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.

2019 Guided Spirit Walks - Glimpses of St. Catharines: Stories of the Famous & Infamous

Spanning across different eras and featuring all sorts of local personalities, join us for the 2019 Guided Spirit Walks as we delve into St. Catharines' stories of fame and fortune, scandal and misadventure. It’s a journey through city’s past like no other.

This year’s production takes 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 from the famous violinist Rubena Chapman Becker, Confederate sympathizer James Bowen, bootlegging detective Duncan Brown, the son and daughter of a man allegedly murdered by his wife and her lover, and many more intriguing stories.

Performances

Sept. 6, 7, 13 & 14 at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Guided Spirit Walks run rain or shine (except in the case of inclement weather).

Tickets

Tickets are $12 per person (tax included). Ticket may be purchased by contacting the Museum at 905.984.8880 or online via ePlay beginning Aug. 1.

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 2019 Guided Spirit Walks go on sale Aug. 1. A limited number of tickets are available, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

2018 Guided Spirit Walks - At War's End

Witness the dramatic impact four years of war had on the residents of St. Catharines in 1918 with an engaging historical and theatrical walk through Victoria Lawn Cemetery. Pre-registration is required. See below for details.

Cast, in order of appearance:

Adrian Petry

Paul Byrne

Jacqueline Conway

Brenda Schultz

Katelyn Thompson

Rachael Othman

Brittani Morgan

Irene Romagnoli

Karen Donald

Ian Ashman

Fraser Morgan

Des Corran

Armand Romagnoli

William Hamilton Merritt

David Poirier

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'.

Cast, in order of appearance:

Fraser Morgan

Paul Bryne

Armand Romagnoli

Irene Romagnoli

Brittani Morgan

Megan O'Melia

Kayla Cowie

Katie Thompson

Ian Ashman

Des Corran

Brenda Schultz

Lauren Curtas

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