New Westminster Secondary School — British Columbia's haunted high school

New Westminster Secondary School in New Westminster, British Columbia, is one of the largest high schools in British Columbia and has been the subject of ghost stories among students and staff for decades. The school, which occupies a substantial building dating to the early 20th century, is said to be haunted by the spirits of former students and possibly teachers. Reports include lockers opening and closing on their own, the sound of footsteps in empty hallways during after-school hours, and the apparition of a young woman in period clothing seen in the gymnasium. Some teachers working late have described hearing children's voices in the classrooms when the building is empty, and janitors on the night shift report seeing shadows moving through the corridors. The school's pool area is considered particularly active, with reports of splashing sounds when the pool is empty and secured. The school's long history, combined with New Westminster's own dark past — including the devastating Great Fire of 1898, which destroyed much of the city — provides a historical foundation for its haunted reputation. New Westminster, the oldest city in western Canada, has numerous haunted locations, and the secondary school is among the most talked-about.