Bulletin d'Information Ufologique - Vol 2 No 3 - mars 1986

Magazine Overview

This is the March 1986 issue (Volume 2, Number 3) of the "Bulletin d'Information Ufologique" (BIUFO), published by CCOI. The cover prominently features a map of Eastern Canada and the Maritimes, with the headline "Îles de la MADELEINE."

Editorial

The editorial, by Marc Leduc, reflects on the publication's direction and purpose. Leduc acknowledges that BIUFO has qualities and defects and should be defined by its pursued goals. He states that BIUFO does not aim for a large circulation or to please a wide audience, but rather targets a small fraction of the population. While improvements will be made to make the publication more agreeable, major modifications to increase circulation are not planned, as this could lead to a sensationalist approach. The publication presents anecdotes, stories, opinions, and information that may interest only a few, with caution and without masking facts. It encourages frank and industrious attitudes, even if they appear clumsy or naive. The editorial notes that BIUFO may feature public relations-style announcements and news rather than pure research, questioning if this is a concession to subscription sales.

A postscript announces that members of CCOI and former UFO-Québec members send their best wishes for a prompt recovery to Dr. Joseph Allen Hynek, who underwent surgery for a brain tumor before Christmas.

Table of Contents

• The issue includes:
• Editorial (p.02)
• Les observations (Observations) (p.03)
• Skyline (p.04)
• Au CNRC, oui mais (At the NRC, yes, but) (p.05)
• Information locale (Local Information) (p.08)
• Information internationale (International Information) (p.08)
• Pointe-au-Loup (p.09)
• L'éditeur (The Editor) (p.12)

Les Observations (Observations)

Authored by Jean Ferguson, this section discusses UFO observations. Ferguson highlights the difficulty in refuting 'group' observations where multiple witnesses see an object in broad daylight, citing the example of the "steel projectile of Matagami" from a previous issue. He notes that such observations are more credible than solitary ones. Ferguson then delves into historical accounts, mentioning a 1633 sighting over Bordeaux involving aerial combatants, a globe of fire, and an object that descended onto a church, with two men being thrown out and the object disappearing after taking the bell. He asserts this was a piloted craft.

Ferguson also presents individual testimonies, acknowledging they are easier to refute but still hold credibility. He recounts the experience of Sara Worse, a student, who in July 1971, near Val d'Or, witnessed a powerful, strangely colored light illuminating her neighbor's yard. Looking up, she observed an absurd phenomenon: a large, dark sphere surrounded by less intense lights on its periphery. The light source seemed independent of the immobile central body. This light source moved, returned, and repeated this three times, while the 'beacon' projected light onto the ground. The light's rotation speed was high, only visible when it stopped. Suddenly, the two objects merged and sped away at high speed. Worse concludes it could not have been a known aircraft due to the light's behavior and the lack of sound. She and three other witnesses experienced malaise and chills.

Au CNRC, oui, mais (At the NRC, yes, but)

Authored by Richard Bastien, this article analyzes UFO reports from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) for 1985. The NRC's meteoritics dossier contained 119 reports, an increase from previous years. However, Bastien notes that about 35% of these reports are discarded due to lack of strangeness or insufficient information, leaving 75, 65, and 32 reports for analysis in 1985, 1983, and 1984, respectively. The remaining 65% of 1985 cases were classified by degree of strangeness from 1 to 10, based on movement, effects, appearance, trajectory, or distance. The probability index could not be determined due to insufficient data.

Tables present distributions by month, Canadian province, source, and duration. Table 1 shows that January and August had the highest sum of strangeness indices in 1985. Table 2 indicates that Quebec and Ontario accounted for 33% of the strangeness indices in 1985, though the average index was lower than in other provinces. In 1983, Quebec and Alberta led, while in 1984, Alberta dominated. Table 3, based on Bruce Maccabee's classification, shows that the 6-30 minute duration received the most strangeness (92). The best quality observations were, on average, between 11 and 30 seconds in 1985, compared to 6-30 minutes in 1983 and 1984. Table 4 details the distribution by duration in 1985, with monthly observations (MON) and ground reports (GRC) showing higher strangeness indices in shorter durations.

The article reveals that over 60% of UFO reports are sent to the NRC by the Department of National Defence (66% in 1985). Other sources include the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Ministry of Transport, and the public. Despite participating less in data collection, the Department of Transport (MDT) reports have the highest average quality.

In 1985, a total of 296 strangeness indices were recorded, with an average of 3.9, compared to 233 (average 3.6) in 1983 and 223 (average 4.3) in 1984.

The issue highlights four cases with the highest ratings in 1985 (times are Universal Time):
1. May 9, 1985 (07:58 UTC, 1 hour): A nocturnal UFO was reported by two witnesses at Fort McMurray airport, Alberta. Radar detected four sequences of a 126.7MHz carrier wave, and an orange line of low luminosity hovered at 15 degrees elevation.
2. August 19, 1985 (04:00 UTC, 30 minutes): A 'Close Encounter of the First Kind' UFO was reported by three witnesses near Guli Lake, Ontario. Two white lights detached from a rectangular object, approached, responded to a flashlight, and then returned to its origin before ascending rapidly.
3. September 19, 1985 (10:20 UTC, 85 minutes): A nocturnal UFO was reported by a witness at Bull Harbour, Vancouver Island, BC. It had a large red light and other flashing lights, moving rapidly southeast.
4. October 12, 1985 (00:15 UTC, 5 seconds): A nocturnal UFO was reported near Stoughton, Saskatchewan. A round object moved low to the ground, then veered south, leaving a trail.

Information locale (Local Information)

• Evidence: Stéphane Boucher and Denis Cloutier are publishing "EVIDENCE," a dossier on UFO sightings in Quebec. It can be obtained by writing to D. Cloutier at 780 avenue Stoneham, QC, GOA 4PO, or by phone at 627 0690.
• Fin du CRAS (End of CRAS): Yves Lalumière, director, has officially informed the CCOI of the end of CRAS operations.
• Catalogue CCUQ: Michel Ménard, president of the Centrale de Compilation Ufologique du Québec, announces the availability of a catalog of Quebec UFO sightings for five dollars. Inquiries should be sent to C.P. 103, Drummondville, QC, J2B 6V6.
• Détection (Detection): Readers are reminded to contact CCUQ for information regarding the detection network.
• GRAET: Jacques Therrien informs the CCOI about the creation of the "Groupe de Relation Amicale Extra Terrestre" (Amicable Extra-Terrestrial Relations Group). This group does not investigate UFO sightings. Interested young readers can write to 30 Place Audet, c.p. 5, RR1, Drummondville, QC, J2B V2.

Information internationale (International Information)

• SHAN: Members of the Italian community and others interested in reading Italian can subscribe to the publication Shan by writing to Shan Magazine, V. Bagetti 31, 10138 Torino, Italy. C. Bertinetti, director of international relations, provided a report of a UFO sighting in Pordenone and Magenta, Italy, on June 14, 1985. The object was oval, light green, with a clear halo and a darker dome, moving with sudden accelerations and decelerations. It was also reported near Milan and seen over Partegada.

Rapport d'enquête (Investigation Report)

Pointe-au-Loup by Philippe Blaquière details an event that occurred in July or August 1972 in Pointe-au-Loup, a village on the west coast of the Magdalen Islands. The event involved two young girls (then 11 and 12 years old) who witnessed a UFO. The object, described as circular and resembling a hat with two parts, rotated and emitted a 'bzz...' sound. It had yellow and blue lights around its perimeter and a luminous, rotating dome on top. A white smoke trailed from its underside. The object, estimated to be about ten meters in diameter, moved slowly, then suddenly stopped rotating, began to sway, and descended behind a dune. The girls, initially panicked, told their parents who dismissed the story. However, a neighbor also saw the object, and some fainted. The next morning, about fifteen people, including delegates from the newspaper "Le Radar," visited the landing site, finding a circle of yellow grass with four imprints in the center. An unidentified investigator confirmed the facts. In the following days, one of the girls became ill, experiencing nightmares and fear of abduction.

Skyline

André Bédard shares information about a phone number for "Skyline," a service offered by Sky & Telescope magazine, which provides information on unexpected astronomical phenomena and astronautics. The number is 617 497 4168.

Prochain BIUFO (Next BIUFO)

A notice encourages readers to renew their subscriptions, promising that the next issue will include examples of fake UFO cases, photographs, and reader opinions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the analysis of UFO sighting reports, historical accounts of aerial phenomena, and the operational aspects of UFO research organizations in Canada. The editorial stance, as articulated by Marc Leduc, is to maintain a focused, non-sensationalist approach, catering to a dedicated readership interested in UFO phenomena, rather than pursuing mass appeal or sensationalism. There is a clear emphasis on presenting information with caution and encouraging critical thinking, while also acknowledging the role of public relations in the publication's content.

This issue of the Bulletin d'Information Ufologique (BIUFO), Volume 2, Number 3, was published in March 1986 by the Corporation pour la Collection des Observations Inexpliquées (CCOI) in Canada. The magazine is quarterly and focuses on ufological information.

Featured Case: The Two Girls' Encounter

The issue details a case involving two girls who witnessed a UFO event. The experience, which lasted two years, left one of them very reluctant to speak about it. Initially, the proximity of the phenomenon caused surprise, leading them to wonder if local young people were playing a prank or conducting an experiment. The author recounts how a collaborator from the defunct UFO-Québec shared this case. The author met one of the girls in Montreal and spoke with her multiple times by phone, completing a questionnaire. While reviewing photographs, she identified one taken on July 28, 1952, by Georges J. Stock in Passaïc, N.J., USA, as resembling what she had seen. The author is seeking information from anyone else who might have been involved in this case.

Open Case and Related Observations

At the time of publication, the dossier on this case remained open. The issue notes that 1972 was a year rich in observations, with numerous sightings of 'escadrilles' (squadrons) reported in Beloeil, Quebec, during July and August, far from the islands.

Publication News: Ovni Présence

Under the heading 'AESV', it is noted that the publication 'Ovni Présence' dedicated a special issue (number 33/34, December 1985) to Italian ufology. This special issue can be purchased for 35 FF or 10 FS from AESV Suisse, c.p. 342, CH-1800, Vevey, with CCP 18-5723-5. The page also features advertisements for 'Ovni Présence' issues, encouraging readers not to wait until the year 2000 to purchase them, with discounts available for purchasing all issues.

CCOI Information and Operations

The second page provides extensive information about the CCOI.

Official Address and Contact Information

The official address for CCOI is BOITE POSTALE 161, SAINT-BRUNO DE MONTARVILLE, Q.C., CANADA, J3V 4P9. Several telephone numbers are listed for contacts across Quebec: Saint-Hilaire (Ph. Blaquière, 467-3630), Montreal (J. Vézina, 256-6698), Rive Sud (M. Leduc, 653-7767), Gatineau (R. Bastien, 665-0263), Val d'Or (J. Ferguson, 824-4248), and for Information-exposition (C. MacDuff, 384-1646).

Publication Material

Submissions for publication, including texts, articles, drawings, photos, letters, observation reports, and investigation reports, should be sent to the official CCOI address.

Editorial Responsibility

Collaborators and authors are responsible for their writings, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial staff or the CCOI.

Legal Deposits

The BIUFO bulletin is deposited at the National Library of Canada (ISBN ISSN 0828-4933) and the National Library of Quebec.

Exchange Program

The BIUFO publication is available free of charge in multiple copies in exchange for other publications of a similar nature.

Reproduction Rights

The CCOI authorizes the reproduction of BIUFO texts upon request, with communication to be directed to the CCOI address.

LIUFO Newsletter

In addition to BIUFO, the CCOI also publishes a newsletter called LIUFO, which is dedicated to collaborators and individuals who provide support beyond subscriptions to the BIUFO bulletin.

Subscription Details

Regular subscriptions to BIUFO consist of four issues at a rate of 12$ for Canada and the United States, and 15$ for other countries. Payments should be made out to CCOI.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around documenting UFO sightings and cases, disseminating ufological information through publications like BIUFO and Ovni Présence, and maintaining an organizational structure for collecting and sharing such data. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging contributions and information sharing, while maintaining a clear separation of responsibility for published content. The CCOI positions itself as a central hub for ufological research and documentation in Canada.