Robbery, Murder & Hanging! (Convicts Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Here is the story of two convicts who gained fame for an ambitious escape attempt that went oh so wrong. These lads are now interred at the B.C. Penitentiary's Cemetery, a small plot of land which lays west across a ravine from where the prison once stood in New Westminster.

VSPI 2016 Car Free Day Vancouver Survey!

Hello Friends,

On Sat.June 18th we decided it was time to take an updated survey of the people who visited Car Free Day Vancouver - West End Festival. Although the day was a "wet" one (which is normal in Vancouver, BC), we had fun and met some truly amazing people. We listened to your experiences, shared a few of ours, discussed techniques for cleansing and clearing, and talked about "haunted" buildings in the Greater Vancouver area. All in all, it was a successful event for us, and for the Festival.

We wish to thank those of you who came out and supported us, talked with us, shared stories and took our survey. We appreciate that you took the rain in stride and ventured out regardless! Thank You!

For our Survey results, please visit our website HERE (they are too large to post to our blog) and join in the conversation on our Facebook Page. We'd love to hear your thoughts.
What surprised you the most?
Would you have answered any differently?
What did we miss out?
Let's get the conversation rolling!
In the meanwhile, we have some exciting investigations coming up this summer and into early autumn. Keep an eye out on our website and here for updates.. as well as our continuation about the "Boot Hill Cemetery Convicts" from the old BC Penitentiary.

Until then, we'll talk soon!
Kati

In a Hail of Bullets .. (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

This time we take you on a ride of an "explosive" nature involving burglary, "safe blowing" and attempted murder with a hail of bullets flying through the air! It made the front page news in Vancouver, B.C. in March 1913. With this, we introduce you to our newest entry in our search of understanding the convicts buried at the New Westminster "Boot Hill Cemetery" for the B.C. Penitentiary.

Meet Convict #1774 - James W Hinds.

Photo by Kati - Unknown # found near James' burial site

Meet VSPI at Car Free Day Vancouver - Sat.June 18th !!

Hello Friends,

Meet VSPI !!!

When: Saturday, June 18th, 2016
What:  Car Free Day Vancouver @ West End Festival
Location: Denman Street (btwn Davie Street & Robson Street)

• bring family!
• bring friends!
• come chat with us!
• participate!
• create chalk drawings!
• take our survey!

There will be so much going on at the festival. Music, Games, Food and fun for all! So bring everyone. Walk, Bike, take Transit! Come by and say "hello". We'd love to hear about your experiences, thoughts and perhaps participate in a survey we have put together.

We'd love to get to know you, so come on down to the West End near Stanley Park, Vancouver B.C. and drop by our tent. Meet some investigators, learn protection methods, home cleansing methods and get to know us, as we'll get to know you.

We look forward to seeing you there! Rain or shine!

Talk soon,
Kati

Sentenced to Hang! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Photo by Kati - unknown found in vicinity of Convict #2304's grave

In 1918-1919, influenza swept the world. According to Sarah Buchanan's (B.Sc., Queen's University, 2007) thesis titled "Spanish Influenza in the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, 1918-1919", in the Abstract on page iii it states: "During the last year of World War I (1918), a second deadly foe was causing mortality around the world. Spanish Influenza killed an estimated 50-100 million people worldwide, including 50,000 people in Canada during the 1918-1919 pandemic." It goes on to say "...those who were between the ages of 19 and 39... showed higher odds of dying from influenza during the epidemic." Her thesis examined the period between June 1918 to June 1919.

"Four Walls in the West, The story of the British Columbia Penitentiary" written by Jack David Scott, page 54: "In 1919 the Spanish influenza epidemic, which had hit the western world, made its appearance in the prison. Eighty-four convicts were hospitalized and five died."

Meet Convict #2304 - William Chinley: was a victim to the epidemic, and according to his death certificate, he lost the fight and passed away on January 05, 1919.

Roosters Country Cabaret - Pitt Meadows BC

Hello Friends,

We've posted our research & evidence of our investigation at Roosters in Feb.15/2016. Want to check it out? VSPI - Roosters

Photo Courtesy of Paul Kingsbury - Team outside at Roosters

It was an interesting evening. With unlimited access to the cabaret, and after a walk through, talking with some of the staff, we settled in to find out if indeed some of the claims would present themselves to us. We weren't disappointed. From a stool falling over (we cannot confirm this was unexplained, but check out the video and decide for yourself! The stool starts to fall, then stops, waits a moment, and then, as if someone pushed it from behind, it begins to fall forward again), knocks and cracks heard throughout the evening, to voices found on our video evidence that we did not hear at the time.. the cabaret did not disappoint us. At the request of the owner, we performed a special cleansing of the establishment before we left, in hopes of removing any negative energy from the place.

Join in on the conversation at our Facebook Page - VSPI! We welcome your thoughts.

Talk soon!
Kati

Execution Commuted! (Convict Interred at Boot Hill Cemetery)

Hello Friends,

Historical photo-Boot Hill Cemetery-view north twds BC Penitentiary / unknown date & photographer.

I've been investigating and researching the convicts of BC Penitentiary who are interred at Boot Hill Cemetery in New Westminster, BC. It's not an easy task, as I often come across barriers which hold back any progress. Never-the-less, it is an interesting project. As I come across further information, I'll present the updates in future blogs.

So here we go, the second inmate on the list:

Convict #2370 - John Francis Walsh

Gravemarker #2370 (photo by Kati)