The Keg Mansion

Introduction:
Ladies and Gentlemen tonight we are honored to have the most influential
writer and Ghost Hunter, of our time Ms Sharon Kanhai here to talk about
her new book The mystery behind the keg mansion.
Ms. Kanhai is no stranger to Toronto. She is a born and raised
Torontonian, who moved to ew !ork in "##$, and graduated in "##%
&rom !' with her (a)helors in *ournalism and (road)asting and a
minor in +sy)hology.
Ms. Kanai be)ame fas)inated with the keg mansion when asked to
)olle)t footage for a T, series with the working title -anada.s Most
Haunted. Ms Kanhai found her after/hours 0assion for ghost hunting
taking 0ossession of her day 1ob as a freelan)e 0rodu)er.
2hen -T, Travel, a digital )able station, laun)hed -ree0y -anada in
"##", and when !T, laun)hed Ghost Tra)kers in "##%, both asked
Kanhai to be their 0ara0sy)hology )onsultant. Today about half the
features she files for su)h news outlets as -ityT,, -(- and Global are
about the 0aranormal.
-urrently her book entitled To0 "% Hunted 0la)es in orth 3meri)a4
is number one on the ew !ork times (est Seller List, and has been
featured on Montell 2illiams, and 50rah.
6 am sure you are 1ust as e7)ited as 6 am to hear her s0eak. So without
further delay 0lease 1oin me in wel)oming Ms Sharon Kanhai.
Speech:
Good Evening Ladies and Gentleman. First off I would like to say
Thank you for the lovely introduction and also a big Thank you for inviting
me here to speak tonight. I love coming to Toronto every chance I get...To
quote orothy from the !i"ard of #"$ There is no 0la)e like home84
The %ity of Toronto is massive in si"e$ as is its character and history.
To include all the buildings and sites that make Toronto great would be to
much for any single book. #thers have written about famous places in
Toronto such as the &ogers %entre$ 'nion station and the ever popular %(
tower$ which have been visited by millions$ and have all had reports of Ghost
sightings. but let me ask you quote.....2here )an you 0ut Money, +ower,
history, bone )hilling ghost stories and great food all in the same 0la)e9
The answer.... The )eg *ansion+, located at -.- /arvis street and is
said to be the most haunted place in Toronto. Let me first give you a little
history on what it used to be before its transformation into the )eg mansion$
as it is know today.
The &ichest family in Toronto0s history is the *assey Family. Their
home still standing on /arvis street is now the ever popular 1)eg *ansion.
The structure was originally built in .2-3 by 4rthur *c*aster$ nephew of the
prominent businessman$ !illiam *c*aster the founder of *c*aster the
university in 5amilton. 4t the time /arvis 6treet was one of the wealthiest
parts of Toronto$ in those times it was known as *illionaire0s row and the
street was lined by large manors. The house was set back from the street
and surrounded by large gardens.
In .227 it was purchased by 5art *assey and his wife who had 8ust
returned to Toronto from %leveland. The building was named Euclid 5all by
*assey9s daughter Lillian$ after Euclid 6treet in %leveland. The *assey0s
e:panded the house and added greenhouses outside. The *assey house has
been home to some of the famous *assey0s besides 5art *assey of *assey
hall$ there was the actor &aymond *assey and Governor General ;incent
*assey. 4s the area became more urban and various commercial operations
moved into the area$ the *assey0s decided to leave. The building was then
bequeathed to the 'niversity of Toronto9s ;ictoria %ollege in .<.-.
The manor served as the first home of Toronto radio station %F&= in
the .<>7s and was home to an art gallery for several decades until .<?7. It
then became a restaurant named /ulie9s *ansion$ owned by one@time
bastion of Toronto /ulius A. Fine. The grounds were sold off and the
greenhouses demolished and replaced with a service station.
In .<B? it became home to one of the )eg0s corporate store$ and it
was renamed the )eg *ansion. The building is believed to be haunted and
various ghost sightings have been reported. The washrooms for e:ample are
said to be haunted. In the )eg *ansion$ 5art *assey0s daughter Lillian
*assey passed away on the second floor. 5er ghost is seen wandering
around that area. 5er presence is felt in the second floor washroom. Ceople
have felt like they are being watched. There have been occasions when
patrons have locked the bathroom door when using the facilities$ only to
hear the door being unlocked and sometimes open slightly. 'pon
investigation$ nobody was in the vicinity of the bathroom. 4nother patron
reported that a bag she hung on a hook in the bathroom stall was lifted and
set gently set down on the floor at her feet. ;isitors have reported toilets
that spontaneously flushed when nobody else was in the bathroom.
In addition$ toilet paper dispensers sometimes rattle in empty stalls.
#ften$ 6ounds of laughter have been heard from the upper floors when they
are unoccupied. In addition$ many people have heard the sounds of children
playing. The ghost of a little boy has been seen running up and down the
staircase. 5e sometimes stops on the stairs and looks out over the crowd of
diners. Catrons and staff have seen spirits of domestic employees roaming
around the mansion. *ain Foyer of the )eg *ansion
The most famous ghost is that of a maid of the *assey family who
hung herself from the second floor oval opening in the main foyer. 6he can
be seen with a noose hanging around her neck. It is believed she was an
employee of Lillian *assey and committed suicide when she heard the news
of her employer0s death. It is rumored that she had an affair with one of the
*assey men and she was forced to hang herself in order to keep her
pregnancy a secret.
In the ining 4rea of the )eg *ansion$ patrons have reported the
feeling of being watched$ especially in the Carlor room. 6ome diners have
seen the spirit of a man milling around and then he disappears without
e:iting through a door. There are intermitted cold drafts felt and lights
flicker off and on for no apparent reason.
Even though the *assey family no longer owns the mansion$ their
spiritual presence and those of their household staff is felt. In conclusion$ as
a traveler to Toronto reported to the Toronto 6tar would put it and I
quote...14lthough the )eg is a Dchain0 restaurant$ The )eg mansion on /arvis
street is a unique atmosphere and e:perience all on its own+, The beautiful
;ictorian mansion$ al the rich history and spooky environment make for a
e:citing and different dining e:perience+ In the end$ %ustomers may end up
getting more than 8ust a meal+