Friday, May 01, 2015
2014 Canadian UFO Survey
News Release 1 May 2015
Canadians still
reporting high number of UFOs
2014 Canadian UFO
Survey by study group Ufology Research shows UFO reports last year at
third-highest level since 1989
The 2014 Canadian UFO Survey has found that 2014 was another good year for
UFO-watchers. Data compiled by the private study group Ufology Research, based
in Winnipeg, Canada, found that there were 1,021UFO sightings reported
nationwide last year. This is slightly down from 2013, but still the
third-highest number of UFO cases reported since the group began compiling an
annual survey of UFO reports in Canada in 1989. Ufology Research has collected
data in more than 15,000 Canadian UFO reports since 1989.
The 2014 Canadian
UFO Survey: Summary of Results
·
There were 1,021 UFO sightings
reported in Canada in 2014, or almost three each day. This is the third-highest number of UFO
sightings recorded in Canada during the last 25 years, only slightly down from
last year.
·
The number of UFO reports received
per province is almost identical to a province’s population compared with the
rest of Canada. For example, in 2014, Ontario had approximately 37 per cent of
all Canadian UFO reports, a percentage almost equal with the percentage of its
population compared with the rest of the country. This was true for all
provinces except Quebec and British Columbia. Quebec had about seven or eight
per cent fewer reports than expected, and BC had about the same percentage more
than expected.
·
The Top 5 metropolitan areas with the
most UFO reports are (in order of highest): Toronto, Vancouver, Hamilton,
Calgary and Montreal (tie), and Edmonton.
·
Although there has been a trend
during the past 25 years of having more UFO reports received in the mid-summer
months (corresponding to long nights and fair weather for observing UFOs in the
night sky), 2014 was exceptional in that the was a marked peak in UFO reports
in the early fall. In fact, almost 17 per cent of all reports in 2014 came in
September, well above the average of 9.5 per cent for September during the past
25 years.
·
As in previous years, the vast
majority of sightings in 2014 were of nocturnal objects. Almost 50 per cent
were simply lights in the night sky, and almost 35 per cent were of spheres or
other apparently structured objects seen at night. Less than 13 per cent were
objects seen during the day, and less than two per cent were cases of Close
Encounters.
·
In 2014, most UFO sightings occurred
between 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm local time. This peak is about one hour earlier
than the 25-year average, and from the year before.
·
In 2014, the average Strangeness
rating of UFO reports was 4.26, well above the 25-year average of 3.5 and above
last year’s average of 3.67. Strangeness measures the degree to which a UFO
report is comparatively unusual, for example a simple light in the sky being 2
or 3, and occupants observed outside a landed craft being about 8 or 9 on the
Strangeness ratings scale. The average Reliability rating was similarly up in
2014, suggesting more cases were of higher quality or were better investigated.
Most UFO sightings, unfortunately, are not well investigated, leaving the field
wide open for speculation and sensationalism.
·
In 2014, about 11 per cent of all
UFO reports were classified as unexplained, down from 14 per cent in 2013,
which was closer to the 25-year average. In 2014, about 19 per cent of the
cases had Insufficient Evidence to form a conclusion, and slightly more than 70
per cent either had definite or probable explanations.
·
The most common colour of reported
UFO in 2014 was orange, at 38 per cent of all cases.
·
More than 47 per cent of all UFO
sightings were of an object described as a “point source,” or starlike.
·
The typical UFO sighting lasted
approximately 13 minutes in 2014, comparable with other years.
Results of this study show that many
people continue to report 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.
Numbers of reported UFO sightings
remain consistently high year after year. Several theories for this can be
suggested: more UFOs are present and physically observable by witnesses; more
secret or classified military exercises and overflights are occurring over
populated areas; more people are unaware of the nature of conventional or
natural objects in the sky; more people are taking the time to observe their
surroundings; more people are able to report their sightings with easier access
to the Internet and portable technology; or even that the downturn in the
economy is leading to an increased desire by some people to look skyward for
assistance.
Although the largest percentage of
reported UFOs is simply lights in the night sky, a small number are objects
with definite shapes observed within the witnesses’ frame of reference.
Popular opinion to the contrary,
there is no incontrovertible evidence that some UFO cases involve
extraterrestrial contact. The continued reporting of UFOs by the public and the
yearly increase in numbers of UFO reports suggests a need for further
examination of the phenomenon by social, medical and/or physical scientists.
More than 15,000 Canadian UFO
reports have now been catalogued during the past 26 years by Ufology Research. Reports have come from private individuals, government records, investigation files and through the hard work and dedication of civilian groups who are noted in previous years' surveys.
In previous years, the Canadian UFO
Survey was published in print and/or online as an annual publication. Starting
with the 2014 Canadian UFO Survey, the data tables will be made available
online as per usual, but only a summary of the findings will be posted online.
Previous years’ surveys can be viewed for detailed descriptions of methodology,
data and analyses.
To place the 2014 results in
context, please visit: http://survey.canadianuforeport.com
For further information, contact:
Ufology Research via e-mail:
canadianuforeport@hotmail.com
Twitter: @ufologyresearch
Labels: 2014 Canadian UFO Survey Canada reports sightings data statistics analysis study
# posted by rutkows @ 6:24 AM 
