasquatch (4 per cent), witches (6 per cent), demons (3 per cent), Ogopogo (2 per cent) and vampires (1 per cent). Over one third of those who have had a supernatural encounter believe the being was trying to tell them something.

At home, about half of British Columbians said they have witnessed something they believed was supernatural, sometimes involving electricity. For example, 14 per cent have experienced dimming lights or unexplained experiences with electricity, 11 per cent have experienced lights or appliances turning on or off on their own and 2 per cent have experienced appliances shaking or moving.

Paranormal researchers believe living energy does not end after death, and many British Columbians agree – in fact nearly 70 per cent said they do not think energy can be created or destroyed but is simply transferred from one form to another. This might be why so many are seeking out paranormal experiences. For example, 17 per cent have tried to contact a supernatural being, with the most popular methods being by Ouija board (52 per cent) or through a medium (27 per cent). Over half of those who have tried to contact the supernatural said they were successful.

Many are even willing to go a step further – 43 per cent are interested in visiting a haunted site such as a haunted hotel, building or graveyard, in the hopes of increasing their chances of having a supernatural experience – and 23 per cent have already visited one of these places. In fact, about 11 per cent said they believe some of BC Hydro’s older generating facilities at dams are likely haunted – and they could be right.

In the spirit of Halloween, BC Hydro is highlighting its spooky locales, including:

  • The Powerhouse at Stave Falls: Many visitors have reported hearing a dog barking in the powerhouse, which is thought to be the ghost of a pup that belonged to two men who died when their boat capsized while navigating Stave Lake. Tour guides at the Powerhouse have also reported hearing their name called when no one else was in the building, as well as hearing doors slam and footsteps.
  • The Buntzen Powerhouse: Visitors travelling up the Indian Arm may have noticed a beautiful old building along the banks - the Buntzen Powerhouse. It is thought that the architect of the building, Francis Rattenbury, began to haunt the powerhouse after his untimely death in 1935. Take a rowboat past the powerhouse, and you will sense the eerie vibes of the now abandoned spot.
  • Ruskin Dam: Once featured in an episode of the classic sci-fi television series, The X-Files as the site of an alien abduction, witnesses have since said they have witnessed eerie lights in the sky near the Stave Lake Dam.

It should also be noted that BC Hydro has a connection to Frankenstein. Henry Pratt, a former BC Electric employee, later took on the stage name Boris Karloff and became best known for his role as the silver screen's most famous monster, Frankenstein.

Visit bchydro.com for more information.

Contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
e. media@bchydro.com
p. 604 928 6468

[1] Online survey conducted by Majid Khoury of 1,000 British Columbians from October 4 to 7, 2022 margin of error 3.1%.