The road to the second annual Paranormal Symposium has been paved with ghost stories and ticket giveaways for a lucky few.
This was the strategy used by Paranormal Phenomena Research & Investigation President Elliott Van Dusen to generate excitement for the event.
“At each public event we’ve travelled to across Nova Scotia, we’ve been giving away a ticket, hoping they’ll bring friends,” said symposium organizer Elliott Van Dusen during a late August interview.
A total of 30 tickets were set aside for those intrigued by the paranormal who happened to catch Elliott at one of his speaking engagements. These same attendees were also the ones Van Dusen listened to when reviewing surveys from last year’s event.
The biggest request from 2023 attendees? They wanted guest speaker Kim Moser back.
“I thought bringing her back as the mistress of ceremonies would be great because they get to see her all day. She’s got such a great personality,” Van Dusen said.
Moser, a paranormal investigator and podcaster, feels right at home in her new role as host. The host of Eastlink’s “Haunted” met so many people with shared experiences that she couldn’t wait to return to the community.
“I can’t wait to see familiar faces and meet new ones this year,” she wrote in a direct message. “I feel like making new connections and having these intellectual discussions with others can help us figure out a little bit more about life beyond what we currently know as factual. Like, what does the paranormal mean to others? I want to know!”
Paranormal conventions are starting to gain traction in Canada. The Shag Harbour UFO Expo runs from September 27 to 29, and Thunder Bay’s Lake Superior Paracon is from October 4 to 6, which is great news for those hungry for the uncanny.
Moser recently attended the Pennhurst Asylum Paracon and Oddities Expo in May, where she realized just how important symposiums are.
“Not only are they incredibly fun, but they generate so much awareness of other people and businesses in the community,” she said. “It all leads to growth, fun, and prosperity. With so many people attending events like this abroad, it’s so nice to be part of something local that has incredible potential to get bigger and better every year.”
This year’s speakers include Van Dusen, who will talk about law enforcement and the paranormal; natural medium Laura Warren; Winnipeg-based ufology researcher Chris Rutkowski; Executive Director of the Rhine Research Center, John G. Kruth; and paranormal gadget expert Holly Stevens.
“We’ve got a great lineup,” Van Dusen said. “Last year, in the feedback, people said that they wanted to hear from a medium and protection techniques. So, I reached out to Laura Warren and she’s available and excited.”
Another request fulfilled for this year? Snacks! East Coast Bakery is donating 400 cookies for the event.
Van Dusen hopes the event will be both educational and entertaining, while Moser is excited to meet new people.
“I’m already looking forward to expanding my knowledge in ghost hunting,” Moser admitted. “I love throwing new theories around and getting other people’s perspectives on what it is we’re dealing with here.
“To have a group of individuals sharing their own experiences and making new friends along the way is truly invaluable to me.”
The Halifax Paranormal Symposium takes place on October 12 at the Halifax Tower Hotel and Conference Centre.
Photos courtesy of Kim Moser and Elliott Van Dusen