'It happened right here': Manitobans invited to visit site of famous Falcon Lake UFO encounter
'It happened right here': Manitobans invited to visit site of famous Falcon Lake UFO encounter
It’s been hailed as Canada’s best-documented UFO sighting.
And this weekend, Manitobans are invited to celebrate its anniversary at the provincial park where the incident is said to have happened decades ago.
It was on May 20, 1967, when industrial mechanic and amateur geologist Stefan Michalak said he was doing some prospecting at Falcon Lake in Whiteshell Provincial Park, about 145 kilometres east of Winnipeg.
“He encountered this, for all intents and purposes, this Hollywood-style flying saucer that came down, burned him, marks in the ground, radiation found—all the great stuff that you see in all the movies and TV shows,” explains Chris Rutkowski, a UFO researcher.
It was subsequently investigated by the RCMP and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Police reports are still available online through the Library and Archives Canada, and Rutkowski says he has uncovered over 300 official government documents on the incident.
“They couldn’t explain this,” Rutkowski said. “In fact, what makes this even better than Roswell is that we have the documentation.”
An undated sketch by Stefan Michalak illustrates the flying saucer he encountered while doing some amateur prospecting in Falcon Lake, Man.
The case has gone on to live in infamy, with retellings on “Unsolved Mysteries,” countless podcasts and even a book authored by Rutkowski.
The researcher has now teamed up with Parks Manitoba to host a slew of events to mark the 56th anniversary of the sighting, including an in-depth presentation from Rutkowski and Michalak’s son, a webinar, and a guided hike to the site of the encounter.
Rutkowski says the Falcon Lake community has embraced its legacy, and he hopes Manitobans will do the same.
“It’s one that has captivated, and it happened right here.”
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's efforts to assure Canadians that his government is adequately addressing the threat of foreign interference took a hit on Wednesday, when the majority of MPs in the House of Commons voted for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside.'
Seventeen people – most of whom are young students – were hospitalized after a falling from a height during a field trip at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar. However, many of the children are now being discharged and sent home, according to an update from the hospital.
Although bladder cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Canada, experts say there’s a significant lack of awareness surrounding whom it affects the most — statistically, men — and that the most common risk factor is smoking.
Canada will soon require health warnings to be printed directly on individual cigarettes, making it the first country to implement this kind of measure aimed at reducing tobacco usage.
More than three years after COVID was declared a global pandemic, a new study is looking at how the international health crisis has changed the lifestyle habits of Canadians.
A year after arguing Nigeria's ruling party is responsible for terrorist acts, the Trudeau government has sent a cabinet minister to celebrate the swearing-in of its new president.
The Canadian economy grew faster than expected in the first three months of the year and likely expanded again in April, fuelling speculation that the Bank of Canada will raise interest rates again.
Statistics Canada says fewer fresh fruits and vegetables were available to Canadians in 2022, due to factors such as ongoing supply chain issues, labour shortages and price increases.
Huntsville OPP has charged a third girl in connection to an alleged assault captured on video at a local high school and shared on social media earlier this month.
Forest fires in northern Ontario are on the rise, with the largest in the region shutting down a critical highway for the people of Hornepayne for a bit and bringing the community to the brink of evacuation.
A Toronto woman says she was shamed for the size of her order at a sushi restaurant north of the city in a scathing review posted to social media that’s been viewed more than 1.4 million times.
A man who slammed an Edmonton mother to the ground and strangled her outside of a downtown daycare in 2021 has had his nine-year prison sentence reduced to four years.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have hired Brad Treliving to be the team's new general manager. The team made the announcement Wednesday, less than two weeks after firing Kyle Dubas.
A Toronto woman says she was shamed for the size of her order at a sushi restaurant north of the city in a scathing review posted to social media that’s been viewed more than 1.4 million times.
Seventeen people – most of whom are young students – were hospitalized after a falling from a height during a field trip at Winnipeg's Fort Gibraltar. However, many of the children are now being discharged and sent home, according to an update from the hospital.
Last year, Quebec’s Bill 96 became law, which brought sweeping changes to the Charter of the French language. Sections of the new law will come into effect on June 1, the one-year anniversary of the bill receiving royal assent.
Some communities in Quebec are expected to get record-high temperatures and Environment Canada has issued several weather warnings and watches for heat. Dr. Christopher Labos spoke to CTV News anchor Mutsumi Takahashi about heat and sunstroke and tips for preventing serious consequences in the sun.
Louise Avon, brutally murdered on March 31, 2022 in Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts by her husband in the throes of a crack-induced psychotic delirium, might still be alive if Quebec hadn't "failed miserably in its role of protecting the public."
Ontario Provincial Police have arrested a 21-year-old man from Ottawa in connection with the shooting deaths of two teens from Mississauga in Pembroke, Ont. A third teenager, also from Mississauga, was injured.
A heat warning is in effect for Ottawa. Environment Canada's forecast calls for sunny and hot weather to continue for the final day of May and the start of June.
Canadian Heritage unveiled the programming for July 1 celebrations, inviting Canadians to come to the capital region to "join the biggest party in the country!"
A 72-year-old from Kitchener has been charged with careless driving after a vehicle careened off Highland Road West and smashed through the backyards of three homes on Ralgreen Crescent in Kitchener Tuesday afternoon.
More horror stories are emerging from Surrey Memorial Hospital, as a series of public letters written by frontline staff continue to highlight the perils of staff shortages.
After the remains of Madison Scott were identified this week, exactly 12 years after the B.C. woman went missing, her family says they’re still looking for answers and closure.
The northern Vancouver Island village of Sayward remains on edge Wednesday as a wildfire continues to burn out of control just five kilometres west of the community.
The B.C. government will set housing targets for 10 major communities on Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland in an effort to combat the province's housing shortage.
An undated sketch by Stefan Michalak illustrates the flying saucer he encountered while doing some amateur prospecting in Falcon Lake, Man.
