"Tens of thousands have watched its eerie performances, scientists have tried for half a century to unlock its secret, and adventurous fishermen have attempted to overtake it with their schooners. But the “Fire Ship” that cruises Bay Chaleur, between New Brunswick’s north shore and Quebec’s Gaspe Coast, is as much a mystery as ever."
JUNE 15 1951 ~ Ian Sceanders
MACLEAN'S Magazine, 1951
The Phantom Ship of the Bay of Chaleurs has been seen by thousands of people in the Bay of Chaleurs.
In fact, it is one of the most-seen apparitions in Canada. Yet it remains one of Canada's most mysterious ghost stories.
For decades, scientists have tried to find explanations about why this fireship shows up on the waters of the Bay between Quebec and New Brunswick. And although there have been many theories, no one has been able to prove that it is not a ghost ship.
I first heard about the ghost ship as a child. My great Uncle George had seen it one evening on his way home from work. As he drove along the steep hills of Black Cape in New Richmond that overlook the Bay of Chaleurs, he saw the ghostly ship on fire. His description of a ship and the woman he saw in a white dress on board filled my imagination with questions. My uncle was a serious man and not one to make up stories. He had a large farm business and also worked for P.T. Legare Limited, a company that sold furniture, musical instruments, farm equipment and machinery throughout the province of Quebec. He also started the Municipality of St. Jules on the Coast and became its first mayor. Therefore, I believed he was a credible witness to the story of the ghost ship, and I decided back then that I would find out more about it and, sorry for the pun, bring the story to life.
I was always been interested in the stories people tell about the ship. About ten years ago, by chance, I found an old type-written 99-page poem/story that had been written decades ago by a storyteller from the town of New Richmond on the Gaspe Coast. After reading it, I spoke to several elderly people who remembered hearing about the woman in white on the ship, as well as other descriptions of it.
The story became even more fascinating and I knew that I had to continue my research and write about it.
This book will be published in October 2025.
In fact, it is one of the most-seen apparitions in Canada. Yet it remains one of Canada's most mysterious ghost stories.
For decades, scientists have tried to find explanations about why this fireship shows up on the waters of the Bay between Quebec and New Brunswick. And although there have been many theories, no one has been able to prove that it is not a ghost ship.
I first heard about the ghost ship as a child. My great Uncle George had seen it one evening on his way home from work. As he drove along the steep hills of Black Cape in New Richmond that overlook the Bay of Chaleurs, he saw the ghostly ship on fire. His description of a ship and the woman he saw in a white dress on board filled my imagination with questions. My uncle was a serious man and not one to make up stories. He had a large farm business and also worked for P.T. Legare Limited, a company that sold furniture, musical instruments, farm equipment and machinery throughout the province of Quebec. He also started the Municipality of St. Jules on the Coast and became its first mayor. Therefore, I believed he was a credible witness to the story of the ghost ship, and I decided back then that I would find out more about it and, sorry for the pun, bring the story to life.
I was always been interested in the stories people tell about the ship. About ten years ago, by chance, I found an old type-written 99-page poem/story that had been written decades ago by a storyteller from the town of New Richmond on the Gaspe Coast. After reading it, I spoke to several elderly people who remembered hearing about the woman in white on the ship, as well as other descriptions of it.
The story became even more fascinating and I knew that I had to continue my research and write about it.
This book will be published in October 2025.