Sister historians Victoria Vancek and Gina Armstrong have spent years blending their love of history with an interest in the unexplained. Growing up in Burnaby, the sisters often read spooky tales and created their own mystery shows. What started as a childhood fascination slowly turned into a journey that now captures the attention of international audiences.
Their interest in the paranormal became public in 2017, when they traveled to Victoria, British Columbia, to investigate well-known haunted landmarks. Places such as Craigdarroch Castle and the Pendray Inn offered them plenty of stories and atmosphere. The sisters produced a wall calendar with twelve photographs from their explorations. The small project sold well and encouraged them to expand their hobby into something larger.
Since then, the two have co-authored four books, taken part in podcasts with listeners around the world, and guided tours across British Columbia. They also present public talks where history meets ghost stories. Their work combines documented historical facts with folklore, offering audiences a blend of research and mystery.
On Saturday, April 12, they will bring their passion to the Port Moody Station Museum. Inside the historic Venosta train car, they will host Haunted Planes, Trains and Automobiles, an evening dedicated to ghostly encounters connected with travel. Visitors will learn about stories of haunted and vanished vehicles while sitting in a carriage that itself carries a history of strange activity.
During the event, ticket holders will also see the sisters’ ghost-hunting equipment in action. Their collection includes a REM pod, motion-activated balls, a digital recorder for capturing unexplained voices, an EMF detector, and even a bell that rings when energy is near. According to Vancek, some of these tools recently gave signals of possible supernatural presence inside the Venosta car.
For Vancek, who lives in Pitt Meadows, the excitement comes when people inside these historic spaces experience the equipment responding in real time. She explained that the tools sometimes light up, sound alarms, or capture voices, leaving audiences with moments they cannot easily explain. The sisters recently demonstrated their work at the Likely Lodge and Pub in the Cariboo region. After closing hours, they explored the site with the owners and captured evidence that added to the mining town’s local legends.
While neither sister began their journey with the goal of becoming ghost hunters, their work gradually developed into that direction. Vancek said the transition was natural as their interest in the paranormal deepened. What started as a personal hobby became a passion and, in her words, an adventure that continues to unfold.
Armstrong, who lives in Maple Ridge, said the talks offer more than the thrill of ghost stories. She sees them as a way to connect communities with their own folklore. Each presentation allows the sisters to share cultural tales and historical anecdotes that keep local traditions alive. Their mix of storytelling and research creates an accessible way for audiences to engage with the past while reflecting on mysteries that remain unexplained.
The upcoming event in Port Moody is expected to draw visitors who are curious about both history and the paranormal. Tickets are priced at $28, and the presentation begins at 6 p.m. inside the Venosta train car. Seats are limited, and those interested can secure their spots by contacting the sisters through their Instagram page.
The blend of history and mystery offered by Vancek and Armstrong has grown from a childhood interest into a recognized part of cultural storytelling in British Columbia. Their ongoing explorations show how the past can remain alive, not only through written records but also through legends, folklore, and unexplained events that continue to spark public imagination.
