From the frozen skies of Canada to the lights of Manhattan, unidentified aerial phenomena are being reported at unprecedented rates. Is something changing in our skies?
Something is happening above us. Across North America, reports of unidentified flying objects are surging to levels not seen in years. In Canada, more than 1,000 UFO sightings were reported in 2025. In New York City, witnesses are capturing strange luminous orbs flying in triangular formations over Queens. The question on everyone is mind: what is going on?
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Canada: 1,000+ Sightings in a Single Year
The 2025 edition of the Canadian UFO Survey, released this week, documents 1,052 UFO reports across Canada — the highest number since the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant jump from 1,008 in 2024 and just 570 in 2023.
“The number of reports in a given area is related to population, of course we get more reports from Ontario, Quebec and B.C., but there are some irregularities,” said Chris Rutkowski, research coordinator for the Canadian UFO Survey. “For example, Manitoba and Newfoundland had significant increases in UFO numbers, whereas in Alberta and B.C. we saw decreases in numbers. Why? We are really not sure, but it really proves that there is more to the UFO phenomenon that bears more understanding.”
Ontario led the pack with 30 per cent of total reports, Quebec claimed about 20 per cent, B.C. had 13.5 per cent and Alberta had roughly 11 per cent. Out of all 2025 reports, only 3.42 per cent were classified as “unexplained.”
Rutkowski also noted that one in ten Canadians believe they have seen a UFO. “It cuts across all demographics, and all areas of Canada,” he said. “If you have seen a UFO, you are definitely in very good company.”
The peak year for Canadian UFO reports remains 2012, with 1,982 sightings since the survey began in 1989. But the recent surge has researchers taking notice.
“Over the past few years and certainly after the pandemic, after that point people started taking a renewed interest and I would imagine some of that renewed interest came from some objects flying in the sky,” Rutkowski explained.
