Fairmont Royal York — Toronto's grand haunted hotel and its shadow figures

The Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, Ontario, has been one of the city's landmark hotels since its opening in 1929. At the time of its construction, it was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth and the largest hotel in the British Empire. Guests have reported a range of paranormal experiences over the decades, with shadow figures being the most commonly described phenomenon. These dark, human-shaped silhouettes have been seen moving through corridors, standing in room doorways, and passing through walls on the upper floors. Some guests have described waking in the night to see a shadow figure standing at the foot of their bed, motionless and watching, before dissolving into the darkness. Other reported phenomena include elevators stopping at floors without being summoned, the sound of a jazz orchestra playing in the empty ballroom, and cold spots in the mezzanine level. The hotel's underground connection to Union Station — through the same PATH system that connects much of downtown Toronto — has led to speculation that the spirits may travel between the hotel and the railway station. The Royal York's nearly century-long history as a centre of Toronto's social and political life means countless dramas have played out within its walls, any one of which might have left a supernatural imprint.