Can a ghost story outlive the building it calls home? At the corner of 4 Avenue South and 7 Street South, picture the former Marquis Hotel where RBC Royal Bank stands today. The hotel was demolished in 1988, but its mysterious reputation has proved harder to erase.
In this recording, the Lethbridge Historical Society explores tales of a room supposedly marked DNR: “Do Not Rent.” According to the legend, guests who stayed there emerged terrified, demanding another room or leaving the hotel altogether.
One story tells of a sceptical visitor who specifically requested the room. His confidence reportedly vanished when he woke to find a woman standing over his bed—and, as he fled, following him down the hallway. Another account describes a front desk clerk watching the elevator return to the lobby after hearing someone step aboard upstairs. When the doors opened, nobody was inside. The ghost is often called Matilda, but accounts of her identity and fate vary. The narrator makes clear that the disturbing stories offered to explain her presence lack supporting evidence. Other theories suggest the haunting was a publicity stunt, a media invention or even a cover story for police surveillance.
From the public sidewalk, imagine the hotel’s busy lobby, its upstairs corridors and the room that supposedly remained unrented. Was Matilda a lingering guest or simply a memorable local legend? The hotel has checked out of Lethbridge’s skyline. Its stories remain.
For more stories like this, consider a guided tour with the Lethbridge Historical Society!
