Ghosts, Aliens, and Sasquatch: Probing Canada’s Paranormal Pulse

Spooky beliefs haunt nearly half the nation.

STARTER STATS

• 44% of Canadians believe in at least one paranormal phenomenon

• 1 in 3 believe places can be haunted; 1 in 5 say aliens have visited Earth

• 1 in 4 report personal ghost encounters, often with deceased relatives

---

A new UBC study reveals that nearly half of Canadians are embracing the paranormal, from ghostly encounters to alien visits and Sasquatch sightings, filling a decades-long gap in understanding these beliefs in one of the world’s most secular nations.

Led by sociologists Dr. Tony Silva and Dr. Emily Huddart, the survey reveals that ghosts and extraterrestrial visitation lead as the most common beliefs. The study also highlights a significant “middle ground,” with many Canadians open to but not fully committed to these ideas.

• 👻 33% of Canadians agree that places can be haunted

• 👻 25% report ghost experiences, with deceased relatives or eerie hotels

• 👽 20% of Canadians believe in alien visits

• 👣 10% believe in Sasquatch, with 20% left undecided

  
  

“Most Canadians aren’t rejecting the paranormal outright—they’re open to it, even if they trust science. It shows belief in the unexplained can thrive alongside modernity.”

— Dr. Tony Silva, UBC Department of Sociology

Surprisingly, belief levels are lower than in the U.S. or U.K., where 72% report paranormal beliefs. Women are more likely to believe in ghosts and psychics, while younger adults (19-29) are the least convinced, possibly due to deeper secularization.

The findings suggest that while Canadians trust science, many see it as coexisting with paranormal beliefs, especially among those who are religious but don’t regularly attend services.

Read more →