Robust federal collection, analysis of UFO data could dispel misinformation: report
One of the balloons, which wafted above western Canada in early 2023 before being shot down off the U.S. coast, apparently originated from China and carried sophisticated equipment.
The balloon episodes generated intense public speculation before fading from the headlines.
The final report of the science adviser's Sky Canada Project says the incidents highlight the importance of government investigation of what appears in the sky and how difficult it is to distinguish between natural occurrences, common technological devices and potential security concerns.
The report, released this week, says Ottawa should assign a federal department or agency to manage public data on celestial sightings and set up a service to collect testimonies, investigate cases and release analyses.
The report explores the public's decades-long fascination with unidentified flying objects and their association with extraterrestrial life, noting a recent shift to the more nuanced concept of unidentified aerial (or anomalous) phenomena, known as UAPs.
The report says the evolution in terminology has the potential to reduce the skepticism and ridicule that has sometimes greeted UFO sightings.
'Stigmatization can have significant consequences, such as discouraging witnesses from coming forward and hindering scientific inquiry,' the report says.
'The new, more encompassing UAP terminology can help promote greater transparency, credibility and acceptance of research in professional and scientific circles and in the wider public.'
The report says while many sightings can be attributed to optical illusions, atmospheric phenomena or human activity, a minority remain unexplained for a myriad of reasons, including a lack of reliable data that prevents rigorous scientific analysis.
Unexplained sightings generate interest and can be the source of misinformation or disinformation, diminishing public trust, the report adds.
'When people are repeatedly exposed to false narratives, they may become skeptical of credible sources, including scientists, journalists and government institutions.'
Unusual sightings have drawn the attention of various federal agencies since the early days of the Cold War, with the Defence Research Board establishing a committee called Project Second Storey in 1952 to examine occurrences of 'flying saucers' over Canada.
The report notes Transport Canada currently maintains the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System for incidents affecting aviation safety, including UAP sightings, while the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Department of National Defence may also receive reports through their operational networks.
In addition, police forces sometimes hear from witnesses, and civil society organizations, such as Ufology Research of Manitoba and MUFON Canada, compile and analyze data from citizens, the report notes.
However, there is no 'cohesive and standardized system' for reporting and follow-up in Canada.
The report points to the United States, France and Chile as interesting examples of co-ordinated, transparent and scientifically driven approaches to UAP reporting.
It says the federal government should choose a trusted and recognized scientific organization, such as the Canadian Space Agency, to manage public data about sightings.
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The report also recommends the lead organization play a significant role in dispelling misinformation and disinformation by responding to public and media inquiries related to sightings, and by documenting and communicating common misinterpretations of observations.
In addition, data should be made available to the public for transparency and to support research.
The space agency did not respond to a query about the report in time for publication, and the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Department said UAPs fall outside its mandate.
The report says adopting robust scientific methods and communicating more transparently about sightings would amount to 'a significant step forward in promoting public understanding and combating misinformation.'
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
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Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ottawa advised to set up office to track UFOs
The truth is out there — and the Sky Canada Project say the federal government should create an office to get to the bottom of UFOs. Chief science adviser Mona Nemer said 37-page report titled 'Management of Public Reporting of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in Canada,' has attracted 'more public anticipation than any project in the history of this office. 'Numerous individuals and organizations have stepped forward to offer their assistance,' Nemer said. ALEX BRANDON / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILES A video of a UAP is paused for display during a hearing of the House Intelligence, Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Counterproliferation Subcommittee hearing on 'Unidentified Aerial Phenomena,' on Capitol Hill in the U.S. in May 2022. 'Rarely does anyone mistake a flock of geese flying in V formation for a fighter squadron flying at high altitudes, but sometimes what is being observed in the sky is not immediately clear and a person may wonder if what they are seeing is a natural phenomenon, a new type of aircraft or something else altogether.' The report by the Sky Canada Project, which is led by the chief science adviser's office, found in a survey it commissioned, that one in four respondents 'personally witnessed a UAP in their lifetime. However, only 10 per cent reported their sightings and 40 per cent of respondents would not know whom to contact for reporting.' One of the report's 14 recommendations is that a federal department or agency must manage unidentified aerial phenomena data from the public. 'This service would collect testimonies, investigate cases and post its analyses publicly,' the report says. 'It would proactively inform Canadians about UAPs.' The report says Transport Canada should encourage pilots, cabin crew and air traffic controllers to report sightings of UAPs 'without fear of stigmatization' as well as analyze the reports to give pilots explanations to 'reduce distractions during flights.' Nemer could not be reached for comment. Winnipegger Chris Rutkowski, an expert on UFOs who publishes the annual Canadian UFO Survey, said he was one of the consultants on the report and went to Ottawa to share his expertise and statistics with Sky Canada Project scientists. 'I'm relatively optimistic they will designate an office,' Rutkowski said. 'They did have such an office until 1995 in the National Research Council. 'They had a contingent of investigators and the RCMP and all of their detectives assisted. But it finished in 1995 when the NRC stepped from an interest in meteors to the CanadArm and Canadians in space. So for 30 years there hasn't been any organized collection of any cases whatsoever.' Rutkowski said that left just his volunteer-based organization and it continues to receive reports. He said Manitobans reported 30 UFOs last year while nationally 1,008 reports were made. 'There have been 25,000 cases since we've been doing the survey since 1989,' he said. Rutkowski said a federal office would be beneficial in other ways, and not just to counter disinformation. 'There is a need to keep track of cases,' he said. 'And, with our now challenging political state, there is a push for greater defence and security. One could argue this may fall under defence.' Sundays Kevin Rollason's Sunday newsletter honouring and remembering lives well-lived in Manitoba. Philip Ferguson, founding director of the University of Manitoba's Space Technology and Advanced Research Laboratory (STARlab) and an associate professor in the department of mechanical engineering, said setting up a federal office to track UAP's 'is a great idea.' 'We live in a time today when people are able to make their own UFOs,' he said. 'Drones are more ubiquitous today than they were even five years ago.' Ferguson, who is also president of the Canadian Aeronautics and Space Institute, said it doesn't mean the office would only receive reports from people who believe they have seen aliens from another plant. 'UFO or UAP does not mean an alien,' he said. 'It means they have seen something that they don't know what it is. With where our technology is, I do think it is important to have a uniform location for where Canadians can report these things.' Kevin RollasonReporter Kevin Rollason is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He graduated from Western University with a Masters of Journalism in 1985 and worked at the Winnipeg Sun until 1988, when he joined the Free Press. He has served as the Free Press's city hall and law courts reporter and has won several awards, including a National Newspaper Award. Read more about Kevin. Every piece of reporting Kevin produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Global News
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UFO data collection, analysis by feds could dispel misinformation: report
Systematic government collection and analysis of data about mysterious sightings in the sky could help Canada better prepare for incidents like the sudden appearance of several high-altitude balloons over North America two years ago, says a report from the federal science adviser. One of the balloons, which wafted above western Canada in early 2023 before being shot down off the U.S. coast, apparently originated from China and carried sophisticated equipment. The balloon episodes generated intense public speculation before fading from the headlines. The final report of the science adviser's Sky Canada Project says the incidents highlight the importance of government investigation of what appears in the sky and how difficult it is to distinguish between natural occurrences, common technological devices and potential security concerns. The report, released this week, says Ottawa should assign a federal department or agency to manage public data on celestial sightings and set up a service to collect testimonies, investigate cases and release analyses. Story continues below advertisement The report explores the public's decades-long fascination with unidentified flying objects and their association with extraterrestrial life, noting a recent shift to the more nuanced concept of unidentified aerial (or anomalous) phenomena, known as UAPs. The report says the evolution in terminology has the potential to reduce the skepticism and ridicule that has sometimes greeted UFO sightings. 0:44 Nothing to suggest UFOs shot down in US were related to China spy balloon, Biden says 'Stigmatization can have significant consequences, such as discouraging witnesses from coming forward and hindering scientific inquiry,' the report says. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'The new, more encompassing UAP terminology can help promote greater transparency, credibility and acceptance of research in professional and scientific circles and in the wider public.' The report says while many sightings can be attributed to optical illusions, atmospheric phenomena or human activity, a minority remain unexplained for a myriad of reasons, including a lack of reliable data that prevents rigorous scientific analysis. Story continues below advertisement Unexplained sightings generate interest and can be the source of misinformation or disinformation, diminishing public trust, the report adds. 'When people are repeatedly exposed to false narratives, they may become skeptical of credible sources, including scientists, journalists and government institutions.' Unusual sightings have drawn the attention of various federal agencies since the early days of the Cold War, with the Defence Research Board establishing a committee called Project Second Storey in 1952 to examine occurrences of 'flying saucers' over Canada. 1:51 White House says 3 downed objects likely harmless The report notes Transport Canada currently maintains the Civil Aviation Daily Occurrence Reporting System for incidents affecting aviation safety, including UAP sightings, while the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Department of National Defence may also receive reports through their operational networks. In addition, police forces sometimes hear from witnesses, and civil society organizations, such as Ufology Research of Manitoba and MUFON Canada, compile and analyze data from citizens, the report notes. Story continues below advertisement However, there is no 'cohesive and standardized system' for reporting and follow-up in Canada. The report points to the United States, France and Chile as interesting examples of co-ordinated, transparent and scientifically driven approaches to UAP reporting. It says the federal government should choose a trusted and recognized scientific organization, such as the Canadian Space Agency, to manage public data about sightings. The report also recommends the lead organization play a significant role in dispelling misinformation and disinformation by responding to public and media inquiries related to sightings, and by documenting and communicating common misinterpretations of observations. In addition, data should be made available to the public for transparency and to support research. The space agency did not respond to a query about the report in time for publication, and the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Department said UAPs fall outside its mandate. The report says adopting robust scientific methods and communicating more transparently about sightings would amount to 'a significant step forward in promoting public understanding and combating misinformation.'
CTV News
4 days ago
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Some of the best-known Canadian UFO sightings over the years
A souvenir hoodie is displayed at the Shag Harbour Incident Interpretive Centre in Shag Harbour, N.S., on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan OTTAWA — Following the release of a new UFO report, here's a quick look at some of the best-known Canadian cases of unusual sightings in the sky: May 20, 1967, near Falcon Lake, Man.: Stefan Michalak, who claimed to have encountered a landed UFO while prospecting for minerals, was allegedly burned by a blast of hot gas or air. Oct. 4, 1967, Shag Harbour, N.S.: Witnesses reported seeing a row of lights descending and entering the water. Emergency crews, including the RCMP and the Coast Guard, responded under the assumption of a plane crash, but no wreckage was found. Oct. 26, 1978, near Clarenville, N.L.: Several witnesses, including an RCMP constable, reported seeing an oval-shaped object over the harbour. No material evidence was found. Nov. 7, 1990, Montreal: A large oval-shaped luminous phenomenon was observed in the evening over the rooftop pool of the Bonaventure Hotel by about 40 witnesses including journalists and police officers. Air traffic controllers confirmed there was no radar activity in the area. Dec. 11, 1996, Yukon: At least 31 people in four different areas of Yukon reported seeing a row of lights in the sky, which many described as resembling a spacecraft. The phenomenon was later observed by several others in different locations. (Source: Management of Public Reporting of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in Canada. Report of the Sky Canada Project from the office of the chief science adviser of Canada, June 2025) This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 18, 2025.
