Trigger Warning-scary content, murder and violence
The Banff Springs Hotel is a remarkable hotel and one worth the trip to Banff, Alberta Canada. I have stayed at this hotel several times and it never disappoints. The hotel resembles a castle and is set right in the majestic Rocky Mountains. This is a favorite for many couples because the hotel is incredibly romantic.
The Banff Springs Hotel opened back in 1888. The hotel has hosted many famous guests including Marilyn Monroe, Helen Keller and Queen Elizabeth II. There have been thousands of guests who have checked into this hotel over the years; however, there have also been several guests who sadly never got the chance to check out!
We once had the opportunity to take in an amazing Ghost Tour while staying at the hotel. The tour was so fun and even a tad bit creepy. We learned all about the many ghosts that haunt the hotel. The hotel addamantly denies that any murders ever occurred at the hotel. They actually go to great lengths to hide the hotel’s dark history that surrounds the infamous room 873.
Room 873
The rumour is that there was a tragic murder-suicide that occurred in room 873. Three people died while staying at the hotel. They all tragically died in the room. One of the guests was a crazed man who savagely killed his wife and daughter. He then took his own life. The hotel has tried to cover this up because they did not want the bad publicity; however, somethings just cannot be hidden. Staff began to refuse going near the haunted room. Guests reported being awoken by deathly screams and blood stained handprints all over the walls. The paranormal activity in room 873 became such a problem that the hotel boarded up the room and stopped renting it out.
The Ghost Bride
The hotel is known best for its famous “Ghost Bride.” The legend of the bride dates back to the 1930s, when a young bride tragically died in the hotel and has never been able to leave the hotel since. She was wearing her wedding gown and was making her way up to the ballroom. She was walking up the marble spiral staircase that was lined with candles. The bride tripped on her veil and fell down the stairs. Her dress ended up catching on fire and she parished on her own wedding day. The Ghost Bride is still dressed in white and walks the halls of the hotel. Guests report seeing a sad bride dressed in white getting ready in the bathrooms located near the stairwell. She is also spotted dancing alone in the grand ballroom.
Sam the Bellman
Sam McAuley was a bellman at the hotel for many years. He was a faithful and dedicated employee. Sam loved the hotel so much that he decided to never leave. In 1976, Sam passed away and continues to work at the hotel to this day. He is known to staff as the ‘good ghost.’ Many guests encounter the ghostly bellman during their stay. He is said to help guests find their rooms, make wake up calls and brings their luggage up to their rooms.
My Experience
Gord and I walked up and down the famous staircase and it definitely gives you the chills. There was a looming sense of sadnesss surrounding this particular area of the hotel but we never did catch a glimpse of the ghost bride.
We were a little scared to check out the 8th floor but finally mustered up some courage and went for it.
Room 873 was GONE!! just like all the stories shared. You could see where the door was originally located. There still is a faint outline but the room is now hidden.
Room 873 may no longer exists but the stories of the haunted room continue to live on. I am fairly confident that the rumours are true. Friends of ours had stayed at the hotel and went up to the 8th floor and knocked on the wall, where the door would normally have been. Immediately afterwards, the room next door, swung open and a security guard escorted them away hmmmmmmmm
I sure wonder what they are hiding, how about you?
Anyone who has a child or works with kids needs to understand how the brains works. This is something that I learned while attending training. It has helped me be able to better support children and youth especially when they are under stress. This was when I was first introduced to the teachings of Daniel Siegel and his work on the brain.
I am a hands on learner and find it beneficial visualizing what I learn so this was perfect for me. The first thing you have to do is simply make a fist as it represents your brain.
Brain Stem
The base of your hand represents the brain stem. This part of the brain helps us function and is responsible for things like breathing and keeping your heart pumping.
Limbic System
The thumb represents the limbic system. This is our primative section of the brain. It is also commonly referred to as the reptilian brain and the amygdala. This part of the brain can sense danger and tells our brain and body how to respond. This is where we can either fight, flight or freeze. From the time of birth, we use this part of our brain as our only regulation strategy. The limbic system comes preloaded with everything we ever need to survive.
Prefrontal Cortex
The remaining fingers that are folded on top of the thumb (limbic system) are referred to as the prefrontal cortex. This is the part of the brain that is responsible for storing everything we have ever learned. This is the most incredible gift that we have been given. It is where we access important information like how to ride a bike, how to talk and how to walk. This amazing part of the brain is what truly separates us from other mammals. The prefrontal cortex is also where we access how to manage our emotions and make complex decisions.
Repetition
The more time that we learn something, the more likely we are going to be able to access this later on in life. This can be a good thing and a bad thing depending on what you have learned. This is clearly detrimental for those young ones that have experienced trauma and abuse. This is what they have learned over and over again; therefore, this is what they will most likely access when they are adults.
Teenager Brains
Teenage brains are remarkable, in fact during this time period our brain starts to prune itself. This is the process of removing information that
is no longer needed; therefore, the pathways that are used the most often are also the same ones that will stick. The connections between the emotional part of the brain and the decision making portion of the brain, are still developing and at an uneven rate. This can be confusing and explain why teens sometimes have extreme emotions and feel way more than they actually are able to think and reason.
When your lid is on
When your lid is on it means your prefrontal cortex is accessible and you are in a calm state. You are regulated and able to access the stored information that you have learned throughout your life. We are able to manage our emotions and make complex decisions because our lid is on. This is necessary to learn so think about the kiddos with anxiety and attending school. How can they learn when they are working in their limbic system.
Lid if off or your lid is flipped
When your lid is flipped or off, this means that you are disregulted. This occurs when you are feeling unsafe and threatened. This could look like a melt down, avoidance, temper tantrums or even when people withdraw and shut down. This is where your brain is not able to access any of your prefrontal cortex. This is when you are completely working off of your reptilian part of your brain. This is also when you are in a state of fight, flight or freeze. Those who have experienced trauma are much more likely running on their limbic system as they are not feeling safe. This makes it incredibly difficult to learn and reason and makes good decisions because they are in survival mode and have no access to their stored memory in their prefrontal cortex.
I hope this helps you as much as it has helped me. I now better understand kids and can respond in a supportive way that will actually be effective. I use this daily with my own kids and at work. I also show them how their own brains work by getting them to make a fist. It is awesome to see them make this connection and have more understanding as to why they sometimes react the way that they do. Then it is much easier to work on strategies that can help manage stress and keep kids regulated.
Last night, I tried out my son’s camera that has a special night vision feature. Saw this beautiful moon and had to capture it. Bonus was the stars that popped through.
This is a case, that I have really wanted to write about for a while. I have been totally obsessed by this story, since day one. It all started back in the summer of 2018. I saw this man on the news. He was pleading for the safe return of his pregnant wife and two little girls. It bothered me immensely because he acted odd. I noticed that his eyes were dark and dead. He spoke flat and with zero emotion. It was shocking to say the least. I knew that he had killed them and from that moment on, I have been compelled to follow the case.
Shannan had a big presence on social media as there were countless videos of her and the children online. She was vibrant and bubbly and seemed to have it all. I started to have nightmares about the case. I had several dreams where I was talking to Shannan. I was trying desperately to warn her about her husband. I would wake up afterwards feeling frustrated and panicked especially when I realized that it was all just a dream. They were already gone. This has impacted me so much and I have never met any of them. I seriously cannot imagine the pain and anguish that the family and close friends have had to go through. My heart truly goes out to all of them.
Her story could have easily been my story. In fact three women are killed everyday by a partner or ex partner. I assure you that none of them ever thought this could actually happen to them!
They are not just another statistic...
They are our mothers.
They are our sisters.
They are our friends.
They are our daughters.
Thousands of people have followed this case just like me. I think it’s not only because it’s so horrendous but also because it was so shocking. The family doesn’t seem to fit the profile of family violence. I get that but let’s be real, there is no profile. Don’t let the big house and charming photographs fool you.
He may have smiled big for the camera and played with the kids when the video was taping but this wasn’t a good man. He did not just crack one day. He had premeditated plans and methodically carried out his plans, with no regard for anyone but himself. Nope, I think he is a cold hearted fucking monster. He wanted a new life with his girlfriend and that’s the truth. What a coward and a snake! This is me toning down my anger for this man. I am sorry if you find this offensive but he has offended me.
Shannan was a loyal and faithful wife who cherished her little babies. This coward tried to pathetically blame the murders of the children on her. She no longer had a voice to defend herself and he took full advantage of that because this is the type of man he was. The truth always comes out in the end and of course she did no such thing.
I am not going to describe the details of the murders because honestly it makes me sick. I want to spare others the gory information because somethings are best left unspoken. What I want to be clear about though is the facts. He killed his wife, who was pregnant with their son Nico. He then killed his innocent baby girls, sweet Bella and adorable Cece.
He had been living a double life leading up to the murders. He was having an affair with a coworker. This other woman has been ripped apart by the public so much so that I believe she went into protective custody. There has been many theories pointing to her being an accomplice; however, there is no evidence to back any of this up. She willingly got into a relationship with a married man. I don’t care what story he was selling her. He was not in a position to date anyone because he was still married, period. She will have to live with this decision for the rest of her life.
The murderer pleaded guilty to avoid being sentenced to death. He was later sentenced to five life sentences—three consecutive and two concurrent—without the possibility of parole. He received an additional 48 years for the unlawful termination of his wife's pregnancy and 36 years for three charges of tampering with a deceased body.
I have intentionally not used his name or added any of his photographs because he has had enough publicity, this man is not important in all of this.
Shannan and baby Nico
Bella
Cece
These are the people that matter the most. I promise that their story will never be forgotten.
Netflix just released a documentary “American Murder-The Family Next Door” this is about the case. I share this only because it also appears to have been supported by the Rzucek family, this is Shannan’s parents and brother.
Thanks for reading ❤️
For Coil members please check out my subscriber section to find out why I decided to write this story.
I love a good ghost story and have always been intrigued by stories of the past. I find so much beauty in historic buildings especially hotels. They have so much character and energy felt within its walls.
I decided for the month of October to do a series on all of the haunted hotels that I have been able to stay at. Some were creepier than others and Hotel Galvez was by far the scariest of all.
Hotel Galvez is located one hour away from Houston in Galveston, Texas. I stayed at this historical hotel back in 2010. The hotel itself was absolutely stunning and glamorous. Driving up to the hotel I was immediately drawn to the building. It was breathtaking. I felt like I had literally stepped back in time. The vibe of the hotel had an old hollywood feel to it. I later would learn that this was one of the most haunted hotels in America.
My hotel experience
I assumed the hotel had a ton of history but I had no idea just how much. I instantly felt a sense of panic come over me as I entered into the hotel room. The energy in the room was off; the air was thick and heavy. That night I just couldn’t fall asleep because I still had that unsettling feeling. I started to get this overwhelming sensation that people were watching me.
As the night went on, it was as if the whole room was filling up with strangers and all of their eyes were directly on me. I was absolutely being watched. I actually said “please leave me alone” that’s how bad it was. The television volume kept going up and down and I was not controlling any of it. I finally started to nod off out of pure exhaustion; however, I woke up a few minutes later because the covers suddenly were pulled off of me. I was totally freaked out at this point and I decided to just turn on all of the lights.
I sat there in bed wide eyed and upright, with the lights on just so that there was no chance of me falling asleep again...no way! I was too afraid of what would happen next. I decided to focus on the television. That worked for a while until the television turned off. I turned it back on and a few minutes later it turned off again. It was extremely frustrating, I was starting to think they were definitely messing with me. Yes “they” I somehow knew that the energy I was feeling was that of children. It was not an evil energy more of a playful and curious energy.
The hotel opened in 1911 and was named for American Revolutionary War hero Bernardo de Galvez.
His portrait is located in the lobby of the hotel. Guests believe that his eyes appear to follow anyone who approaches the painting. Hotel staff encourage guests to ask his permission before taking a photograph of the painting; otherwise, the photograph will not turn out and be unclear.
On September 8, 1900, there was a horrible hurricane that hit Galveston. The hotel itself is said to have been built on top of the graves of those who died in the storm.
St Mary’s Orphans Asylum sadly went down in the hurricane. The stormtook the lives of 10 nuns along with 90 children that lived at the orphanage.
The nuns desperately tried to save the children but to no success. Each nun made ropes out of cloth and tied the children to their waists. Their bodies were all washed up along the beach still attached to one another.
The children are heard roaming the halls of the hotel and many have heard little voices giggling. There have been many sightings of a phantom girl playing with a ball. She is dressed in 19th century clothing. The children and nuns were burried in the same location as the hotel’s music hall. There is a lot of paranormal activity not surprisingly in this area of the hotel. Many have heard the sounds of children running around and playing the piano.
Guests now are being offered EMF sensors or “ghost meters.” They are encouraged to take multiple snapshots throughout their stay. There have been many ghost like images and unexplained orbs captured on the photographs from guests staying at the hotel.
The hotel’s most infamous ghost would be “the love lorn lady” and her name is Audra. She haunts the entire fifth floor of the hotel.
She was 25 years old and wildly in love with her fiancé. He was a mariner that often sailed in and out of the Port of Galveston. Audra would wait for him at the hotel and always checked into room 501. There was a terrible storm and she was told that “all hands were lost.” Audra was beyond devastated to hear that her love was never coming back. She couldn’t imagine life without him and hung herself. The worst part of it all, was that a few days later Audra’s fiancé showed up at the hotel looking for his bride to be.
Guests see her walking along the halls of the fifth floor some say that she is still waiting for her lover. Room 501 is the place where she is most often spotted. Unanswered lights are regularly seen coming from the room. Guests report that the lights go on and off as well as the television during their stay. Doors and cupboards slam shut without any explanation. The hotel staff always have trouble with room 501’s electronic keys. The cards regularly do not work.
Thanks for reading ❤️
For Coil Subscribers only check out some amazing historic photographs of the hotel
Today is September 30th and this is an incredibly special day in Canada.
Canadians proudly wear orange shirts today. The shirts are worn, to honor and acknowledge all of the Indigenous children that attended residential schools.
Every single Canadian has in some way been impacted by residential schools and we need to recognize this as a country.
150,000 children attended residential schools
6000 died while attending the school but this is only the number actually recorded as it is much higher
There are around 80,000 survivors that are still alive today in Canada
I have had the privilege of meeting several survivors and their bravery and resiliency continues to blow me away.
I recognize them today.
I acknowledge all that was taken from them.
They were deprived, shamed, physically abused, sexually abused and emotionally abused.
I will never forgot their stories...
So today I celebrate all of them.
Why September 30th?
The buses and trucks would roll into Indigenous communities, during the month of a September. They came to collect all the children to take them to these ‘so called schools.’ Parents would try to hide their kids but were threatened and ultimately had to comply.
Many were taken by force.
Some would never be seen again...
The Story Behind The Orange Shirt
In 1973 six year old Phyllis Webstad was taken from her community and entered the St. Joseph Mission Residential School. She was incredibly proud of her beautiful orange shirt that she was wearing. The staff at the school, stripped the shirt from little Phyllis. She was then forced to put on the institutional school uniform.
Phyllis attended this school for only a year but was impacted by this experience for the rest of her life.
“I finally get it, that feeling of worthlessness and insignificance, ingrained in me from my first day at the mission, affected the way I lived my life for many years. Even now, when I know nothing could be further than the truth, I still sometimes feel that I don’t matter.”
-P. Webstad
The orange shirt is worn today to recognize the experience of Indian residential schools.
Self-harm is something that I commonly see working with young people. I wanted to talk about this issue in hopes to educate others because it is much more common than one may think.
The definition of self-harm is the intentional act of tissue destruction to one’s body with the purpose of shifting overwhelming emotional pain to a more acceptable physical pain without the intention to die.
There are lots of misconceptions regarding self-harm but I think the biggest one is that a person who self-harms must be suicidal but this is NOT true.
Forms of Self-Harm
Biting
Pinching
Punching
Ingesting harmful substances
Burning
Cutting
Carving
Piercing
Underlying Issues
Anxiety
Depression
Substance abuse
Trauma
Eating disorders
Why Self-harm?
To feel something
Punish themselves
Avoid pain and unwanted feelings
Distract themselves
Cry for help
Release tension
Healthy Alternatives
Squeeze ice
Talk
Read
Listen to music
Slap the top of a table
Snap a rubber band
Exercise
Bit a lemon
Chew on ginger roots
Do not overreact
Do not use threats and ultimatums
Do not judge
Do not shame
Do not pressure
Do not minimize
Thanks for reading ❤️
Please check out below the cycle of self-harm. This material is only for Coil subscribers. To become a member it is easy and it only costs $5 a month.
I am fascinated with William Glasser’s Choice Theory. I wanted to share something that I use with my own kids and students. It helps when dealing with conflict resolution. The principle of this theory is that an individual can only control their own feelings and actions. It is so important to look at behaviour before ever trying to understand how to fix the problem. Behaviour is by choice and is driven by the desire to satisfy five basic human needs.
Five Basic Human Needs:
The need to be LOVED & ACCEPTED
The need to be POWERFUL
The need to be FREE
The need to have FUN
The need to SURVIVE
It is absolutely possible to alter the way we think and behave to create a fulfilling life. This is so important when trying to handle conflict. Conflict is complicated and can be extremely hard to resolve; however, it is imperative to not concentrate only on the past. It is necessary to be present in the moment, by intentionally focusing on what is really going on.
Direct changes to our thoughts and actions can create the reality and life that we actually want and deserve. This theory helps empower others so that they can take full responsibility of their own lives. It also removes the need or desire to try and control other people’s lives. There are ten axioms of Choice Theory.
Ten Axioms of Choice Theory:
1) We can only control our own behaviour.
2) All that we give or get from others is information.
3) All long lasting problems are rooted in relationships.
4) We must have at least one satisfying relationship.
5) The past has a lot to do with who we are but does not define us.
6) We are driven by five basic human needs.
7) We satisfy these needs by building “quality worlds” that we want.
8) All behaviour consists of four inseparable components: actions, feelings,thinking and physiology.
9) All total behaviour is designated by verbs, usually infinitives and gerunds, and named by the component that is most recognizable.
10) All total behaviour is chosen but we can have “direct control” over acting and thinking components.
Relationship habits are extremely important to look at when applying Choice Theory. Happiness is a choice that we make. Creating healthy habits can strengthen and build happy relationships. It is important to understand our own relationship habits.
This has been a challenging few weeks for me. I have needed to smudge almost daily. I wanted to share in case others are looking for ways to manage stress and anxiety. It helps keep me regulated and grounded. I make excuses that I don’t have time but it literally only takes five minutes; hours I do not have but minutes I can definitely fit into my schedule. This is the prayer that I use on most days. I always start off by acknowledging all the many blessings in my life.
I also just go with my heart too and say what feels right; however, it’s nice to have something to start off with when you first begin smudging.
I have gotten much better over the years setting healthy boundaries but I still have a long ways to go...boundaries in my opinion are necessary!
I cannot truly live my best life, without them.
I have always been a people pleaser. I wanted to make everyone happy and deeply needed to be liked. I went with the flow always wanting to keep the peace amongst my friends. In relationships, I completely lost my identity and allowed boys to walk all over me. Boundaries! What the heck are boundaries?!
I noticed that the world perceived assertive females as being “overbearing” and “bitchy.” I didn’t want to be seen as a bitch so I played it safe; always making sure as to not ruffle any feathers.
I would stay quiet if someone disrespected me or hurt my feelings. This never meant that I was ever okay with it. I just bit my lip for fear of causing a conflict. I would then stew over it for weeks and beat myself up afterwards for not standing up for myself. I grew increasingly tired of always pleasing others and started to tell little white lies just so I could get out of activities, that I couldn’t bare going to or even worse actually say NO to someone.
Avoid
Avoid
Avoid
I got really good at this and for a while it actually worked; however, I started to get that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, this turned out to be an overwhelming sense of guilt. I am not a good liar and it just made me feel icky. I knew that being honest was the only option. I just had to muster up every ounce of courage in me and speak the truth.
I identified some of my deal breakers and set personal boundaries. I bravely and boldly forced myself to be honest, no matter what the outcome was. I lost some friends as a result and I’m okay with that.
I just started to follow my heart. I refuse to do things that I hate just for the sake of it. Saying NO is totally okay.
This simple little word really changed my life.
I care deeply about the people in my circle and still want to make everyone happy but not at the sacrifice of myself.
My love cup needs to be filled up too. I am in the business of helping others; therefore, sometimes at the end of the day, I simply have nothing left to give. I’m empty! I am not in the mood to hang out with friends or even talk on the phone with anyone, so I don’t.
Good friends and loved ones will understand and hold space for me. They won’t mind when I go silent because they get it. Friendships are about give and take. I refuse to be the one that gives but gets nothing in return.
This doesn’t work for me anymore because I value my time. Life is way too short to spend it with people who bring me down. I deserve to be valued and appreciated. Family is so important to me but I still have to set boundaries even with family members. It’s much harder but necessary and equally important.
This process is a continual challenge. Sometimes I get stuck in dilemmas because some situations are more complicated but I stick to my personal boundaries. This keeps me much more balanced and on the right track to living the life that I truly want and deserve.
Haunted Hotels
