Guided Spirit Walks at Victoria Lawn Cemetery 

About the Walks

Explore St. Catharines' past through the stories and experiences of the city's most famous - and infamous - residents in these guided spirit walks through one of the city's oldest and largest cemeteries, Victoria Lawn Cemetery.

The Victoria Lawn Cemetery Guided Spirit Walks are produced by the St. Catharines Museum & Welland Canals Centre and are a part of the legacy of Niagara-area projects funded by the 2012 Cultural Capital of Canada grants. The Guided Spirit Walks take audiences on an evening walk through the cemetery where actors, portraying historic St. Catharines characters, appear to share their part in the history of St. Catharines.

2017 Guided Spirit Walks - One Dominion

Join the historic cast of local characters - including St. Catharines' only Senate appointment: Senator James Rae Benson - on their way to the big Dominion Day celebration. Our annual historic tour will consider and reflect what confederation meant for our community in the new 'One Dominion'. 

Performances

Sept. 8, 9, 15 & 16 at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Guided Spirit Walks run rain or shine. 

Tickets are $10.25 per person (tax included). Ticket may be purchased by contacting the Museum or online via ePlay.

Location                 

Tour participants are asked to meet at the South Side (Old Cemetery) at 432 Queenston St. St. Catharines. 

Parking                

General and accessible parking is available on the North Side of Queenston Street. Look for signage and volunteers.

Tickets for the 2017 Guided Spirit Walks go on sale August 1. A limited number of tickets are available, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

2016 Guided Spirit Walks - Keep the Home Fires Burning: Stories and Music from the First World War

Take a trip back in time to 100 years ago and discover the stories and familiar
music of the First World War.

The 2016 Guided Spirit Walks at Victoria Lawn Cemetery will feature the war-time stories 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 include letters, postcards, and diary entries from soldiers Bert Hill, Jack House, Percy Bradshaw, and Lt. Col. Frank McCordick.

Cast, in order of appearance: 

• Sara Nixon
• Victor Packard
• Nicholas MacLaurin
• Irene Romagnoli
• Cassidy Martin
• Fraser Morgan
• Brittani Morgan
• Ian Ashman
• Brenda Schultz
• Roslin Chen
• Kate O'Melia
• Megan O'Melia
• Kayla Cowie
• Des Corran 
• Armand Romagnoli

2015 Guided Spirit Walks - Our Canal, Our Community

Our 2015 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."

The 2015 tour featured stories from the construction of the Welland Ship Canal/Fourth Welland Canal between 1913 and 1932. Last year's tour includes the following historic personalities:

High Constable Richard E. Boyle, Merritton.
World Famous Temperance Lecturer Lillian Phelps
Edward Gardiner, Canal Surveyor and Engineer
Various fallen canal workers including 15 yr old Antonio Collini.

Cast, in order of appearance:

• Roslin Chen
• Kayla Cowie
• Kate O'Melia
• Deborah Hawkins
• Darlene Erskine
• Des Corran
• Nicholas MacLaurin
• Irene Romagnoli
• Melanie Newman
• Fiona Madill
• Armand Romagnoli
• Brenda Schultz
• Ian Ashman
• Brett Greening
• Jordan Kripp
• Victor Packard

2014 Guided Spirit Walks - Doing Our Bit: The Great War

"Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteer actors and event assistants. We could not have done it without you!"

2013 Guided Spirit Walks - Second Canal Era

Thank you to all of our wonderful volunteer actors and behind-the-scenes crew for their hard work, dedication and many a rainy evening spent at Victoria Lawn.

2012 Guided Spirit Walks - War of 1812