Professor studying ghost hunters says they offer peace, closure to clients

VANCOUVER — A British Columbia professor researching ghost hunters, UFO enthusiasts and Sasquatch searchers says many people who turn to paranormal investigators are seeking closure and peace of mind.

Paul Kingsbury, a cultural geographer at Simon Fraser University, will release preliminary findings of a multi-year investigation into these spooky subcultures at a lecture in Vancouver on Wednesday.

He says ghost hunters offer relief to clients and typically don’t charge for their services, while those claiming they have been abducted by aliens just want to tell their stories and feel accepted by others.

In B.C., Northern Paranormal Investigations is one of the organizations that respond to people who believe their homes are haunted or are experiencing other strange phenomena.