Whether you’re a skeptic or a total believer, one thing about sasquatches is hard to believe: that there are Sasquatch in Ontario. But if you check out ontariosasquatch.com, well, perhaps, you can be convinced.

Dedicated to providing a place for witnesses to share their experiences, the site is serious about proving the existence of the sasquatch. An interactive sightings map for all Ontario lists 74 sightings. From as far back as 1906 in Cobalt, to as recently as 2010 in Lake Superior Provincial Park, each sighting is quasi-scientifically investigated, and the site operators interview each witness when possible. While some sightings are obviously weak cases for the sasquatch’s existence (“hearings” more than actual sightings), others are, well, up to the reader to decide.

Locally there have been three sightings: Dundalk in 1987, Markdale in 1995 and St. Thomas in 2007. The latter, on the Elgin Trail, is perhaps the most convincing.

“I saw this thing coming down and it had reddish hair,” says eyewitness Shaun C. in an interview with sasquatch artist Pat Barker. “It had a conical shaped head. It didn’t have a neck. The head seemed to be right on the shoulders. It had a hunched back, long arms and a very easy gait. It was either ignoring us or it didn’t see us, because it was walking with a purpose. It was a very easy lope. I mean it didn’t hesitate. It just came down the hill, crossed the creek and up the other side, and it vanished.”

Barker goes on to conclude, “I think Shaun is telling the truth. He was credible and consistent in his descriptions of the location, the event, and the creature. In addition, Shaun is a trained professional in the health care system, and holds a position of trust and responsibility at his place of employment, and within his community.”

Sure, this doesn’t prove much, but it makes a person wonder what the hell Shaun could have possibly seen.
At more than a million square kilometres, it isn’t hard to imagine that something could hide in Ontario’s wilderness. Many of Canada’s First Nations peoples have their own versions of the sasquatch; the Ojibway and Cree call it the Manasoocan, which roughly translates as, “tall hairy man-like thing with red burning eyes and a very bad smell.”

Formed in 2006, Ontario Sasquatch had five founding members and now has members throughout the province, all volunteers. Investigating all reports with interviews and field visits, the group maintains that while they are curious about the many eyewitness sightings, they are also skeptical – and sympathetic to those who see the elusive creature.

“We understand that when a person sees something that isn’t supposed to exist it can be a life-changing experience. Not only is there a shock factor involved, but there is often ridicule and disbelief from family and friends if they talk about their experience. We’re here to help those who contact us.”

Here at Mountain Life we’ve got one question: do you have something to confess?