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3| The IFP -H alton H ills | T hursday,July 26,2018 theifp.ca Flashing lights, flying spheres and orange trian- gles are some of the descrip- tions of UFO sightings re- ported by Halton residents in 2017. According to the Canadi- an UFO report released July 8, there was a total of 1,101 re- ported sightings of unidenti- fied flying objects, with sev- en being reported in Halton Region. The report was conduct- ed by Manitoba firm Ufolo- gy Research, which com- piled data from online UFO organizations, government files, direct witness reports, media and other internet postings. Here are the sighting de- scriptions from reports in Halton Region: Halton Hills 1) When: Sept. 15, 2017 Colour: Red Description: Disc- shaped. Stationary light be- came thin with bulge going east to west Burlington 1) When: April 21, 2017 at 11:22 p.m. Colour: Red Description: Two lights moving southeast slowly side by side 2) When: April 21, 2017 at 11:26 p.m. Colour: Red Description: Two spheres flying together go- ing south over lake 3) When: Sept. 7, 2017 at 5:09 a.m. Description: Video shows "Tinker Bell finally captured" Oakville 1) When: April 26, 2017 at 9:30 p.m. Description: Stationary object with flashing lights seen through telescope 2) When: Oct. 20, 2017 at 8:20 p.m. Colour: Orange Description: Triangular- shaped. Two objects going east, low altitude, changed directions, went behind trees 3) When: Dec. 1, 2017 at 5:45 p.m. Description: V-shaped object moving steadily There were no reports submitted from Milton. Of all the reports filed across Canada, researchers concluded that six per cent could be explained, 38 per cent were probable, 48 per cent had insufficient evi- dence and eight per cent could not be explained. The Burlington sighting from Sept. 7 was captured on video and an investiga- tion was conducted by the Mutual UFO Network, which determined that this particular object could be identified and was likely a bat or some other nocturnal animal. York University physics and astronomy Prof. Mar- shall McCall says just be- cause eight per cent of the reports haven't been ex- plained, it doesn't mean they are unexplainable. McCall says there are nu- merous rare phenomena, citing ball lightning as an example. Ball lightning is a spherical atmospheric phe- nomenon that is correlated with the electrification of soil after a lightning strike. "This is extremely rare, in fact, even scientists have been studying this for de- cades without understand- ing what it is," McCall said, adding that it can be easily mistaken for a UFO. "I am personally a skep- tic of the existence of UFOs in the context of being visi- tors from another planet, primarily from the stand- point of if there were extra- terrestrials out there and they were advanced enough to visit us, why would they not introduce themselves? Why hide? Why not show yourself from time to time," he laughed. He added, however, that he does believe that the UFO sighting reports are credi- ble, even if they are difficult to explain. "The eight per cent that are unexplained may re- main unexplained forever, because there is no way to get data on them - they've al- ready happened - and the only data you have is what somebody has communicat- ed verbally," he said. "There is the odd picture out there of what is supposedly a UFO, but you'd have to examine the circumstances under which these pictures were taken to be able to under- stand more about them. "I certainly think there are credible reports of strange phenomena and maybe an explanation exists within our current under- standing and maybe not." For further information about the report, visit http://survey.canadianufo- report.com/. THERE WERE 7 UFO SIGHTINGS REPORTED IN HALTON LAST YEAR This sighting, caught on video in Burlington, was described as "Tinker Bell finally captured." Mutual UFO Network/screenshot VERONICA APPIA vappia@metroland.com NEWS 5 ARMSTRONG AVENUE, UNIT 3, GEORGETOWN 905.877.8023 Propane / Natural Gas BBQ Grills Sales and Service Napoleon Gas Grills are a work of functional art. They have everything you need to have an entire outdoor kitchen experience in one grilling unit.