Riverview Sanatarium was built in a remote location in 1913 near Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. The facility stands at the top of a lush tree-covered hill, overlooking 1000 acres of steaming peat bogs and thick woodlands. The grounds were planted as an arboretum by English gardeners brought to Canada to create a unique place of healing for those afflicted with mental illness. 

In the midst of such bucolic surroundings, this building now stands as a rotting, chilling edifice that conjures thoughts of the horrors and suffering that occurred within. Beyond the entrance, every window is secured with heavy rusted iron bars to prevent any possibility of escape.

As a child I remember watching old black and white movies that depicted insane asylums filled with frightening, deranged people and sinister doctors. The thought of being taken to such a place against my will filled me with dread.

I made a visit to the now vacant collection of crumbling buildings to explore potential photo opportunities. I found this shuttered building that served as one of the main houses for the afflicted. Standing at the bottom of the stairs that led to a set of creepily dark red doors brought up the fear of “insane asylums” I felt as a child, and I knew a photo of this building would fit into my collection of Childhood Fears. I can imagine someone being taken to this building, possibly already in a straitjacket, being led up these stairs to never see the outside of the building again. In a delirious state one might feel that they were being lead into the jaws of a frightful place sheathed with decaying yellowed teeth. Even the heavy, crimson doors might seem like they were a foreshadowing of what awaited inside. 

If ever there was a place that feels like it could be haunted, it would be this building.

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This is the second image from my “Childhood Fears” series, where I explore some of the things that frightened me as a kid.