Haunted Downtown

I was genuinely looking forward to this tour given Halloween is just around the corner, but it unfortunately fell well below expectations. Having done many haunted tours across Canada, the U.S., and Europe, this one significantly missed the mark in both storytelling and organization. The guide often appeared unprepared—forgetting facts, mixing up names of historical figures, and at times seeming as though they were recalling stories for the first time. Despite emphasizing their background as a former paramedic with firsthand experiences tied to Montréal’s darker history, that level of authenticity never came through. The stories lacked detail, depth, and atmosphere—the essential ingredients that make haunted tours engaging and memorable. To make matters worse, we waited over 15 minutes in the cold (on top of an early arrival to avoid situations such as these) for a late participant who never arrived or provided notice. For those of us who were on time, it would have been more considerate to begin promptly or at least have the guide/organizer contact the missing party for an update. The guide was also accompanied by a partner, though her role was unclear as she didn’t engage with the group or contribute to the storytelling. Throughout the tour, the guide led us down busy streets, often stopping at crowded intersections where traffic noise made it difficult to hear. At times, it felt unsafe and disorganized, as we were expected to focus on the guide’s voice while also navigating pedestrians and oncoming cars. Instead of being drawn into tales of hauntings, many of us lagged behind, quietly chatting among ourselves or walking in silence wishing for the tour to be over. Much of the narration came across as a simplified, “CliffsNotes” version of local legends, and at times, it was hard to tell whether the stories were factual or simply improvised. Overall, the ad misled us to believe the tour would be performed by a professional actor and storyteller. The tour had potential as Montréal is full of dark historical content however, this lacked preparation, cohesion, and depth.

No ghosts showed up, I guess they were afraid of my sketpicism but the tour guide was nice and qualified. We had a great time.

Donovan hosted a virtual ghost story hour for a few of my friends and let me tell you, watching through zoom was still an amazing and engrossing experience. I had so much fun and I cannot wait to experience a live walking tour with him. Thanks again, Donovan!