DTCP 028 - Barb Halle and the Limits of Explanation Artwork

Canadian Creepies

Welcome to Canadian Creepies—the podcast that digs into the dark corners of Canada’s past and present. Your hosts Valerie, Ali, Amanda Joy ( host of Down the Crooked Path), and sometimes Kyle explore the true crime cases that haunt us, the paranormal encounters that make us question what’s real, and the unsettling folklore that lingers just out of sight.

From cults to cold cases, ghosts to government cover-ups, we don’t just tell the stories—we ask why they still matter.

It’s creepy. It’s Canadian. And it’s probably going to keep you up at night.

All Episodes

Canadian Creepies

DTCP 028 - Barb Halle and the Limits of Explanation

January 06, 2026 • Canadian Creepies • Season 2

Send us a text, tell us your canadian creepy!

In this Canadian episode of Down the Crooked Path, we return to a case buried deep in medical records and whispered history: the case of Barb Halle.

Often cited as the first documented case of demonic possession in Canada, Barb Halle’s story sits at an uneasy crossroads of medicine, faith, and fear. Physicians observed symptoms they could not diagnose. Clergy debated what they were witnessing. And those closest to the case were left grappling with a question that still lingers today: what happens when explanation runs out?

Was this a tragic medical mystery misunderstood by its time? A case shaped by belief and suggestion? Or something that truly defied reason?

In this episode, we examine the historical context, the documented accounts, and the institutions involved — not to provide easy answers, but to explore why this case has endured, and what it reveals about how we respond to the unexplainable.

This isn’t a story of spectacle.
It’s a story of uncertainty — and the discomfort of not knowing.

🌱 PayYourRent.ca is an Indigenous-led grassroots initiative calling on settlers to engage in ongoing, voluntary financial redistribution in support of Indigenous land defenders, sovereignty, and community well-being.

This foundation supports urgent needs like housing, food security, legal defense, and cultural revitalization—all grounded in the principle that land back also means resource back.

If you live, work, or benefit from life on stolen land, consider learning more or making a monthly contribution at PayYourRent.ca.

Justice isn’t a moment—it’s a commitment.

Your next creepy obsession starts here.

🦴 And don’t forget our boo-tiful friends at Back From the Dead Goods—resurrecting your wardrobe with creepy streetwear on Etsy & Poshmark.
👻 Use code CANADIANCREEPIES for 10% off!

🕯️ You can find new episodes of Down the Crooked Path every Thursday, wherever you get your podcasts.
Canadian content airs right here on the Canadian Creepies feed—so stay tuned, and stay on the path.

Edited by Kyle McDonnell