Fort Macleod is home to one of southern Alberta’s most famous haunts.
Since 1912, the Empress Theatre has provided southern Albertans with a broad spectrum of high-quality arts and cultural events, including live theatre, movie screenings, concerts, location shoots and paranormal investigations. The theatre is designated as an Alberta Historic Resource.
Ghosts have been reported lurking throughout the local theatre for decades and the resident spirits have been featured in publications, tours and experienced by staff and visitors.
Theatre Director Margaret Ann Bianco says the Empress is quite famous for its ghost Ed. “He is reportedly a former janitor from the 1930s. He’s the most recognized ghost we have. We have others people have seen like a woman dressed on stage in a period costume.”
Dan Boyle, one of the former owners in the 1930s has also been reported to be seen and he was friends with Ed (who is now a ghost), notes Bianco.
“Ed is quite the prankster. He reportedly shows up in the women’s bathroom mirror on occasion. He plays tricks on the projectionist when they’re there later at night by themselves and slams doors. But he is a very friendly person. He has his own seat up in the balcony,” adds Bianco.
The Empress features summer camps for young thespians in the area and Ed often takes their lunches and backpacks and hides them around the theatre, says Bianco.
Bianco feels a presence at the theatre, but hasn’t experienced any apparitions or ghostly shenanigans. “I don’t see them. I’ve been at the theatre for almost 12 years. They respect me. I go in every morning, sit down and have a little chat with them and just make sure everything is OK.”
A projectionist at the theatre has videos of orbs captured on camera, Bianco notes. “He’s been involved in the Empress Theatre since he was nine years old. He’s quite familiar with everything.”
But there haven’t been any recent sightings. “Some of the projectionists have been saying he’s been closing the curtains at night. We have it mechanically set-up now and I don’t think they realize that,” jokes Bianco.
In the building Bianco lives in, there are also spirits. “They’ve been very quiet for a very long time. I know there was reportedly a First Nations gentleman who would stand in one of the doorways. But I haven’t really heard of anything else.”
Coming up, the Empress Theatre presents Good Lovelies Nov. 14, the Louisiana Hayride Nov. 27 and the play Clue: On-Stage starts Nov. 6.
