The St. Catharines Museum and Welland Canals Centre offers you the chance to explore St. Catharines' past through the stories and experiences of the city's most famous - and infamous - residents through our Guided Spirit Walks.
On location at one of the city's oldest and largest cemeteries, Victoria Lawn Cemetery, our Guided Spirit Walks take you on an evening stroll through the cemetery, where actors, portraying historic St. Catharines characters, share their individual stories in the collective history of St. Catharines.
We have produced our Guided Spirit Walks for the past 10 years. Each season brings a fresh cast of new characters and portrayals, so check out the walks each year for new stories and intrigue!
Tickets and information
The walks are held on the two weekends following Labour Day every September. Tickets go on sale annually August 1. Watch the Museum Calendar for details and registration information.
Virtual Guided Spirit Walks
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the annual Guided Spirit Walks and to share the fascinating stories of St. Catharines residents more widely during the summer of 2020, the museum produced a video production featuring scenes and actors from 10 years of tours.
Previous seasons
Discover some of the themes and cast members from previous Guided Spirit Walks seasons. We wish to thank and recognize our wonderful cast of volunteer actors for their unwavering commitment to this program.
2019 Guided Spirit Walks - Glimpses of St. Catharines: Stories of the Famous & Infamous |
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Spanning across different eras and featuring all sorts of local personalities, the 2019 Guided Spirit Walks dove into St. Catharines' stories of fame, fortune, scandal and misadventure. The 2019 production took a glimpse into how St. Catharines residents dealt with various stories of fame and infamy throughout the city's history. We hear from the stories of:
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2018 Guided Spirit Walks - At War's End |
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In 2018, our Guided Spirit Walks explored the dramatic four years of war and the impact they had on residents of St. Catharines in 2018, with an engaging, historical and theatrical walk through Victoria Lawn Cemetery. Our cast included:
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2017 Guided Spirit Walks - One Dominion |
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In 2017, our Guided Spirit Walks explored the big Dominion Day celebration. Characters, such as St. Catharines' only Senate appointment Senator James Rae Benson, considered and reflected on what Confederation meant for our community in the new "One Dominion." Our cast included:
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2016 Guided Spirit Walks - Keep the Home Fires Burning: Stories and Music from World War One |
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In 2016, our Guided Spirit Walks took participants back in time to 100 years, to discover the stories and familiar music of the First World War. Perspectives included those of important St. Catharines figures, including Catharine Welland Merritt, who allowed her home, Oakhill (now CKTB radio station), to be used as a convalescent hospital for returning troops. The tours also included letters, postcards and diary entries from soldiers Bert Hill, Jack House, Percy Bradshaw and Lt. Col. Frank McCordick. Our cast included:
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2015 Guided Spirit Walks - Our Canal, Our Community |
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In 2015, our Guided Spirit Walks focused on the tragedies, successes and sacrifices made by thousands of workers during the building of the four Welland Canals in "Our Canal, Our Community." Tours featured the stories from the construction of the Welland Ship Canal / Fourth Welland Canal between 1913 and 1932. Participants heard stories from colorful, historic personalities, including:
Our cast included:
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2014 Guided Spirit Walks - Doing Our Bit: The Great War |
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In 2014, our Guided Spirit Walks brought stories to life from our theme "Doing Our Bit: The Great War." |
2013 Guided Spirit Walks - Second Canal Era |
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In 2013, our Guided Spirit Walks brought stories to life from our theme "Second Canal Era". |
2012 Guided Spirit Walks - War of 1812 |
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During our inaugural Guided Spirit Walks in 2012, our cast brought stories to life from our theme "War of 1812". |