A recent survey measured Canadians’ belief in various unexplained phenomena by analyzing the differences in age and cultural and religious beliefs, and then compared the findings to similar studies in the U.S. and U.K.
Alien visitation and ghostly hauntings ranked highest on the nationwide survey. The data revealed only 44 per cent of Canadians believe in some form of unexplained phenomena, whereas 72 per cent of U.S. participants believe in the supernatural.
Although a lower percentage of Canadians believe in unexplained phenomena, clues in the data reveal some interesting areas for future research according to Tony Silva, the co-author of the survey who has a doctorate in sociology and is a UBC associate sociology professor.
Secular beliefs and scientific explanations are among the reasons why young Canadians aged 19 to 29 are less likely to believe in the paranormal, he said.
“I was surprised to see that younger Canadians were less likely to believe than older cohorts,” said Silva, “but that’s something I’d like to track over time.”
Silva and Emily Huddart, who has a doctorate in sociology and is professor and associate head of the sociology department at UBC, surveyed 1,100 participants from across Canada to answer questions about their belief in ghosts, aliens, astrology, cryptids, psychic abilities and Sasquatch, also known as Bigfoot.
For Victoria Vancek and Gina Armstrong, co-founders of Haunted History BC, belief in the paranormal has been a life-long passion.
“We just always loved ghosts and anything supernatural,” said Vancek.
The sister duo have co-authored several books related to the supernatural and also lead paranormal investigations in allegedly haunted locations throughout Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley.
“The trend right now with all the paranormal interest even on TV and with celebrities, haunting and whatnot, I notice people are enjoying it a lot more,” said Armstrong.
Although belief in the supernatural is undeniable for Vancek and Armstrong, research in the subject has also fallen behind in Canada compared to countries like the U.S. and U.K., Silva said.
“There’s been so many changes in Canadian society over the past several decades. I really want to find out what Canadians think about these topics.”
According to Silva, besides Canadians being more secular, another possible explanation for the gap between U.S. and Canada, “is more boring, admittedly, which is how these questions were asked… they do not allow a middle answer,” Silva said.
Often in surveys conducted in the U.S., participants are limited in the way they can answer, Silva explained. Silva and Huddart’s survey offered participants a wider range of options to choose from instead of just yes or no.
Religion plays a crucial role
Silva believes religious affiliation has an effect on paranormal belief and that “the U.S. is a lot more religious than Canada on multiple metrics.” However, it is also complicated and contradictory.
“People who attend services more frequently, like they go to church regularly, mosque, synagogue, temple, etc… they are less likely to believe in the paranormal,” Silva said. “They’re constrained by their particular religious doctrine, in terms of belief.”
Where religious faith and supernatural belief appear to intersect is with Sasquatch. The Sts’ailes First Nations in Harrison Hot Springs believe Sasquatch is part of the spirit world and is seen not as an animal, but as a different form of human, said Bonnie Kent, Harrison Hot Springs visitor services associate.
“Eventually the Sasquatch died out and went up to the spirit world and now the Sts’ailes people draw strength and wisdom, seeing Sasquatch as a protector of the land who has the ability to manifest in the human realm at will,” she said.
Kent said interest in Sasquatch has grown over the years as more people come through the visitor centre wanting to learn about the significance of Sasquatch to the Sts’ailes people.
With 11 per cent of participants agreeing that Sasquatch is real, Silva notes several stories of interest from the survey.
“There’s another story about a shapeshifter—who was in a rural area, and they were doing something farm-related. I think they were spraying a crop or something. There’s a really large field. They said they went around a curve in the field, and they saw what they described as a blurry, hairy, bipedal creature with a long snout, and then it turned into a moose,” said Silva.
Silva acknowledged that more research is needed, particularly regarding unexplained phenomena in Canada and among younger generations.
“I would imagine that levels of belief will increase among younger cohorts,” Silva said. “I don’t know for sure, but that will be something I’m interested to see.”
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