On 2025-05-15 Kyra Bradshaw of The Ghostly Portal interviewed Keith Chin of the Paranormal Edmonton Society.

Kyra Bradshaw: Keith, I’m so glad you’re here. You’ve built a reputation here in Edmonton—what led you to start the Paranormal Society?

Keith Chin: Thanks for having me, Kyra. It all started with one strange night at Fort Edmonton Park. I was walking by the old train depot, and I heard footsteps behind me—heavy boots, the kind you feel in your chest—but when I turned around, the place was empty. There was this dense pressure in the air, like something unseen had just passed by. That moment stuck with me. It felt bigger than a ghost story… it felt like something was trying to communicate.

Not long after, I started digging into local legends, talking to witnesses, collecting equipment. And it hit me—there’s so much happening in Edmonton that people either don’t understand or don’t know how to process. So I created the Society to give people a safe place to tell their stories, and to investigate with respect and focus.

Kyra: What does investigating look like for your team? I mean—beyond the spooky flashlights and EMF meters we see in movies.

Keith: Oh, there’s a lot more than just waving around gadgets in the dark. We use voice recorders to pick up EVPs—electronic voice phenomena—which sometimes catch responses to our questions that we don’t hear in the moment. EMF meters are a staple, yeah, because we want to track electromagnetic disturbances, but we also use infrared cameras, motion sensors, and something called a laser grid, which projects a pattern to detect movement in empty spaces.

But here’s the thing—I always say tools are only half the equation. Intuition matters. Presence matters. We take baseline readings, map the energy of the space before anything begins, and we try to create an environment where—if there’s something there—it feels safe enough to respond.

Kyra: That’s fascinating. And it’s clear you’re not just collecting data—you really care about the story behind the phenomena. Can you walk me through a couple investigations that left a big impact on you?

Keith: Definitely. One of the most memorable was at the Old Strathcona Fire Hall. It’s this beautiful, historic building from the early 1900s, but people who work there have reported hearing boots pacing across the upstairs floor when no one’s there. We set up late at night, did an EVP session, and one of our team members asked, “Are you still working here?” Later, when we reviewed the audio, we heard a faint male voice respond, “On duty.” It was subtle, but so clear it gave us chills. It lined up perfectly with a temperature drop and EMF spike. It felt like something residual from a proud moment in someone’s life—a firefighter maybe, who never stopped serving.

Another case was in Highlands—an old brick house owned by a young family. Their toddler had been talking to “the man in the hallway,” and they were rightly unsettled. We did a late-night Spirit Box session, which scans through radio frequencies, and in the middle of static we heard, “He knows me.” Later that night, on a separate EVP recorder, we picked up the line “Don’t let her leave.” That one… yeah. It stayed with me. We helped the family connect with a local spiritual guide for a cleansing, and thankfully, things calmed down after.

Kyra: Keith, those are powerful stories. Your whole approach is so grounded—there’s curiosity, but also real empathy. What does your team dynamic look like? Who’s with you on these cases?

Keith: We’re a pretty tight-knit group. There’s seven of us, and we each bring something different. Mira is our researcher—she’s brilliant. Before we step foot anywhere, she’s already pulled up property records, newspaper clippings, personal histories, even old blueprints. Jason handles the tech, building customized rigs and syncing data. Samira… well, she has this intuition I still can’t explain. She walks into a room and just knows when something’s off. The rest of the team rotates, depending on the case, but everyone is trained, respectful, and truly passionate.

Before each investigation, we meet, we walk through the game plan, and after, we debrief together. No one just packs up and moves on—it’s emotional work, sometimes heavy. We look out for each other.

Kyra: Final question, and I’ll let you get back to chasing shadows: What advice do you have for someone just starting out in this field?

Keith: Start with respect. Don’t rush in with questions and flashlights blazing—listen. Research the place, learn its stories, understand the people who lived there. And most of all, never investigate alone. You don’t know what you’re going to encounter—sometimes it’s more than ghosts. Sometimes it’s history that wants a voice. Be patient, be humble, and bring snacks. Ghosts may not eat them, but your team will thank you!

Kyra: Couldn’t have said it better myself. Keith, thank you. We’re lucky to have you and the Society here in Edmonton. Let’s do a joint investigation soon—maybe livestream it?

Keith: Deal. Just don’t forget your recorder. And maybe sage. Definitely sage.