The Canadian Ufologist - 1997 03 - vol 4 no 1

Magazine Overview

This issue of THE CANADIAN UFOLOGIST, Volume 4.1, dated March-April 1997, published by THE MUTUAL UFO NETWORK OF ONTARIO, features a cover headline "UFOS ACTIVE IN ONTARIO" and a cover price of $3.50. The magazine delves into various UFO-related topics, including specific sightings, analysis of UFO report data, and theoretical discussions on phenomena like teleportation and psychokinesis.

UFOS ACTIVE IN ONTARIO

The issue details several UFO sightings. During the early morning hours of Thursday, April 3, 1997, an Anishinaabe man from the Wikwemikong Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, reported seeing a yellow, saucer-shaped object hovering a few degrees above the horizon around 4 a.m. The object blinked and then disappeared. The witness's girlfriend suggested it might be the Aurora Borealis, but the witness noted the UFO was in the southern sky, while northern lights typically occur in the northern sky.

Another case being investigated by Michel Deschamps of MUFON Ontario's Sudbury Section involves a sighting in Whitefish, Ontario. On Saturday, February 1, 1997, at 12:40 a.m., a man saw two quarter-moon-shaped objects hovering outside his kitchen window.

A week later, on February 8, 1997, the man's son and daughter-in-law, residing in Cochrane, Alberta, observed a similar sighting of two quarter-moon-shaped UFOs. No further details are available for this Alberta sighting.

In Toronto, a new blimp advertising 'Fido', a digital portable-phone system, has been mistaken for a UFO due to its interior lighting and discoid shape at a distance. While initially causing calls about a 'brightly-lit UFO', it was later identified.

A Tillsonburg, Ontario sighting occurred on Thursday, May 22, 1997, around 10:30 p.m. An amateur astronomer observed a giant white, cigar-shaped object, described as being about the size of an aeroplane, black or brown in colour. The object had four or five 'wings' at right angles to its body and passed directly over the witness. It was described as flying at the speed of a plane with no sound, and its height was noted as being beneath the clouds. The witness drew a picture of the object, which a colleague likened to a craft from the '60s in Belgium.

Teleportation

The article "TELEPORTATION" by Hugh F. Cochran explores the phenomenon of objects and individuals vanishing and reappearing elsewhere. It discusses how this concept, popularized by "Star Trek," was first described by Charles Fort. The article posits that teleportation might be a natural means of distribution for things and materials, and that humans may sometimes command this force. It touches upon cases where objects materialize from ceilings or pass through walls, and where people vanish from streets or vehicles, sometimes reappearing in different locations, even across vast distances or time.

Cochran questions whether aliens are behind these events or if they are the result of an unrecognized natural force. He notes that while many proposals exist for how teleportation might work, the key is determining if intelligent intent is involved. The article also discusses the idea of 'pattern fields' (PFs) proposed by Drs. Burr and Ravitz, and Dr. Sheldrake, suggesting that these non-material fields might guide and control material objects, potentially holding a 'memory' or blueprint for reconstruction. The possibility of a Cosmic Pattern Field (CPF) is also explored, which could be the dominant force governing all of existence.

'Fido' Fools A Few

This short section clarifies that the 'UFO' sightings reported in downtown Toronto were actually a blimp advertising 'Fido', a new digital portable-phone system. The blimp's appearance, especially at night, led to confusion and calls to the magazine.

Who Said What?

This section features an excerpt from an email list by Dennis Stacy, Editor of The MUFON UFO Journal, questioning the official narrative of the Roswell incident. Stacy raises the point that the original press release mentioned a "flying disc" being towed into a barn, but questions how this conclusion could have been reached given the nature of the debris field, which was described as being scattered over 200 yards. He suggests that either Marcel (who reported the debris) exaggerated the situation, or Blanchard (who issued the press release) did, leading to a "complete foul-up."

Stacy further argues that if a "flying saucer" and alien bodies had been recovered, it would have been a major event, requiring significant procedures and potentially leading to a global alert. He points out that the lack of such widespread knowledge or action suggests the official story might be inaccurate. He also questions the material properties of the debris, wondering why something so "strong, durable and otherworldly" would be blown to "smithereens" and in "small pieces."

From Foley's Library

C.R. Foley reviews "Conjuring Up Philip" by Iris M. Owen and Margaret Sparrow. The book examines experiments conducted by the Toronto Society for Psychical Research and the New Horizons Research Foundation in the early 1970s. These experiments aimed to determine if "ghosts" were spirits of the dead or collective hallucinations. The researchers created a fictional character named Philip, with a detailed biography, and encouraged members to develop a mental picture of him. The group experienced psychical effects such as rapping phenomena, psychokinesis, and the detection of "smoke-like forms." The review highlights the group's apparent ability to create an entity that adopted specific attributes and could manipulate its environment, leading to the question of whether a similar process could create an entity capable of assuming the identity of an extraterrestrial.

The 1996 Canadian UFO Survey: An Analysis of UFO Reports in Canada

Compiled by Chris A. Rutkowski, this section provides a detailed analysis of UFO reports collected across Canada in 1996. The overview discusses the challenges of data collection, the importance of standardized databases, and addresses statistical ufology questions posed by Allan Hendry.

The distribution of UFO reports across Canadian provinces shows British Columbia with 16.67%, while Ontario and Quebec together accounted for about 42%. The analysis notes that while some regions have an over-representation of cases (possibly due to active solicitation), others are under-represented.

Monthly trends in UFO reports show variations, with some years exhibiting peaks in fall or winter, contrary to expectations of summer peaks. The article notes that the "multicoloured" designation for UFO colors is problematic and that for this study, only the primary color was considered.

The number of witnesses per case averaged 1.87, suggesting that most UFO sightings are not solitary events. The most common shape reported was a "point source" (star-like object), followed by triangular, disc, oval, and round shapes.

The "Strangeness" rating indicates that most reported UFOs are not exceptionally unusual, with Hollywood-inspired flying saucers being relatively uncommon. The "Reliability" rating suggests that most reports are of medium quality, with fewer cases being both highly unusual and well-reported.

The "Evaluation" of cases categorized them as Explained, Insufficient Information, Possible or Probable Explanation, and Unknown (or Unexplained). The average proportion of Unknowns since 1989 has been about 13%, indicating that a significant number of cases cannot be readily explained.

The XXXX Files: A Little Book Review

This section reviews "The XXXX Files" by David Lines and John Abbott, describing it as a "little book of 'alien' cartoons" that is humorous and a "gem for a little price."

The Top Ten Reasons Scientists Don't Study UFOs

This humorous list, attributed to Dennis Stacy, provides tongue-in-cheek reasons why scientists might avoid studying UFOs, including financial constraints, embarrassing questions, and interference from "Men in Black."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained aspects of UFO phenomena, UFO data analysis, and the intersection of UFOs with other paranormal or psychological phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider various theories and data, while also maintaining a critical perspective, as evidenced by the questioning of official narratives and the inclusion of humorous or skeptical viewpoints. The publication aims to provide a platform for researchers and enthusiasts to share and analyze UFO-related information within Canada.