Mystery of The Vancouver Monster

Vancouver Island: Image via Wikipedia

Vancouver Island off the coast of British Columbia has its share of myth and folklore. Some Island folklore is of a Spirit Bird, a ghost on the trails and a ghost canoe. The Spirit Bird watches over the lake, a sighting often observed as mist or in the mists over the Lake. On the hiking trail for Little Qualicum Falls Campground has been spotted a spirit carrying a coal or oil lantern pacing back and forth between two points. No one is told of the ghost prior to hiking and the sightings of the bobbing lamp only occur by the campsite or at the start of the trail. The ghost is normally seen in stormy nights as is the ghost canoe. There is a tale from 1933 when a lifeboat from the 1906 wreck of the SS Valencia off Vancouver Island was found floating in perfect condition. Since then sailors still report seeing the steamship itself. On the slopes of Mount Becher is the Forbidden Plateau, a recreation area. The Comox First Nations knew the area for slavery that once existed amongst the coastal tribes. Slavery raids were conducted using canoes so the Comox hid their families up on the Plateau that is until the day they all disappeared. Now the Plateau is a forbidden place as they believe spirits took the women and children from this world. However, the myth in the news now is of the Lake Cameron monster.

On Vancouver Island people have been reporting tales of a monster in Cameron Lake for decades. It is said to resemble a long black eel with big bumps on its back and to dwell in the lake along highway in centre of Vancouver Island. The lake is 180 meters deep and 477 hectares wide.

Photos of the phenomenon show two creatures, of at least 80 feet long, swimming in circles or singularly swimming away from the shore. Other photos show a black creature on the shore itself. The British Columbia Cryptozoology Club vice president Adam McGirr say the reported sighting are probable of a group of large sturgeon or trout eating flies or sunning themselves. They are using a boat equipped with sonar, underwater cameras, fish pheromones and bait to lure whatever is there towards the surface and capture data for study. MCGirr believes the sightings are just folklore but worth checking out regardless. For there is something out there.

John Kirk, who has studied mysterious creatures in Africa and is the main researcher and president of the BC Cryptozoology Club, has also expressed interest in the Vancouver monster. The former journalist changed careers upon spotting the Ogopogo in Lake Okanagan and the Naitake in Sproat Lake back in 1987. He believes all these sightings are as yet undiscovered lake creatures rather than non-extinct dinosaurs.

Vancouver Island: Image via Wikipedia

 See also: http://socyberty.com/paranormal/mystery-creature-of-ontario-canada/