CANADIANS REPORTED NEARLY 400 UFOS DURING LAST 2 YEARS

12 June 1996 / July 6, 1996
Source: Electronic Times
An analysis of nearly 400 UFO sightings reported officially in Canada during the last two years shows that Canadians continue to see many unusual things flying in the sky.

Ufology Research of Manitoba, working in cooperation with researchers across Canada, has released its review of Canadian UFO cases reported from 1994 to 1995. The study used case reports from both government records and private UFO groups.

"UFO sightings continue to be reported at a constant rate," says Chris Rutkowski, an astronomer and science writer in Winnipeg who for the past 21 years has been studying UFO reports in Canada. "People still report observing unusual objects in the sky, and some of these objects do not have obvious explanations."

According to the study: the typical UFO sighting occurs at about 9:00 p.m.; most sightings have two witnesses; there are more UFOs seen on the prairies than in Ontario or Quebec; many witnesses are pilots, police and other individuals with reasonably good observing capabilities and good judgement. Although most cases had explanations, a small percentage were not that easy to dismiss.

"We were still left with some cases that were well-investigated and involved unusual objects that did not seem to have been airplanes, balloons or stars," Rutkowski notes. "The continued reporting of UFOs leads us to recommend more studies of the phenomenon by social, medical and/or physical scientists."

Among the unknowns were a disc-shaped object that flew circles around a plane over Northern Ontario and several reports of black triangles which were seen over Alberta and BC. The explainable cases included a bright light seen by 200 people over St. Theresa Point, Manitoba, and a strange luminous flying object that turned out to be a police surveillance aircraft.

"UFOs simply haven't gone away," adds Rutkowski.

For more information, contact:
Chris Rutkowski
Ufology Research of Manitoba
204-269-7553
E-mail:
1994-95 Canadian UFO Survey

Summary of Results

. The number of UFO reports made in Canada has remained constant for the past seven years. There are approximately 180 cases of unidentified flying objects reported each year.

. The distribution of UFO reports in Canada is not related to the distribution of population. Western Canada is over-represented in terms of UFO report numbers.

. During the past seven years, there was no definite monthly trend found in Canadian UFO reports. Each year, there appear to be regional monthly fluctuations.

. Approximately 70% of all UFO sightings are merely observations of lights in the night sky.

. About 13% of all UFO reports are unexplained. This percentage of unknowns falls to about 2% when only high-quality cases are considered.

. Most UFO sightings occur between 9:00 pm and midnight.

. UFO incidents usually have more than one witness.

. In 1994-95, the typical UFO sighting lasted seven minutes.

. Most reported UFOs are white or red in colour.

The most important findings of this study include the fact that UFO sightings have continued to be reported at a constant level over the past several years. People still report observing unusual objects in the sky, and some of these objects do not have obvious explanations. Many witnesses are pilots, police and other individuals with reasonably good observing capabilities and good judgement. Although most reported UFOs are simply lights in the night sky, a significant number are objects with definite shapes observed within the witnesses' frame of reference.

Popular opinion to the contrary, there is yet to be any incontrovertible evidence that some UFO cases involve extraterrestrial contact. However, the continued reporting of UFOs by the public suggests a need for further examination of the phenomenon by social, medical and/or physical scientists. For further information, contact: Ufology Research of Manitoba E-mail: rutkows@cc.umanitoba.ca

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