1947 to 1954 was a period of intense change in the government of Canada's approach to the UFO Phenomenon. This was kicked off with the 1947 events in the U.S. that started the "modern era of UFOs". With the advent of Project Magnet and Project Second Storey, the Canadian government becomes involved in the study of the phenomenon to a degree that we do not see again until the 21st century.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Defence Research Board (DRB) was created in April of 1947 as part of a broader effort to formalize and centralize military research in the country. Its creation marked a significant shift in Canada’s approach to defence and scientific innovation, emphasizing the integration of scientific expertise into national security planning during the Cold War.
Kenneth Arnold was a businessman and private pilot and was flying over Washington State when he witnessed nine shiny, disc-shaped objects flying in formation past Mount Rainier. He later described the objects' movement as resembling "a saucer if you skip it across the water", a description that led an anonymous Associated Press journalist to coin the term "flying saucer" in the days following the report. This sighting is considered a pivotal moment in the history of UFOs, marking the beginning of the "modern era of UFOs. It also contributed to the perception that these objects might pose a security threat, potentially representing advanced Soviet technology, mirroring the rise of Cold War tensions.
Canadians, with their close proximity to the US watched these early reportings, consuming similar postwar narratives. The government often adopted a passive role, aligning its policies and public pronouncements with those of the US.
In December 1950, Wilbert Smith, an electrical engineer with the Department of Transport, established Project Magnet in Canada to focus on studying geomagnetic phenomena and their relaation to the UFO phonema, seeking information on potential for energy and propulsion.
The Avrocar was a uniquely designed, disk-shaped aircraft that promised the revolutionary ability to take off and land vertically. In partnership with the U.S. military, Avro Canada aimed to create a hovering vehicle capable of unprecedented mobility. The Avrocar's defining feature was its single turborotor, which directed exhaust through its rim to generate lift. However, this ambitious project faced challenges: stability issues kept the Avrocar grounded at a maximum altitude of… just three feet.
On Feb. 10, 1951: A U.S. Navy aircraft flying to Iceland from Gander, N.L., reported a near-collision with a large, circular, orange UFO that “almost literally flew circles around the American aircraft,” according to the Canadian UFO Survey.
By 1952, public interest in UFOs had grown significantly, prompting the Defence Research Board to establish Project Second Storey. This committee aimed to investigate UFO sightings and address public concerns.
Due to negative publicity and Smith's increasingly vocal belief in extraterrestrials, the Department of Transport terminated Project Magnet in June. Project Second Storey also concluded its investigations, finding no evidence to support the existence of UFOs.
On December 14 of 1954, C.P. Edwards wrote a memo outlining current government response to recover UFO sightings despite the discontinuation of Project Magnet and Second Storey.
Avro Canada VZ-9AV Avrocar: National Museum of the United States Air Force
Hayes, Matthew. "UFOs in Canada". The Canadian Encyclopedia , 20 October 2020, Historica Canada . www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ufos-in-canada. Accessed 01 November 2024.
Department of National Defence Memo on UFOs. Library and Archives Canada. December 14, 1954. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/unusual/ufo/PublishingImages/1954-12-14.jpg. - This source was not directly cited, but it provided context for the Canadian government's involvement in investigating UFO sightings.