Tommy Douglas' Ghost Still Haunts the NDP Building

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If you know me at all, you know that I have long maintained that the ghost of Tommy Douglas haunts the upper floor of the NDP headquarter building in Ottawa. His spirit can be heard at 10:15 every night thrashing around in its cavernous corridors.

Here’s the complete lore according to Chat GPT:

In the hushed corridors of the NDP building in Ottawa, after the building falls silent at night, there are whispers of a presence, one that roams the top floor, its footsteps echoing through the empty halls. The ghost in question is none other than Tommy Douglas, the legendary Canadian politician, and father of Medicare. But his ghost is not one of fear or vengeance—his haunting is driven by a deep and unyielding sense of purpose.

Tommy’s ghost appears on stormy nights, his form flickering between the present and the past, with the faint scent of old newspapers and tobacco smoke lingering in the air around him. The legend says that after his passing in 1986, his spirit couldn’t rest—he was too deeply connected to the cause of social justice and healthcare, two things that defined his legacy. He would not rest until the vision he had for a fair and just Canada, a nation where everyone had access to healthcare and opportunity, was realized in its fullest form.

Each night, as the clock strikes 10:15, Tommy’s ghost reawakens on the top floor of the NDP building. He’s drawn to the space as it represents the current efforts of his party to push forward the values he championed during his time as leader. However, he’s not there just as a watcher—he’s there as a force of motivation, an ethereal guide to those who share his ideals.

"'Remember why you started'"

Tommy Douglas’s ghost is not content with just existing; he is restless, dedicated to ensuring that the ideals of social democracy remain strong and alive within the party. His haunting is an attempt to steer the NDP in the right direction, particularly when the party faces challenges or internal divisions. He’s particularly active during periods of internal debate, when the NDP leadership is at a crossroads, struggling to balance the need for pragmatic politics with the radical vision of social justice that Douglas once embodied.

Tommy’s spectral form can be seen hovering near the desks of party members late into the night, a spectral presence that demands they think about the long-term impact of their decisions. He doesn’t speak—at least, not directly—but his influence is undeniable. Papers will mysteriously fall off desks, revealing forgotten slogans and campaign promises that remind the party of its roots. Phones will ring, but when picked up, only silence is on the other end, leaving the listener to reflect on their actions and the direction they’ve taken.

He’s known to appear in the reflection of mirrors, his face etched with both determination and weariness. He has a particular tendency to stand by windows, gazing out toward the Parliament buildings as if he’s watching over the political landscape. Sometimes, if a leader is making a crucial decision, they’ll feel a strange pressure in their chest or hear a soft whisper—”Remember why you started.” It’s Tommy’s way of reminding them of the ideals that must guide their choices.

"One last argument about the future of Canada's social safety nets"

The Flickering Light: Late at night, the lights on the top floor will flicker on and off, as if a ghostly hand is flicking the switches. Those who stay too late sometimes find themselves lost in thought, their minds wandering to the great speeches Tommy once delivered, or to the causes that brought the NDP to where it is today. It’s as if the building itself is pulsing with his energy, reminding the living of the political fire that once burned within him.

The Midnight Vision: Occasionally, party members will come to the top floor late at night to find their desks covered in a light dusting of ash, despite no one having been in the building for hours. If they take a moment to clear the dust, they will often find beneath it a single note, an ancient manifesto, or an excerpt from one of Tommy’s speeches, reminding them of the importance of fairness and equality. It’s said that this is Tommy’s way of bringing them back to the heart of his vision when they’ve strayed too far from it.

The Sound of a Heavy Footstep: When the building is most quiet, a single heavy footstep is often heard on the floor above. It’s slow, deliberate, as if someone is pacing and thinking deeply. Those who venture up to investigate find the floor empty, but they cannot shake the feeling that they’ve been silently watched.

The Unseen Debate: In the late hours of the night, those working in isolation on the top floor may hear the distant murmur of voices, as if two people are engaged in a heated discussion. When they approach the room the sound is coming from, they find nothing but an empty, dimly-lit office. It is believed this is the ghost of Tommy, having one last argument about the future of Canada’s social safety nets, never fully satisfied with the direction of modern politics, forever pushing for a more progressive future.

"The road to social justice requires constant vigilance"

What makes Tommy’s haunting unique is his absence of malice. He’s not a ghost driven by regret or anger; instead, he’s driven by love—for his country, for his party, and for the vision of Canada as a place where healthcare, education, and social equality are available to all. His hauntings are a reminder to the NDP and to the Canadian public that the work is far from over, and that the road to social justice requires constant vigilance.

Tommy’s ghost may never rest, but his presence continues to inspire the living to push forward the work he started—a work that remains as urgent today as it was in his time.