The Ghosts of Don Jail: Toronto’s Haunted House of Pain



Hidden behind red-bricked Victorian grandeur in Toronto’s Riverdale neighbourhood lies one of Canada’s most chilling historic sites: The Don Jail. Officially opened in 1864, this imposing structure was once dubbed the "Palace for Prisoners" due to its ornate design. But the Don Jail’s sinister reputation was never far behind. Beneath the decorative façade, this building bore witness to overcrowding, despair, executions and death. Today, it stands not just as a relic of penal history, but as one of Toronto’s most haunted locations.

A Dark Legacy

From the moment it opened its doors, the Don Jail was plagued by misery. Designed to house about 184 inmates, it routinely packed in more than 600. Prisoners were confined in tiny cells, often under harsh and inhumane conditions. Many were awaiting trial or punishment, including capital sentences. Official hangings took place here until 1962, including Canada’s last two executions. The gallows, once located in a secret chamber beneath the main building, saw many condemned men meet their fate.

These stories of pain, fear, and death have seeped into the walls, according to many who believe the Don Jail is haunted by the spirits of those who suffered and died within.

Haunting Reports from Staff and Visitors

Though the old jail ceased operations in the 1970s, and part of it has since been restored and repurposed by Bridgepoint Health, the east wing, where the original cells and death row once were remains a hotbed of paranormal activity.

Some of the most frequently reported phenomena include:

• Unexplained cold spots in the corridors, even during warm months
• The sound of chains clinking or footsteps echoing on empty floors
• Doors slamming shut on their own
• A persistent feeling of being watched or followed, especially in the solitary confinement wing
• Apparitions of a man in prison garb walking the upper levels, then vanishing into walls

Security guards and maintenance staff over the years have described the building as “oppressive,” “unnerving,” and “active,” with many refusing to work alone in certain areas at night.

Spirits of the Condemned

Many believe that the spirits haunting the Don Jail are those of the executed, particularly the men who faced the noose in the hidden gallows. Among them were notorious criminals and those whose guilt remains debated. Some ghost hunters have claimed that these tormented souls remain trapped in a loop of anguish, reliving their final moments.

One story often told is that of a man seen hanging by the neck in an old cell, only to disappear when approached. Others have heard sobbing or pleas in the empty corridors echoes of despair that linger from another time.

Paranormal Investigations and Urban Legends

Due to its reputation, the Don Jail has attracted paranormal investigators, urban explorers, and curious thrill-seekers over the years. EVP sessions, ghost tours, and documentary crews have all attempted to capture proof of the hauntings. While the jail is no longer open for regular public access, accounts from those who worked or toured the site continue to fuel its reputation as one of Toronto’s most haunted places. The legends surrounding the Don Jail have also merged with folklore, some claiming that guards once refused to patrol certain sections alone, or that strange lights were seen moving through closed-off areas long after the building was vacated.

A Haunting Reminder

The Don Jail stands today as a stark monument to Canada’s penal past a place where architecture met suffering, and where echoes of pain may never fully fade. Though its walls no longer house the condemned, many believe its halls still resonate with unrested spirits. Would you dare walk those halls at night?