That's the Spirit!
Teaching History Through Haunted Tours
Now a thriving and beautiful campus, the College Avenue Campus has a notoriously diverse past serving as a morgue, a hospital, a funeral home, a wedding chapel and even a military training school.
Darcy Donovan, Graphic Designer with CCE’s Flexible Learning team, has been a long-time aficionado of the legends and lore surrounding the campus. “I started working here in 2011 and was told the campus was haunted. I began doing some research and became fascinated by the rich history.” Over the years, Donovan consolidated the historical stories and gave informal tours to new staff members, school groups and other organizations.
In 2024, CCE, in partnership with Heritage Regina, decided it was only fitting to honour the University of Regina’s 50th anniversary with a look into its somewhat spooky past. Donovan developed a 90-minute College Avenue Campus Ghost Tour that was offered over four Sundays to staff, the public and alumni. The response was immediate with the tours selling out within four hours.
I started working here in 2011 and was told the campus was haunted. I began doing some research and became fascinated by the rich history.—Darcy Donovan, Graphic Designer and Ghost Tour Guide
“It’s a creative way to showcase the campus but I think it’s been so popular because this is such a beloved building,” says Donovan. “People often have a deep connection to it after spending some of their childhood at the Conservatory.” From history and mystery to architectural oddities, the tour takes visitors on a story-laden adventure but in the end, everyone had the same macabre question: ‘Did anyone die here?'
Indeed, eight students and one teacher died of typhoid in 1920 when the building turned into a makeshift hospital. Whether their spirits still wander the halls is anyone’s guess. “I’ve had lots of people come to me with their own anecdotes,” notes Donovan. “They’ve witnessed pianos playing by themselves and there’s a legend of a shy shadow that ducks behind a corner and disappears. Others have seen a soldier walking in front of the building or on various floors in a WWII uniform.”
I take great care in the telling of the stories and try to ensure they’re as accurate as possible because these were real people with real lives. — Darcy Donovan
For Donovan, the quest for historical knowledge is ongoing. “I’m always learning more and now have over 1000 photos that capture some of the history. I take great care in the telling of the stories and try to ensure they’re as accurate as possible because these were real people with real lives.”
Clearly, these stories have captured the imaginations of young and old alike. “We have a long waiting list of people who still want to take this tour so we’ll have to think about doing this again next year,” says Donovan.
Banner photo credit: University of Regina