An Incomplete List of the Ghosts of Queen's Park.

• Author: Senechal-Becker, Elena
• Position: Skethes of Parliaments and Parliaments of the Past

The Legislative Building at Queen's Park has been operating since 1860 and the grounds on which it sits have been in use since at least 1830. As one of the oldest urban parks in Canada, it's no surprise that the building is privy to a host of haunting figures; most of them harmless, some a little more volatile. The following article provides a brief review of some of the most reputable ghosts to have haunted Queen's Park in recent memory.

War Hero Charles Rutherford

David Bogart, a communications officer with the Legislative Assembly's parliamentary protocol office, often leads tours of the building. In a conversation with journalists from the Toronto Star he revealed that he once had a medium on tour who sensed a spirit named Charles. Further research led Bogart to conclude that the spirit haunting the legislature was none other than Charles Rutherford.

Born in Colbourne, Ontario, in 1892, Rutherford was a member of the 23rd Battalion during the First World War. He earned multiple military medals during his j service, including the Victoria Cross for bravery. Known for sharp wit and ability to lead assault parties, he was also the last surviving Canadian soldier receive the medal of valour for the Great War. have qualified him as "regimental soldier," and as a scowling man in a red uniform. He is rumored to the main staircase.

An Unknown Number of Female Asylum Patients

Way back in 1849, King's College became the University of Toronto, and the building standing where the Legislature now sits was converted into a Lunatic Asylum for women called the Auxiliary Female Asylum. Even though the Asylum was completely razed to make way for the new building that would become the Legislative Assembly, some of the Asylum was used to construct the foundation of Queen's Park. Many visitors have reported sightings of ghostly female figures--sometimes alone and sometimes in small groups of up to four. One of them is known to be malevolent...