Sky Canada Project report (PDF)

REPORT OF THE SKY CANADA PROJECT# 33
Citizen-Led UAP Groups
and Organizations
While governmental efforts to study and catalogue UAP sight-
ings have fluctuated over time, citizen-led initiatives have re-
mained steady. By bridging gaps left by federal agencies and le-
veraging publicly available sources, citizen-led efforts continue
to play an indispensable role in the study of UAPs, maintaining
a consistent commitment to transparency and investigation,
with different degrees of rigour.
Among the most prominent contributors to this field is Chris
Rutkowski, whose dedication to investigating UFO sightings
began in 1975 while he was a student of physics and mathe-
matics. Over the decades, Rutkowski transitioned into science
communications at the University of Manitoba and the expe-
rience gained during his long career further solidified his role
as a key figure in UFO research. Mr. Rutkowski is a co-founder
of Ufology Research, and in 1989 he and his colleagues began
publishing the yearly Canadian UFO Survey, which tracks and
analyzes UFO sightings in Canada. The Canadian UFO Survey
continues to be published to this day.
In 1988, Rutkowski met with NRC Astronomer and Researcher
Emeritus Peter Millman at the Herzberg Institute in Ottawa.
After Dr. Millman’s passing, he met with other staff from the
Institute in 1995, where he offered to assist with collect-
ing UFO reports if needed. This led to Rutkowski eventually
receiving reports directly from federal agencies such as DND
and Transport Canada starting in 2000. However, by 2020,
the direct submission of UFO reports from federal depart-
ments decreased significantly. At present, Ufology Research
still includes information from federal sources in its annual
Survey, but relies primarily on publicly available sources (e.g.,
civil aviation reports) and information obtained through formal
access to information requests.
Today, Canada, like many other countries, has several citi-
zen-driven organizations dedicated to receiving, investigating
and discussing reports of UAPs. MUFON Canada is a non-profit
organization that relies on civilian volunteers to study reported
UAP sightings.
There are numerous groups at the provincial level as well. For
example, within the province of Quebec, there is the Associ-
ation québécoise d’ufologie (AQU), the Réseau OVNI-ALERTE
(UFO-Alert Network), the Groupe d’Assistance et de Recherche
sur les Phénomènes Aérospatiaux Non-identifiés (GARPAN),
while UFO*BC investigates BC and Yukon sightings.
Such organizations and initiatives provide platforms for re-
porting sightings, conducting some investigations and sharing
information. Some have links with similar organizations in other
countries. Their existence is indicative of a gap in the way UAP
sightings are treated by both the authorities and the scientific
community. But their lack of financial resources limits their
actions and prevents them from offering a full suite of services.
At the individual level, several journalists and commentators
currently cover UAP issues. For example, Daniel Otis is a Cana-
dian journalist recognized for his reporting over the last few years
on UAPs and related topics. He has explored various aspects of
UAPs, including government and military investigations, as well
as public perceptions. His articles often examine the implica-
tions of UAP sightings and the growing interest from both the
public and authorities in understanding these phenomena.
Christian Page is another respected journalist in this field,
known for his research and writing on UAPs and the paranor-
mal. He has contributed to discussions regarding the im-
plications of UAP sightings, including their potential impact
on science, government policy and public perception. Page
frequently investigates the intersection of technology, defence
and the unexplained phenomena observed in the skies. He
has also advocated for transparency and further research into
UAPs, emphasizing the need for a systematic approach to un-
derstanding these occurrences.
Together, Otis, Page and others serve as key figures in the pub-
lic conversation on UAPs, each using their platforms to push for
greater transparency, accountability and understanding in this
evolving field.
Canadian Space Agency (CSA)
The mission of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) is to promote
the peaceful use and development of space, to advance the
knowledge of space through science, and to ensure that space
science and technology provide social and economic benefits
for Canadians. The CSA is not currently involved in any UAP
issues, nor does it collect UAP sighting reports. If members of
the public contact the CSA about UAPs, either to obtain in-
formation or to report a sighting, they would be informed that
this type of service is not available. The CSA’s purview pertains
to matters concerning space, not activities within the Earth’s
atmosphere (where most UAP cases take place).
Environment and Climate Change
Canada (ECCC)
The Meteorological Service of Canada (MSC), which is part of
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), provides
weather and environmental forecasting services and infor-
mation to Canadians. The MSC gets many inquiries related to
meteorological features, weather, water quantity, ice, air quality
and climate as well as the instruments and data it manages.
Some of these inquiries concern lines of clouds that frequent-
ly form behind aircraft during flight, commonly referred to as
condensation trails or contrails. These contrails are composed
primarily of water vapour that condenses and freezes in the
cold upper atmosphere, creating visible streaks in the sky. This
topic frequently becomes the subject of speculation as it is
often associated with conspiracy theories that typically involve
allegations of secret government programs, such as geoengi-
neering or chemical dispersal, and occasionally link the trails
to UAPs.
While MSC responds to all queries, they do not catalogue,
collect, analyze or curate the numerous requests they receive.
Standard responses may be used for common questions.
ECCC also operates a weather application that provides the
public with scientific explanations of weather phenomena.
MSC stated that their resources are fully committed to the
weather forecasting enterprise with no capacity to take on addi-
tional responsibilities like analyzing UAP reports.
The OCSA’s consultations with federal departments
and agencies provide a valuable snapshot of the
current state of UAP reporting and management in
Canada. While some departments, such as Transport
Canada, have established mechanisms for collecting
and analyzing UAP-related data, most organizations
do not investigate sightings unless they intersect with
their specific mandates, such as national security or
transportation safety. The lack of centralized data com-
pilation and standardized reporting processes makes
it challenging to identify trends or conduct comprehen-
sive analyses of UAP reports.
Canadian Space Agency President Lisa Campbell and Chief
Science Advisor Mona Nemer, and members of their teams,
during a visit in 2024.
Amateur astronomers install their telescopes prior to an
event. Citizens engaging in science by observing the sky.