The Dungarvon Whooper is perhaps the most popular ghost story and folk legend in New Brunswick. But while many know the tale about a murdered cook named Ryan, few realize that, long ago, it was just one of many. In this episode, we'll take a trip to the lumber camps of the late 1800s and hear four different legends, all shared in an attempt to explain a terrifying sound that once echoed through the wilderness of Northern New Brunswick.

In 1908, two trains collided just outside of Medicine Hat, killing seven men. The event has since become part of a classic piece of Canadian folklore with elements of fortune telling, forerunners, and fate. Today, over a century later, the lines between history and legend are starting to blur. In this episode you’ll hear the original story told by a man who narrowly escaped the crash, and learn how the legend has changed over time.

It has been called one of Ontario’s most haunted locations, and it has hosted a right-of-passage for Niagara youth for decades—some say for over a hundred years. Go at night, they say, light a match, and face the ghost of a murdered girl, then hear her scream as she blows the match out. It’s a wonderfully creepy ghost story, and a fascinating study for those interested in the evolution of urban legends.

A doomed French lord, ill-fated lovers, and the Wild Hunt all play a part in this episode focused on unpacking and examining the origin and the legacy of La Chasse-Galerie. Listen to a long-forgotten legend of La Chasse-Galerie from old Detroit, and get a better understanding of this classic Canadian legend and its connections to other, older folklore.

Learn more and read the show notes at FiresideCanada.ca

The story of La Chasse-Galerie is perhaps one of the most popular folktales you’ve never heard. It’s a story about a group of homesick men who make a deal with the devil, risking their souls to travel in a flying canoe and spend one winter’s night with their loved ones back home. Virtually unknown outside of French Canada, the bit of folklore has ties to Canadian history and culture, and is just as relevant today as it was over 300 years ago.

Learn more and read the show notes at FiresideCanada.ca

The life and legacy of the first person hanged for piracy on Canadian soil.

Sailors get more than they bargained for when they join the crew of a mysterious vessel.

One night in the early 1900’s, two men encountered a strange and terrifying creature. Their story is now a classic part of Nova Scotian folklore. This episode explores some of Nova Scotia’s most iconic stories about “forerunners” (supernatural omens of impending death), including one story that was later adapted for the best-selling spooky kids’ book "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark."

Welcome to Fireside Canada, a new podcast focused on exploring and explaining Canadian folklore.