Within the vault of Library and Archives Canada there exist files from five government departments that were involved with collecting data and conducting investigations on unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The Department of Transport, Department of Communications, Department of National Defence, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the National Research Council all dealt with reports, sightings and investigations of UFOs across Canada. Each department had different interests and goals. The truth about their investigations is found in files held by Library and Archives Canada. A selection of these files have been digitized and made available on the site.

1947
Canadians were still accustomed to looking towards the sky, keeping a watch for enemy aircraft. Although the war was over, people were conscious of the possibility of an attack due to the new threat of a cold war. As a result, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the Department of National Defence received reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Although sightings in Canada had occurred before, it was at this time that the Department of National Defence and other government agencies began to collect information on UFOs.

Related document:
View memo

Project Magnet [Shirley's Bay, Ontario], 1960-1952
In 1950, a senior radio engineer from the Department of Transport, Wilbert B. Smith, made a request to his superiors to make use of a laboratory and the department's field facilities in a study of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and the physical principles connected to them. Smith spearheaded Project Magnet with the purpose of studying, among other occurrences, magnetic phenomena, which he believed would open up a new and useful technology.

The goals of Project Magnet were fueled by the concepts of geomagnetism, and the belief that it may be possible to use and manipulate the Earth's magnetic field as a propulsion method for vehicles. Tests conducted by Smith were reported in November 1951 and they stated that sufficient energy was abstracted from the Earth's field to operate a voltmeter at approximately 50 milliwatts. Smith believed he was on the "track of something that may prove to be the introduction to a new technology." Smith believed that there was a correlation between his studies and investigations into UFOs: "...the existence of a different technology is borne out by the investigations which are being carried on at the present time in relation to flying saucers.... I feel that the correlation between our basic theory and the available information on saucers checks too closely to be mere coincidence" (Smith, Geo-Magnetics, Department of Transport, November 21, 1950).

It was believed by both Smith and other government departments involved, that there was much to learn from UFOs. Investigations into these sightings and interviews with the observers were the starting point for Project Magnet.

In connection with the establishment of Project Magnet, members of other government agencies formed a committee solely dedicated to "flying saucer" reports. This committee was sponsored by the Defense Research Board and called "Project Second Story." Its main purpose was to collect, catalogue and correlate data from UFO sighting reports. The committee created a questionnaire and interrogator's instruction guide. The reporting method used a system intended to minimize the 'personal equation'. In other words, a weighting factor was created to measure the probability of truth in each report. Smith explained that most UFO sightings fit into two general types: "those about which we know something, and those which we know very little."

In a summary of 1952 sighting reports, Smith noted common significant characteristics of UFOs: "They are a hundred feet or more in diameter; they can travel at speeds of several thousand miles per hour; they can reach altitudes well above those which should support conventional air craft or balloons; and ample power and force seem to be available for all required maneuvers" (Smith, Project Magnet report, 1952, p. 6).

In his closing, Smith stated, "Taking these factors into account, it is difficult to reconcile this performance with the capabilities of our technology, and unless the technology of some terrestrial nation is much more advanced than is generally known, we are forced to the conclusion that the vehicles are probably extra-terrestrial, in spite of our prejudices to the contrary." (Smith, Project Magnet report, 1952, p. 6).

Smith summed up the possibilities of studying the technology of these vehicles, and suggested that the next steps in the Project Magnet investigation should be a "substantial effort towards the acquisition of as much as possible of this technology, which would without doubt be of great value to us" (Smith, Project Magnet report, 1952).

It was with these goals in mind that Smith set up an observatory in Shirley's Bay, Ontario, 10 miles outside of Ottawa. Based on the conclusions of the 1952 sighting report, Smith thought that these vehicles would emit physical characteristics that could be measured. In October of 1952, he set up the observatory to attempt to measure magnetic or radio noise disturbances. Many more sighting reports were investigated by Project Magnet, but in 1954, the project was shut down.

Related documents:
Project Magnet report
Minutes of first meeting
Minutes of second meeting
Questionnaire

1952 Project Second Story
In connection with the establishment of Project Magnet by Wilbert Smith at the Department of Transport, a committee was formed by members of other government agencies that was dedicated solely to dealing with "flying saucer" reports. This committee was sponsored by the Defence Research Board and called "Project Second Story." Its main purpose was to collect, catalogue and correlate data from UFO sighting reports.

Related documents:
View minutes of first meeting
View minutes of second meeting

This committee developed a questionnaire and an interrogator's instructional guide. Of significance is that the reporting method used a system intended to minimize the "personal equation". In other words, the committee created a weighting factor to measure the probability of truth in each report.

Related documents:
View questionnaire [4 pages]

1954
The government stopped funding Project Magnet. Work continued, however, by those dedicated to the project.

1959
The RCMP was typically the front line for reports of unidentified flying objects. The records of the RCMP at Library and Archives Canada contain reports beginning in 1959. Each record contains the sighting, the location in the sky, witness statements, name and occupation of witnesses, and a credibility assessment. Some of this information is protected by the Privacy Act. A few investigations include sketches and drawings based on witness descriptions. Reports were sent to the National Research Council (NRC) for inclusion into their non-meteoric file. Researchers at NRC frequently determined that sightings were the result of natural phenomena such as fireballs, weather balloons and meteors. Other occurrences defy explanation.

1959-1960
An agreement was finalized between the United States and Canada to institute a joint reporting system of UFOs. The Cirvis/Merint reporting system was created "to extend the early warning coverage for the defence of North America . . . and to extend the reporting of vital intelligence during peacetime." Posters were created to explain that airborne and water-borne objects that appeared hostile, unidentified or that seemed to be acting suspicious, were to be reported immediately. A drawing of a saucer-like object appeared with drawings of missiles and submarines, as examples of hostile objects.

Related documents:
View letter of agreement
View poster
View instructions on reporting

Completed Cirvis/Merint reports can be found in the records of the Department of National Defence and the National Research Council.

[above] illustrated section of poster

1960s
The Department of National Defence classified reports into one of two categories:

Category One:
Information that would suggest the type of phenomena associated with fireballs and meteorites

Category Two:
Information that does not conform to the physical patterns usually associated with fireballs or meteorite activity.

Reports in Category One were sent to the National Research Council. Reports in Category Two were kept at the Department of National Defence to be investigated.

Related document:
View document explaining categories

1961
The Department of National Defence (DND) was receiving many reports of UFO sightings. As well, DND was being asked by various Canadian individuals and organizations about its role in the investigation of UFOs. A memo dated October 18, 1961, to the office of the Deputy Minister of National Defence, outlines the typical questions asked of the department:

Question 1: Are unsolved UFO reports in Canada kept from the Press and general public?"
Answer: No. While reports are not necessarily offered to the Press in every case, they are never denied.

Question 2: Does the Defence Department share American concern that UFOs pose a possible threat?
Answer: The Canadian Government is concerned with any report which might affect national security and, undoubtedly, this would be the attitude of the United States Government also. However, to date, UFO reports which have been investigated by various departments of the Canadian Government have not revealed positive evidence of anything which might affect national welfare and which could not be attributed to possibly natural phenomena or mistaken identity.

Question 3: What is the official RCAF stand on UFOs?
Answer: The RCAF position is one of complete open-mindedness. Each reported incident is investigated to the extent that circumstances, such as the apparent reliability and competence of the observer of the incident, seem to warrant."

Related document:
View memorandum suggesting answers

1966
Prime Minister Pearson said to his Cabinet that in view of the interests being shown in Parliament and the press concerning reports of unidentified flying objects, he would ask the minister or ministers responsible to provide him with reports on what had been done over recent years in connection with such reports.

Related document:
View document

1967
The Department of National Defence transferred its files to the National Research Council. It was generally believed that most of the reports did not pose a threat to national security, but that rather "a number of investigations of the reports suggest the possibility of UFOs exhibiting some unique scientific information or advanced technology which could possibly contribute to scientific or technical research." ["Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) - Investigations", September 1967 (memo)]

Related document:
View document

Three reports were highlighted by the Department of National Defence and the files were transferred to the National Research Council as unsolved: the Falcon Lake encounter, the Duhamel crop circles and the Shag Harbour landing. The department also asked to be kept advised of matters that would threaten national security. Reports continued to be submitted to various government departments.

Related document:
View memo [4 pages]

1968
The Department of National Defence received a letter from a German man. The man claimed to be an aeronautical engineer who in 1944, with other scientists, built a saucer-like flying vessel meant to be "Hitler's secret weapon." The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) investigated and interviewed the man. Incidents such as these are examples of cases that were kept by the department for further investigation.

Related documents:
View letter [2 pages]
View investigation report [4 pages]

The National Research Council (NRC) started collecting reports of sightings of UFOs in 1968. It took over this responsibility from the Department of National Defence, which transferred extant sighting reports (dating from 1965) to the NRC. The records consist of index cards on which is entered information on each sighting, and also reports containing more detailed accounts of each sighting. The reports and sightings are arranged in chronological order. Most of the sighting reports were sent to the National Research Council by the Department of National Defence, the Department of Transport and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The NRC ceased to collect reports of sightings in August 1995.

1970
The RCMP continued to investigate reported sightings.

1978
The Department of Transport file called "Unidentified Flying Objects" contained information on UFOs sighted between 1976 and 1978.

More information on the records within the Department of Transport, the Department of National Defence, the Department of Communications, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the National Research Council can be located in the search database.

Records of the National Research Council (RG 77)

The National Research Council has looked into the scientific validity of UFO claims.

UFO sightings, 1965-1981
(RG 77, reels T-1741 to T-1744)
UFO sightings
(RG 77, acc. 1985-86/179, box 1 (1981-1984);)
(RG 77, acc. 1986-87/377, box 1 (1986);)
(RG 77, acc. 1989-90/005, box 1 (1987);)
(RG 77, acc. 1989-90/016, box 1 (1988);)
(RG 77, acc. 1990-91/073, box 1 (1989);)
(RG 77, acc. 1991-92/022, box 1 (1990);)
(RG 77, acc. 1992-93/016, box 1 (1991);)
(RG 77, acc. 1992-93/308, box 1 (1992);)
(RG 77, acc. 1995-96/008, box 1 (1993);)
(RG 77, acc. 1995-96/096, box 1 (1994);)
(RG 77, acc. 1997-98/046, box 1 (1995). )

Records of the Department of Transport (RG 12)

The Department of Transport kept reports on UFO sightings between 1976 and 1978.

Transportation; general; Unidentified Flying Objects, 1976-1978 (RG 12, vol. 3930, file 2-1-33, pt. 1)

Records of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RG 18)

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police kept reports of UFO sightings from 1959 and 1987.

National research; Radio and Electrical Engineering Division; Unidentified Flying Objects (sighting of), 1959-1987 (RG 18, vol. 3779, file HQ 400-Q-5, pts. 1-7)

Records of the Department of National Defence (RG 24)

The Department of National Defence kept numerous reports on the possible security risk UFOs could pose.

Intelligence sightings of unknown objects, 1947-1964
(RG 24, vol. 17984, file S-940-5, pts. 1 and 2; on reel T-3291) ( 1 )
Intelligence sightings of unknown objects, 1950-1964
(RG 24, vol. 17988, file C-940-105, pts. 1 and 2; on reel T-3291), ( 1 )
Intelligence sightings of unknown objects outside Canada, 1950-1952
(RG 24, vol. 17988, file S-940-105-3; on reel T-3291) ( 1 )
Counter intelligence; flying saucers, 1952-1957
(RG 24, vol. 22349, file 9150-4)
Target detection; search; flying saucers; general, 1950-1967
(RG 24, acc. 83-84/167, box 7523, file DRBS 3800-10-1, pt. 1)
Target detection; search; flying saucers; general, 1968-1973
(RG 24, vol. 24031, file 3800-10-1, pt. 2, 1968-1971 and pt. 3, 1971-1973)

Source: Library and Archives Canada