The only thing scarier than Halloween parties is the rising rates of COVID-19 cases
Halloween is right around the corner and in preparation for this spooky holiday, people are trying to find ways to celebrate it amid a pandemic. There has been lots of discussion regarding what Halloween festivities will be safe to do — which makes sense because we have been hearing mixed messages.
We're encouraging residents to stay home and celebrate Halloween in different ways this year. If you are trick-or-treating this year, follow public health measures to stay safe.
Release & tips>>https://t.co/7SfIqaL6nF #HamOnt
— City of Hamilton (@cityofhamilton) October 23, 2020
If you live in York Region, Peel or Ottawa, medical professionals and the Ontario government have strongly recommended avoiding physical trick-or-treating this year. People who live outside of a region with modified Stage 2 restrictions are permitted to go trick-or-treating, as cases in these areas are still considered low. Although Hamilton is still in Stage 3 and is not considered to be a COVID-19 hotspot, it’s still a good idea to put those trick-or-treat bags away and opt for a quarantine-safe activity.
Although Hamilton is still in Stage 3 and is not considered to be a COVID-19 hotspot, it’s still a good idea to put those trick-or-treat bags away and opt for a quarantine-safe activity.
We have been at home since March and I know that it can be hard to be in isolation for that long — even more so if you live alone. You may want to go celebrate Halloween with a couple of your friends or go to a costume party, but doing so will only prolong the time we have to stay in quarantine.
It’s important to note that reports of COVID-19 cases are delayed. The trend of increased COVID-19 cases that Ontario is seeing — we are hitting record numbers that are just short of 1000 — are reported cases.
Since there is a delay between contracting the infection, experiencing symptoms, getting a test and receiving the test results, CBC News states that these numbers indicate the number of new cases from a couple of weeks earlier.
If these reports are from a couple of weeks ago, we should be cautious in saying that these reports reflect the number of COVID-19 infections today. The trend in new infections may be even higher right now.
If these reports are from a couple of weeks ago, we should be cautious in saying that these reports reflect the number of COVID-19 infections today.
Yes, COVID-19 has found to have a low risk of transmission through surfaces such as candy and interaction with different households will likely be short, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. Some doctors have said that activities like trick-or-treating are relatively low risk and I believe them. I do. But why partake in a low-risk activity when you can participate in a virtual event that has no risk at all?
In addition, certain initiatives have permitted people to celebrate Halloween at home. An initiative called Pumpkin Prowl has offered to deliver candy to families who live in Hamilton, Waterdown or Stoney Creek. This way, children can remain at home and prevent any risk of transmission.
Students should consider avoiding Halloween gatherings that are outside their household, too. I haven’t heard of any Halloween parties happening, but please stay clear from them if they do occur. If you do choose to have a small gathering of friends, try to stay outside or wear masks if you’re inside to minimize your risk.
If you aren’t physically gathering with your friends, there are still things you can do this Halloween. Consider opting for a COVID-safe activity by checking out our article about how to celebrate Halloween at home.
I am not an infectious disease specialist and don’t have a medical degree and at the end of the day — you don’t have to listen to me. But this pandemic has been going on for a long time and I don’t know about you, but I’d like it to be over sooner rather than later. If that means skipping out on Halloween parties or get-togethers for one year, then it’s worth it.
Mix and match these beloved movies to create the perfect marathon for a stay-at-home Halloween weekend
From apple picking to trick-or-treating, fall houses a variety of beloved traditions. One of my oldest friends and I have a long-running tradition of spending Halloween together. When we were younger we used to go trick-or-treating together, but in more recent years we’ve stayed in, baked and watched movies. Neither of us is a scary movie fan by any means so we’ve gravitated towards the more wholesome Halloween movies.
While many things have changed this year, we are still able to stay in and enjoy some good Halloween movies. With the holiday falling on Saturday, it’s the perfect night to stay in and enjoy a good film. Here’s my list of the top 10 wholesome Halloween movies.
The Addams Family, 1991 or 2019
Just from reading this line you probably can already hear the theme song playing in your head. Join this spooky family with their pet hand as they navigate the tribulations of family dynamic when their long lost uncle mysteriously shows up at their house one day. On the other hand, you can watch the recently animated version of the film that is sure to bring a smile to your face with its outlandish humour. The animated film is available on Amazon Prime Video.
Ghostbusters, 1984 or 2016
A favourite of my younger sister, these uplifting supernatural comedies are centred around the adventures of a group of ghost-catchers. The 1984 film details the origins of the original ghost-busting business and the professors-turned-ghosthunters exploits leading up to the team’s confrontation with an otherworldly, demonic threat. The more recent 2016 follows the formation of a new, all-female team of Ghostbusters, including a paranormal researcher, a physicist, an engineer and a subway worker. Both are available on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
Halloweentown, 1998
A favourite for students who grew up in the early 2000s, Halloweentown is truly one of those movies that scream a Halloween classic. A story about curiosity and exploration into family heritage, join Marnie as she adventures to her grandmother’s mysterious town where ghosts, goblins, ghouls and witches live in harmony amongst themselves. If you like this movie, you’re in luck as there are also three additional films in the franchise. All are available on Disney+.
Hocus Pocus, 1993
What would happen if witches from Salem were brought back from the grave today? With an all-star line up playing the Sanderson sisters, the three sisters witches are looking for vengeance on Halloween night. This movie is definitely a cult classic and it is sure to put a spell on you. Currently available on Disney+, a sequel was just confirmed featuring the original cast.
Hotel Transylvania, 2012
In the late 1800s, Count Dracula opened a luxury hotel for monsters, to provide them with a reprieve from humans and to create a safe environment in which he can raise his daughter Mavis. Now approaching her 118th birthday, Mavis is eager to leave and explore the world to the great concern of her father. To make things even more complicated Jonathan, a human backpacker, discovers the resort just before the birthday celebration starts. Available on Netflix, this adorable and comical movie puts a twist on familiar Halloween figures, including Frankenstein and his bride, werewolves and mummies as well as the usual vampire love story.
It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, 1966
No list would be complete without this classic short. This movie is another one of my personal favourites. I often end up watching it once with my family in the week leading up to Halloween and then again with my friend. A lighthearted and uplifting Halloween special shows the Halloween preparations of the Peanuts gang, including Linus’ time staking out the pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin to the exasperation of the rest of his friends, all leading up the big night of trick-or-treating. Available on Amazon Prime Video.
The Nightmare Before Christmas, 1993
This eerie and entertaining film, with the music to match, is centred on Jack Skellington, the King of “Halloween Town.” Bored with what he sees as the monotony of yearly Halloween, he wanders off and stumbles upon Christmas Town. Excited by this new holiday, he attempts to not only bring Christmas to Halloween Town but also usurp Santa Claus. Available on Amazon Prime Video and Disney+, this is a perfect film for those who are just waiting until Halloween to be over to start playing Christmas music (or who have already started!).
Over the Garden Wall, 2014
One of my younger brother’s favourites, this is a spooky, but also very sweet mini-series. The story follows two half-brothers — worry-prone Wirt and happy-go-lucky Greg — as they try to find their way back home through deep dark woods. On the way, they cross paths with the mysterious Woodsman, the feisty bluebird Beatrice among many, many more fantastical beings, all with their own reasons for being in the woods. Available on Amazon Prime Video.
Scooby-Doo:
The mystery-solving adventures of four meddling kids and their dog could almost be a marathon on its own. The franchise is a long time favourite of my family; we’ve seen just about all of them, from the original 1969 Scooby-Doo: Where Are You? TV show to the more recent movies. Scooby-Doo! and the Witch’s Ghost and Scooby-Doo! Frankencreepy are among some of the obviously Halloween-themed films, but all of the series offers a nostalgic, wholesome and comically spooky narrative, so you can pick and choose your favourites from the 30 plus films and 14 television series, many of which are on Amazon Prime Video.
Twitches, 2005:
Based on the book series of the same name, this Disney Channel original movie is centred around twin sisters, Alex and Camryn. Born in the magical realm of Coventry, they are brought to Earth in order to be protected from the evil entity, the Darkness and go on to be adopted by different families. The two sisters don’t meet again until their 21st birthday when their magical history is revealed and they are given the responsibility to save their home realm. This fantastical, lighthearted movie along with its sequel are both available on Disney+.
Brewing up a spookily safe party
By: Fran O’Donnell, Contributor
Ghosts, ghouls and everyone in between: are you feeling down this Halloween? Are you looking for a way to get into the spooky spirit (pun very much intended) while remaining physically distanced? Fear not, you’ve come to the right place! As a Halloween aficionado and professional introvert, I have been training my whole life to bring you this list of fun Halloween activities that you can use to keep your celebrations both spooktacular and safe.
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Dress it Up
Just because we’re staying indoors doesn’t mean that we can’t wear costumes. In fact, now is the perfect opportunity to wear whatever you want without having to worry about being too cold in the chilly October air. Not sure what to wear? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Last year, I wrote up a guide to DIY Halloween costumes on a budget. The world is your graveyard when it comes to costumes this spooky season.
Best of all, you can enter your costume in the Sil’s costume contest! Just snap a photo before 11:59 p.m. on Halloween night and post it to your Facebook or Instagram story for a chance to win. Wearing something fun and having the chance to win free stuff? Sign me up!
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Stream the Screams
Halloween really wouldn’t be the same without at least one movie marathon. Thankfully, you can use an extension like Teleparty (formally Netflix Party) to stream all your favourite movies with your friends. Got Disney Plus? You can watch favourites like Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloweentown and many more. You could also try a horror movie to really get you in the spooky spirit. Here is a handy dandy list of Halloween movies and where you can stream them.
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Scare Up Some Snacks
There may not be trick-or-treating this year, but that shouldn’t stop you from breaking out the candy. You could also brew up some sweet treats of your own, with any number of easy Halloween snacks. Candy apples, snack bars and marshmallow ghosts, oh my!
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Ghost Story Spooktacular
Speaking of the spooky spirit, why not share some ghost stories around the campfire (Zoom call)? Have each of your friends pick their favourite scary story, and then read them to each other through the video call. For an extra little kick, you can turn out all your lights and use your phone’s flashlight to light your face. Oh jeez, I’m feeling scared already.
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Get Crafty
You knew this was coming, right? It’s not Halloween unless you have a little jack-o’-lantern hanging out outside your house (if you’d like to know why, check out this article from last year on Halloween traditions!). Break out the pumpkins and get creative! If you like, here are some stencil patterns to get you started. Pumpkin carving not your thing? Here are some fun craft ideas to get you in the spirit, minus the mess. Decorate your mausoleum to your heart's content.
Remember it is still vitally important to stay indoors right now and physically distance. Please be kind this spooky season and stay at home.
By: Esther Liu, Contributor
What are your plans for Halloween this year?
My daughter is really into Harry Potter so she is dressing up. Her favourite house is Ravenclaw, so she has a school outfit for it. My dog – it's so funny – she's going to be dressed up as a UPS delivery dog. It's so hilarious 'cause there's a little box and so when she's walking, it looks like she's carrying it and she has her little hat. I'm not 100 per cent sure what I'm going to be doing – there's typically a student group, UNICEF, that gets this stuff organized so I think that's happening but I'm not 100 per cent sure.
Voting is now open #MacIntroPsych students. You pick what I will wear to lecture on Mon Oct 30 to celebrate Halloween supporting @UNICEF
— Joe Kim (@ProfJoeKim) October 20, 2017
Do you have any costume plans of your own?
For the last several years, all of my Halloween costumes have been decided by students, by UNICEF. I know that [Michelle] Cadieux, she and her husband, they have a lot of costumes – they're totally into Halloween. So I think she said that she could lend me something. I don't know other than that . . . Maybe I might join my daughter and dress up as a professor from Harry Potter.
When did you start the tradition of dressing up?
I think that started maybe five or six years ago for UNICEF. Last year, the students chose Super Mario. I think the year before that I might have been Black Widow [and the year before that [was] Wonder Woman. [The] year before that – what's her name from Frozen? – Elsa and the year before that [was] Princess Leia.
Thanks #MacIntroPsych students for supporting @UNICEF for today's lecture. Hope you had a Wonderful day! pic.twitter.com/zA5HmEg60h
— Joe Kim (@ProfJoeKim) October 30, 2017
What are the student reactions?
They seem to really enjoy it because I'm lecturing wearing the Halloween costume and at the end of the lecture I always have a lot of students coming up who want to take pictures. If you go on Twitter there's a bunch of pictures that have been posted over the years.
Do you have any favourite costumes?
I would say my favourite costumes have been the ones that the students picked – my daughter really gets a kick out of it too. But, I'm a really big fan of Star Wars, so maybe the Princess Leia one is my favourite.
Do you have any ideal costumes?
Again, I'm a big fan of Star Wars so maybe it would be Obi-Wan Kenobi, that'd be kind of cool. It would be a really comfortable costume to wear as well.
Thanks #MacIntroPsych students for supporting @UNICEF and for selecting my Halloween costume. Note to self: it's not easy lecturing with an itchy moustache and using a slide advancer wearing oversized gloves. https://t.co/hZVUEwEP1W pic.twitter.com/nUY84veYZ5
— Joe Kim (@ProfJoeKim) October 29, 2019
I wanted to ask you about some Halloween phenomena. Do you remember the creepy clown phenomenon in 2016?
Was that 2016? I don't think I remember it too well. I think clowns are creepy though – I don't think that they look funny at all. I think it looks really creepy. I would say I find them as creepy as sharks. I have a mildly irrational fear of sharks and being attacked by a shark just from watching Jaws. Is there anyone who likes clowns? I don't like creepy dolls – you know those old-fashioned like creepy dolls? Yeah, you couldn't dare me to sleep in a room with creepy dolls and clowns for a million dollars.
One theory as to why clowns are scary is the concept of the uncanny valley. The concept was first introduced in the 1970s by Masahiro Mori, who coined the term to describe his observation that as robots appear more human-like, they become more appealing. But once they reach a certain point – the uncanny valley – this appeal becomes a feeling of strangeness, a sense of unease and a tendency to be scared. Is there anything you can tell us about this concept?
It kinda reminds me of this optical illusion called the facial distortion effect – it's really interesting. A colleague of mine developed it. We're experts at looking at and recognizing patterns and especially faces. This is a really interesting phenomenon – look it up, the facial distortion effect on YouTube by Jason Tangun [CW: video contains very disturbing imagery]. If you just stare and compare human faces side by side, there's actually a lot of differences that you can look at. So, for example, how far apart are your eyes or how big are your eyes, where is your nose and so on. If you actually force yourself to compare side by side and then you go through these comparisons and see the differences, people's faces start to look grotesque.
Despite COVID-19, Hanes Corn Maze and Tiny Shop Bakery is still open for Halloween fun
By: Sharang Sharma, Contributor
With spooky season now upon us, many look for fun outdoor activities to do before the cold sets in. One particular activity that has become popular during this time is the exploration of corn mazes, such as the Hanes Corn Maze and Tiny Shop Bakery in Dundas.
Hanes Corn Maze is a family-run business that has been operating for 21 years. It began when farmers and current owners Shelley and Kevin Hanes saw a corn maze on the news. Since farming is a difficult business, they decided to build their own four-acre corn maze to help keep a more stable income.
Now spanning between 18 and 22 acres, the Hanes Corn Maze is Canada’s largest corn maze. This year, the maze is 20 acres large. It involves a game where you have to find all 17 checkpoints in the maze, 12 of which are marked on a map. Each of these checkpoints has a special code on it, which you use at a code-breaker board to figure out the maze’s theme for the year.
This time of year tends to be very busy at the Hanes Corn Maze, with many families visiting for Thanksgiving and Halloween. During Halloween, one can find the maze decorated with pumpkins and various spooky ornaments adorned throughout. Though there aren’t any actors jumping out at those traversing the maze, the dark and eerie atmosphere at night more than makes up for this. On top of that, towards the end of September they also open up the pumpkin patch, where customers can go and pick up a pumpkin in preparation for Halloween.
However as with many businesses, Hanes Corn Maze has had to adjust to the changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“[In August,] when we first opened for the sunflower maze . . . the restrictions were all lifting quite a bit at that point . . . So we were maxing out at 100 people. But we were finding that we were allowing walk-ins at that point and we noticed that it was starting to get a little bit too much and too many people were showing up and had to be turned away. So when we started to hit the most recent outbreak, again, we really tightened everything up. We reduced the number of people that were going to be allowed in any particular slots,” said Seamus Connors, director of sales and marketing at Hanes Corn Maze.
"So when we started to hit the most recent outbreak, again, we really tightened everything up. We reduced the number of people that were going to be allowed in any particular slots,” said Seamus Connors, the director of sales and marketing at Hanes Corn Maze.
Adapting to COVID-19 hasn’t just been a single large shift for businesses, but constant little changes alongside the ever-evolving situation. For Hanes Corn Maze, that now means guests need an online booking to go to the corn maze and the maximum group size is 10.
Fortunately, the pandemic has led to some unexpected positive outcomes for Hanes Corn Maze. Connors notes that the maze is more popular this year than it has been in the past. They have welcomed visitors from across the Greater Toronto Area and as far out as Barrie.
“Having an outdoor activity with a really large space is something that everybody's looking for right now. So it gives them an opportunity to be outdoors, to be active, but also be able to easily stay in their circle and follow social distancing guidelines, ” said Connors.
“Having an outdoor activity with a really large space is something that everybody's looking for right now. So it gives them an opportunity to be outdoors, to be active, but also be able to easily stay in their circle and follow social distancing guidelines, ” said Connors.
Connors also spoke about the importance of community in these times. Many Hanes Corn Maze’s customers are families that return every year, and youth groups tend to use the farm for large events.
For Hanes Corn Maze, it is important to give back to the community that keeps them running. Over the past few years they have donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Tim Hortons Children Foundation. Even when they weren’t sure if they were going to be able to open the corn maze, they continued to stay involved in the community.
“We have a lot of people from group homes, who reach out to us and say, “I have these 12 boys who've had a hard life and we want to come and take them to the maze, but we really can't afford the sticker price” and the owner is amazing. Like she'll say, “tell them to just come, don't worry about paying, just come on by”,” said Connors.
Hanes Corn Maze has managed to adapt itself to our current set of circumstances and continues to be a fantastic activity for the end of autumn. It only goes to show the multiple and incredibly varied ways in which businesses have changed and adapted in these strange times.
Halloween celebrations look a little different this year, but can be festive nonetheless
Spooky season is looking different this year with an ongoing pandemic across the country. In Ontario, several regions including Ottawa, Peel, Toronto and York are now in the modified Stage 2 public health designation. People living in those regions are not recommended to go trick-or-treating this year.
Instead, families are encouraged to celebrate Halloween in their own household with activities such as a candy hunt, carving pumpkins or a movie night.
“We’re trying to make it as safe and simple as possible, my friends, we all know this isn’t going to be a regular Halloween,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Hamilton is currently a Stage 3 public health unit region and trick-or-treating is not prohibited, but people are asked to take extra precautions. This includes limiting gatherings to those within a household, washing hands or using hand sanitizer, only trick-or-treating outdoors and wearing a face covering even if a costume mask is already present.
For those living in Stage 3 public health unit regions, please take extra precautions & follow #PublicHealth advice to ensure you are keeping yourself & your families safe as you begin to prepare for #Halloween this year. #HappyHalloween https://t.co/eXAwIUuTz6 pic.twitter.com/cVVevwGmlV
— Ontario Ministry of Health (@ONThealth) October 19, 2020
Those who are handing out treats are also encouraged to take certain steps to stay physically distanced, such as using tongs to hand out treats. However, leaving treats in a bucket or bowl outside of the door for children to grab on their own is not advised.
For many McMaster University students, this change in Halloween festivities is a lost opportunity to celebrate with friends in person. However, several faculty societies and clubs have taken the opportunity to hold virtual celebrations instead.
The iSci Society transitioned its typical coffeehouse to an online platform. Hosted on Oct. 28 via Zoom, the society invited students to perform and share their talents. This includes performances such as singing, dancing, performing an instrument, slam poetry or a comedy act.
The Humanities society is doing a series of October events, including Halloween movie watching on Zoom every night from Oct. 26 to 30. On Oct. 30, the society is also offering private five-minute psychic readings via Zoom.
UNICEF McMaster is a club that represents the non-profit organization, UNICEF, to support various issues such as healthcare, nutrition and education. The club typically runs an annual Halloween fundraiser where each participating class donated money to see their professor dressed up in a costume during their lecture. This year, UNICEF McMaster is continuing this tradition by inviting professors to dress up for virtual classes.
Thanks #MacIntroPsych students for supporting @UNICEF and for selecting my Halloween costume. Note to self: it's not easy lecturing with an itchy moustache and using a slide advancer wearing oversized gloves. https://t.co/hZVUEwEP1W pic.twitter.com/nUY84veYZ5
— Joe Kim (@ProfJoeKim) October 29, 2019
From Oct. 23 to 31, the MSU Food Collective Centre is doing a trick-or-eat food collection event. Donation bins are placed at three drop-off locations in Hamilton including: TCBY in Westdale, Williams Fresh Cafe on Main Street and the McMaster University Student Centre. The service is collecting non-perishable food items to support local food banks. Folks who would like to donate but are unable to access the drop-off locations can also contact the service via email for other options.
Aside from online methods, folks can also find other ways to safely celebrate by going to outdoor events such as corn mazes or pumpkin patches. Although different from a typical year, Halloween in 2020 can still be celebrated in creative, fun and safe ways.
To learn more about the restrictions required of each public health stage or find out what stage cities are currently in, visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/reopening-ontario-stages.
The history of the things that haunt us at Halloween
As with many Western holidays, Halloween is associated with several traditions whose history has been long forgotten. Last year, the Sil looked back at some of these traditions in our first iteration of Spooky Facts. This year we’ve returned to examine the history of some haunting Halloween traditions.
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Haunted Houses
The origin of haunted houses as we know it comes from the Great Depression. At the time, Halloween in the United States had become known as a holiday where youth concocted elaborate pranks.
In 1933 when the pranks escalated to include property damage, vandalism and harassment, parents came together to find ways of distracting their kids. Along with trick-or-treating, parents created haunted houses in their basements and had their children go from house to house to experience different scary settings.
The beginning of the haunted house industry however came about when Walt Disney opened the Haunted Mansion attraction at Disneyland California in 1969 and Walt Disney World in 1971. Much more impressive than the basement haunted houses, the mansion featured a ballroom sequence of dancing ghouls in its Grand Hall, a seance room with a talking crystal ball and a graveyard full of grim grinning ghosts singing about spooking the living. From here, alongside the horror movie industry, the professional haunted house industry continued to grow.
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“Boo!”
Did you think of a ghost? Have you ever wondered why we associate this sound with ghosts? One of the first times that the word was found in text was in the 1560s poetic thriller Here Begynneth A Treatyse Of The Smyth Whych That Forged Hym A New Dame where it used more as a statement of one’s presence than a way to startle.
It was only later that the word was associated with fright. In 1738, the word appeared in Gilbert Crokatt’s Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence Display’d and this and an 1808 text noted that the word was used to scare children in North Scotland. By the 1820s, the word was known as the exclamation of real ghosts and those dressed up as ghosts. Another early example of ghosts saying “boo” was in the 1963 play Punch and Judy.
Why this sound? It is likely meant to imitate the mooing of a cow, but how and why this evolved into a word with ghostly connotation is unknown.
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Ghost Stories
As long as there have been ghosts, there have been stories about them. There are ancient ghost stories from Egypt, Greece, Rome, China, India, Scotland and many more places. Ancient Roman writings tell tales of ghosts who frequently showed up and rattled chains. Early ghost sightings include the first reported poltergeist (a ghost that causes physical disturbances) in 856 A.D. and the sightings of Anne Boleyn’s ghost after her 1536 death.
With his 1765 novel Castle of Otranto, Horace Walpole was credited with inventing the gothic novel and legitimizing the horror story as a literary form. Following this, gothic horror novels such as Frankenstein (1818), A Christmas Carol (1843) and Dracula (1897) were released.
In the Victorian era (1837-1901), ghost stories became increasingly popular. One of the potential reasons for this is that the industrial revolution led many people to migrate to big cities and move into houses with servants who, much like ghosts, were expected to move around the house without being seen or heard.
The Victorians also used gas lamps, the carbon monoxide from which could have caused hallucinations. Another factor could have been the introduction of the telegraph. The ability for messages to be transmitted across oceans using Morse code made it much less of a leap to believe a dead person was tapping out Morse code to you.
The Victorians told their ghost stories on long, cold and dark Christmas nights. However, because it was based on the supernatural, the Puritans frowned upon this tradition and it didn’t gain the same traction in America.
Nonetheless, Christmas issues of American magazines still carried ghost stories until as late as 1915. Eventually, as Americans took on the originally Scottish holiday of Halloween, they emphasized the scary elements and integrated ghost stories into the celebrations.
Ghost stories have gone on to take many forms, laying the foundation for the Halloween movies and horror films that we know and love today.
Last August, The Pale Blue Dot (240 James St. North) ran their first clothing swap. It turned into a huge success, with a lineup out their door. On Oct. 7, they will be running another one, this time at Grain & Grit brewery (11 Ewen Road). The Pale Blue Dot is a sustainable, eco-conscious store named after the 1990 photograph of the Earth taken from space. Mary Luciani, the owner of The Pale Blue Dot, emphasizes how important it is to be mindful of where and how we get our clothes.
“The reason we wanted to start it was because we wanted people to realize that there’s a different way to go about consuming clothing,” said Luciani.
The Pale Blue Dot strives to provide support for people trying to live an environmentally friendly lifestyle.
“I really wanted the space to be a community hub as well, that was one of my major goals, to make the Pale Blue Dot a place where people could come and ask their questions, learn about new ways that they could live a low waste lifestyle or a lifestyle with a low impact. More than just a little general store of earth friendly goods, I wanted to have different workshops and events going on in the space that showed people how they could make a difference,” said Luciani.
The clothing swaps initially began as the brainchild of Luciani and her friends Kayla Whitney, Pam Huffman, Monika Benkovich and Liz Enriquez. Together, they created Good Habit Events, a collective that organizes affordable and eco-conscious events and workshops.
“Through Good Habits, we reach out to different missions, different services, different locations in the city. We chat with them to see who’s in need,” said Luciani.
All clothing that is not swapped is donated to those who need it. Admission to the event is $5, and the money raised will go towards environmental initiatives in the community.
“We want to make sure those funds get allocated into projects that will benefit the city, and benefit the environment at the same time,” said Luciani.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3FHjM5nVrl/
This year the clothing swap will feature curated Halloween sections, with different costumes set up. There will also be regular clothes available, depending on what clothing is donated.
Participants can bring in their clothing to either Grain & Grit or The Pale Blue Dot from Oct. 1 to 6 ahead of the swap on Oct. 7 at Grain & Grit. Each item of clothing is worth one ticket, and one ticket can then be redeemed for a different item of clothing at the event. The full list of rules is available on the event page and on both of the brand’s websites.
The textile industry is a huge contributor to pollution. Environmental sustainability has become a major topic of discussion among Hamiltonians and the greater community. Those who are looking to combat climate change and help protect our pale blue dot can count on this event to be a first step towards building a better future.
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By Andrew Mrozowski
Content warning: this article contains mentions of suicide
What if I told you that you are living in a haunted city? Hamilton has had a long history with ghosts dating back to hundreds of years, so naturally, there are claims of specters still roaming the city.
With All Hallows Eve quickly approaching, paranormal activity is reaching a new high. Once the sun goes down, an eerie feeling fills the crisp cool air as darkness seeps through every corner and alleyway in the city.
This means good business for Stephanie ‘Spooky Steph’ Dumbreck, founder and owner of Haunted Hamilton. She has been leading ghosts walks and tours across Hamilton for nearly 20 years and has a passion for Hamilton’s haunted scene.
“It has evolved [since] I first started Haunted Hamilton… The paranormal wasn’t even looked at the same. All along [Haunted Hamilton] has been a passion for local history for me and what better way for that than a good ghost story,” explained Dumbreck.
Originally starting off with her spine-chilling tour of downtown Hamilton, Dumbreck has since launched a variety of different tours from her haunted cruise along Hamilton’s harbor to a haunted bus trip taking you on an overnight paranormal investigation.
“Hamilton is extremely haunted, it’s just a matter of where you look and how you look because anywhere can be haunted. Hamilton has such cool historical landmarks and locations,” said Dumbreck.
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[spacer height="20px"]One stop on Spooky Steph’s downtown tour is Whitehern Mansion. Located right behind Hamilton City Hall, Whitehern is one of the only period mansions remaining within the downtown core and has since been turned into a historical museum.
What many do not know is that Whitehern Mansion is haunted by the ghost of Issac McQuesten. This fact is eluded to by the house’s staff who reportedly sign a contract during their employment stating that they will be terminated if they mention the ghost.
Calvin McQuesten was a famous industrialist who helped build the Queen Elizabeth’s Way, Rainbow Bridge and the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington. Three years before his death in 1885, he moved his family from Boston to Hamilton and entrusted his son, Isaac McQuesten, with his business and family fortune.
McQuesten never had the drive his father had to run the company and ended up destroying the business. This caused him to turn to alcohol abuse and drive up a crushing debt. Afraid of the social repercussions of seeking help in his own city, McQuesten ended up spending time in an asylum in Guelph.
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[spacer height="20px"]On one grueling night in 1888, McQuesten kissed his six children and wife goodnight and told them that he was going to work in their parlor. At midnight, his wife woke up to check up on him and found his body laying still on the floor. The remnants of a sleeping draught made from a mix of sleeping pills and a generous amount of alcohol were in a cup on his desk.
McQuesten took his own life at Whitehern that night. His body was laid to rest but a superstitious belief dictates that if a life is taken before its rightful time then the soul will be stuck in purgatory. McQuesten’s spirit is in a state between death and the afterlife, forever trapped on earth.
Fast forward to present day Hamilton, two employees of the Whitehern Museum were closing up for the night. One staff member went upstairs to ensure that no spectators were still roaming the house while the other swept the outside of the front door.
As she made her way downstairs to leave, she felt somebody push her. She braced herself against the wall to avoid tumbling down the stairs. Suddenly, she caught sight of a grey and shadowy human figure in front of her.
She watched him run down the stairs and as he attempted to reach the front door, the figure disappeared as quickly as he appeared.
According to Dumbreck, the incident is proof that Issac McQuesten is trapped within the house and every time he attempts to leave it, he is forced back inside.
This amongst other chilling tales have spooked Hamiltonians in the past and present, with new encounters surrounding the supernatural occurring in the shadows of some of the oldest parts of the city.
Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, Hamilton is a fascinating place for indulging in rich history, but you also never know what might be peeking at you from the darkness, waiting to make its move.
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Most family neighbourhoods know that one house where the residents are really into Halloween. Before September is over they’re already setting up in the light of day knowing that in a few weeks, the cover of night and the cloak of costume will transform it into something haunted or simply spectacular.
Casey and Jen Rovinelli own that house. From when they moved into their Glenfern Avenue property in 2010, they began creating large Halloween displays such as a toxic waste dump and a UFO crash landing site. After they had kids, they decided to do something more traditional.
Traditional for them took the form of 140 carved pumpkins. The impressive display drew press attention and positive feedback from the community so the couple decided to do it again the following year for charity, raising money for the Hamilton Food Bank.
“[M]y favorite part [is] just standing up front and seeing everybody looking at the different pumpkins. It's exciting. I think it's a nice thing to have in the community that everybody sort of swings by the house, has a look,” explained Casey Rovinelli.
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For this its third year, the Rovinellis are decking their house out with 200 pumpkins, donated by Scotlynn Sweet-pac. They’ve recruited the help of about fifteen neighbours to help them carve all the pumpkins the weekend before Halloween.
This year they are collecting donations for An Instrument for Every Child (AIFEC), a key initiative of the Hamilton Music Collective. The music program pairs professional musicians with inner city children and provides instruments, introducing them to creative and improvised music.
“I think it's a great charity because it's a lean organization, it needs the money…[M]usic is one of those subjects that…[is] the first to get cut… [but] it's important to building well rounded kids so it's a nice charity to support. They need the money and they have an immediate impact on the community,” Rovinelli explained.
The house will be lit from Wednesday October 31 to Friday November 2 from 6pm-11pm. While visiting the house is free, donations are appreciated and are being accepted online and in person. Every penny will be donated to AIFEC.
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