The Canadian Ufologist - 1996 09 - vol 3 no 4

Magazine Overview

Title: The Canadian Ufologist
Issue: Volume 3.4
Date: September-October 1996
Publisher: The Mutual UFO Network of Ontario

This issue of The Canadian Ufologist features a cover story on recent crop circle discoveries in Canada, particularly focusing on a significant event near Rocanville, Saskatchewan. It also includes reports on Area 51, UFO sightings in the Sudbury area, and an analysis of Canadian UFO reports from 1994-95. The magazine delves into historical UFO accounts, witness testimonies, and the ongoing debate surrounding the nature and origin of UFO phenomena.

Back in Circulation: Crop Circles in Canada

The lead article by Michael Strainic, "Back in Circulation," highlights the discovery of two crop circles near Rocanville, Saskatchewan, on September 4, 1996. These circles, approximately 45 feet in diameter, are noted for their exceptional perfection and 'unmentionable intangibles,' distinguishing them from many English formations. Unlike the 1991 Lethbridge, Alberta events, which coincided with the 'Dumb and Dumber' confessions about English crop circles, these new formations generated significant interest. Dan Clairmont, described as a leading paranormal investigator in Canada, investigated the site. He found that the circles were not perfectly round, with one measuring 44.5 to 46.5 feet in diameter, influenced by the incline of the field. The article notes the presence of 'soft' data, similar to the 1991 Alberta cases, including horses acting nervously, camera batteries failing, strange patterns on videotapes, and a witness experiencing a spinning sensation and seeing a strange red color. Clairmont photographed and measured the formations, sending samples for analysis. He questions how stalks could be flattened without breaking and notes the ground was not compacted, ruling out simple wind or natural phenomena.

General Meeting: Area 51

Drew Williamson reports on a general meeting where Victor Viggiani shared his experiences from a trip to the American Southwest, including Area 51. Viggiani's journey involved extensive travel through Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico, visiting sites like Groom Lake Road and the 'black mailbox road' near Area 51. Despite spending a night in the car, no unusual aerial sights were observed. The report also mentions visits to Los Alamos, Corona, Alamogordo, Socorro, the Very Large Array, and Roswell. On the way back to Rachel, Nevada, they witnessed an unusual light display in the sky for about half an hour, characterized by rapid merging, color changes, and positional shifts, which they concluded could not be attributed to flares or conventional aircraft.

Letters to the Editor: The Need for a Benchmark

John Koopmans writes to Editor Victor Lourenco, expressing concerns about the perceived 'lack of leadership' in the UFO community and MUFON. He argues for the establishment of a 'legitimate benchmark event' against which other UFO cases can be compared, suggesting that without one, the entire field risks becoming pure speculation. Koopmans references Dennis Stacey's article and Lourenco's editorial note, which point out ethical issues and the problem of equating unrelated events with UFOs. He questions MUFON Ontario's mission statement and the scope of legitimate UFO inquiry. Koopmans believes that while a scientific approach is valuable, 'reasonable' areas of speculation should not be excluded. He calls for clear leadership to define the field and establish a common direction, otherwise, he will pursue his interest 'on his own.' Editor's comment acknowledges the validity of Koopmans' points but highlights the organizational challenges UFO organizations face in establishing methodologies for assessing UFO variables scientifically.

UFOs, Flying Saucers and Sudbury (Part Two)

Michel Deschamps continues his exploration of UFO phenomena in the Sudbury area. Don Campbell recounts two significant experiences. The first involves the 'abduction' of a satellite by a UFO in the late 1960s, witnessed by himself and seven other workers. The satellite reportedly disappeared after a bright flash upon meeting the UFO and later reappeared in its orbit without explanation. The second experience, in September 1975, was a close encounter of the third kind where Campbell and his wife Alice witnessed a strange, white, Mercedes-Benz-like vehicle driven by an alien creature with large, oval, pupil-less eyes. The creature communicated telepathically with Alice, causing her distress. The vehicle, bearing a license plate 'FLA 600,' was later found to have no record in Canadian databases, leading Campbell to conclude it was an alien craft.

Don Campbell also shares his mother's experiences and those of her boarders. Two boarders witnessed a UFO hovering above a mine shaft, shining a beam of light into it. Another sighting involved a UFO hovering outside his mother's house. Campbell notes the unusual frequency of sightings at his mother's house and connects these to other incidents, suggesting a possible interest in natural resources.

Another account details a UFO incident on March 25, 1970, where a UFO allegedly melted 300 feet of power lines, causing power outages at local mines. An eyewitness reported seeing the UFO hovering and glowing before disappearing. Campbell expresses his belief that governments have long covered up UFO stories, fearing mass hysteria or a loss of their own positions. He suggests that alien visitors might be 'sucking up massive amounts of water,' drawing electrical energy, and collecting human parts, likening them to 'space buccaneers.'

Messages, Probes and Star Maps

Hugh Cochrane's article delves into historical reports of mysterious signals and potential extraterrestrial communication. He discusses Nikola Tesla's 1899 reception of rhythmic signals he believed originated from Mars. By 1902, Lord Kelvin was convinced of this, but no record exists of Tesla's 'Cosmic Communicator' being used. In August 1924, 'strange signals' were detected by the British Marconi Company and a Canadian Government wireless station, described as codes of dots and dashes or dashes. C. Francis Jenkins recorded signals on a thirty-foot film strip, which also inexplicably featured a crude human face. The article mentions that in 1927, Taylor and Young observed delayed and altered signals reflected back to Earth. In October 1973, Russian stations reportedly monitored 'strange signals from space.'

David A. Lunan analyzed altered signals from 1973, suggesting they could form star maps of the Epsilon Bootes region, possibly originating from an alien probe. This aligns with R.N. Bracewell's 1968 hypothesis of alien probes leaving programmed signals. G.V. Foster's 1972 article suggested Earth may have been visited by alien beings numerous times, leaving artifacts and electronic probes. Lunan proposed that a probe responsible for the 1920s signals might have been in orbit around the moon for 13,000 years.

The article also references Betty Hill's recall of a three-dimensional star map shown to her by beings, which Marjorie Fish later identified as representing the Zeta 1 & 2 Reticuli region. The purpose of these beings' visits, possibly exploratory, is questioned, especially in light of reports of aliens 'sucking up water,' drawing electrical energy, and collecting human sperm and animal parts.

From the Net: Planet Orbits Binary Star

Paul Recer reports on the discovery of a new planet with a strange, egg-shaped orbit around a twin star, 70 light years away. Astronomer William D. Cochran described the planet's orbit as a 'roller-coaster like orbit' that swings close to its central star and then far out. This eccentric orbit is unlike any other known planet and challenges current theories of planetary formation. The planet orbits 16 Cygni B, a star similar to our sun, but influenced by its larger companion, Cygni A. The extreme temperature fluctuations on the planet make life unlikely. The discovery was made by studying the movement of Cygni B. While some astronomers consider this the ninth exoplanet discovered, the exact number is controversial. David Black of the Lunar and Planetary Institute questioned whether the object was a planet or a brown dwarf.

From Foley's Library: The Coming of the Saucers

Clay Foley reviews "The Coming of the Saucers," a 1952 book co-authored by Kenneth Arnold and Ray Palmer. This work is considered a seminal text in the modern UFO era, detailing Arnold's 1947 sighting and his investigation of the Maury Island Incident. Foley highlights Palmer's role as an early UFO enthusiast and his financial support for Arnold's investigations. The book also covers topics like 'Foo Fighters,' 'Project Saucer,' and 'foreign saucer sightings,' drawing heavily on the research of Charles Fort. The final chapter, 'Camera Story of the Saucers,' reproduced photographs of UFOs, including one from the Toronto Globe and Mail taken in 1947. Foley notes the book's historical significance and its rarity due to limited printing and high cost, though Legend Press has since reprinted it.

1994-95 Canadian UFO Survey: An Analysis of UFO Reports in Canada (Part Two)

Chris Rutkowski presents the second part of his analysis of Canadian UFO reports from 1994-95. The survey found that the number of UFO reports has remained constant at approximately 180 per year. Western Canada is over-represented in terms of report numbers. Approximately 70% of sightings are lights, and about 13% are unexplained, dropping to 2% for high-quality cases. Most sightings occur between 9:00 PM and midnight and typically involve more than one witness, lasting an average of seven minutes. Most reported UFOs are white or red. The study emphasizes that while many cases are eventually explained, a small percentage remain 'unknown,' though not necessarily proof of alien visitation. Rutkowski notes that witness reliability varies, with pilots, police, and individuals with good judgment contributing to higher reliability ratings. The hourly distribution of cases peaks near midnight, coinciding with potential observers and darkness. The analysis also touches on the 'strangeness' of cases, with most falling into moderate categories, suggesting 'Hollywood-inspired flying saucers' are uncommon. The majority of reports concern a single object, though 15.8% involve two to four objects.

Rutkowski lists several high-quality, unexplained cases from 1994-95, including a disc-shaped object near Pickle Lake, a black triangular object over Red Deer, a similar object over Edmonton, a large black triangular object near Leduc, six objects observed over Toronto, a 'Christmas tree' object over Ottawa, a disc-shaped object with strobe lights over Ottawa, a 'plane' with no lights near Red Deer, and a triangular object over Fernie.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue consistently explores the phenomenon of UFOs through a lens of investigation, data analysis, and historical context. The recurring themes include the detailed examination of specific UFO cases (crop circles, Area 51, Sudbury sightings), the statistical analysis of UFO reports to identify patterns and trends, and the exploration of historical accounts and theories. There is a clear emphasis on the need for rigorous investigation and the establishment of credible evidence, as highlighted in the 'Letters to the Editor' section. The magazine also touches upon the persistent issue of government secrecy and potential cover-ups regarding UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging further research while maintaining a critical approach to claims, seeking to distinguish between explained phenomena and genuine 'unknowns.' The publication aims to inform its readers about the ongoing UFO landscape in Canada and beyond.