麻豆影视

Canada

    • Nine times Norad tracked something that wasn't Santa

    Share

    Just after 9 p.m. last Christmas Eve, Public Safety Canada alerted emergency stakeholders about something detected near the North Pole.

    Obtained through an access to information request, the Dec. 24, 2021, notification from Canada's Government Operations Centre describes the North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) "tracking an unidentified flying object, nine reindeer and a man in a red suit flying around the world." A Royal Canadian Air Force squadron, it continued, was "prepared to detect, identify, greet and escort the aircraft once it enters Canadian airspace." Ho, ho, ho 鈥 the annual program had begun.

    Norad has been tasked with protecting the U.S. and Canada since 1958. Headquartered in Colorado and with installations across both countries, the binational defence group aims to track everything that flies in and around American and Canadian airspace via a network of satellites and radars, with fighter jets ready to intercept potential threats like long-range Russian bombers.

    While the over six-decade-old holiday tradition is perhaps Norad's most visible operation, Canadian and U.S. military personnel work 24/7 year-round to keep North America safe. Based declassified documents and public records, here are nine times in the 2000s that Norad tracked something that wasn't Santa.

    HOVERING LIGHT

    Not long before Christmas, on the night of Dec. 23, 2018, a woman onshore in Yarmouth, N.S., and a fisherman out at sea in the Bay of Fundy both contacted a search and rescue centre in Halifax to report a light hovering above the Atlantic Ocean.

    According to documents obtained through an access to information request, members of a Norad-affiliated Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) squadron in North Bay, Ont., reviewed Norad radar data "and observed three primary radar hits" that closely corresponded to the approximately 45-minute-long sighting. Few details were given about the light, other than that it was "yellow, steady and hovering."

    "This is an area that has good low level radar coverage, so there is no explanation of why there were only three points all at exactly 12,800 ft with no points leading up to or continuing on at any other altitudes,鈥 an RCAF report on the incident notes. "Suspect that these may have been independent radar hits on weather and not an actual airborne object."

    Whatever it was, with "no evidence of anyone in danger," authorities declined to further investigate the calls.

    Once classified secret, a heavily-redacted air force logbook that descries the case features the words "Santa is [airborne]" with an emoticon smile at 09:27 Zulu on Dec. 24, marking Christmas Eve on the other side of the world and the launch of the annual Norad Tracks Santa program.

    Not far along the coast from Yarmouth, the fishing village of Shag Harbour, N.S., is the of a glowing unidentified flying object that disappeared into the ocean.

    UNKNOWN TRACKS

    While the and study what they call "unidentified aerial phenomena," or UAP, the Canadian military routinely states that it does "not typically investigate sightings of unknown or unexplained phenomena outside the context of investigating credible threats, potential threats, or potential distress in the case of search and rescue." A recent CTVNews.ca investigation revealed at least four incidents have met that criteria since 2016, including three involving Norad.

    On both Nov. 21, 2018, and Sept. 21, 2020, Canadian CF-18 fighter jets were scrambled to investigate unknown radar tracks detected by Norad near Canada's northern approaches. In each case, the jets saw nothing and the radar tracks were ultimately deemed "spurious" data.

    In a third, Norad scrambled fighter jets on Dec. 22, 2016, after an American Airlines flight reported taking "evasive action" when an "unknown aircraft" appeared "off his left side." Norad picked up "a single radar hit" behind the American Airlines flight, which "reported seeing an aircraft with a rotating white light." The CF-18s, however, eventually returned home to Quebec without finding it.

    According to a report in a , on Nov. 27, 2002, Norad radar also tracked "a large tubular object between [37,000] and [47,000 feet] in the area of Chicago which was moving toward the Thunder Bay area" in northwestern Ontario. Aircraft in the vicinity were asked to report visual contact. Despite three access to information requests, no other details have emerged.

    DERELICT OBJECT

    Sometimes how a radar track is moving provides enough detail for Norad to determine it isn't a threat. Not long before midnight on Feb. 11, 2019, Norad detected something over northern Canada that was "following" the jet stream. The object travelled at speeds "consistent with the upper level winds" and at altitudes of 20,000 to 27,000 feet, leading Norad personnel in Canada to conclude that it was a "derelict object," likely a "potential balloon." Civilian aircraft were notified of "the potential hazard to aviation" and no further action was taken.

    RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT

    On Oct. 17, a pair of U.S. Air Force fighter jets intercepted two long-range Russian bombers near North America. According to a , the American F-16 fighter jets were scrambled after the nuclear-capable Russian Tu-95 Bear-H bombers were detected flying near Alaska in international airspace.

    Norad press releases describe more than a half-dozen incidents like these since 2020 alone. On Jan. 31, 2020, for example, two nuclear-capable supersonic Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers entering what's known as the Canadian Air Defense Identification Zone: an area outside Canadian airspace that's monitored for incoming threats. The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and no further actions were taken.

    The last time Russian planes are known to have entered the Canadian Air Defense Identification Zone was on , when Norad detected two Russian maritime patrol aircraft.

    NORAD'S FUTURE

    Established to protect North America against Soviet missiles and bombers, nearly 65 years later Norad's mission has come full circle amid heightened tensions with Russia.

    During a Canadian Senate defence committee meeting in November, Norad's Canadian deputy commander warned that Russia had resumed bomber and submarine patrols near North America following a reduction after the Feb. 24 illegal invasion of Ukraine.

    There have been growing calls for Norad to upgrade and modernize its ageing systems in order to defend North America against new and emerging threats, like advanced cruise missiles and Russian and Chinese hypersonic weapons, which are designed to evade our Cold War defences while travelling more than five times the speed of sound.

    In June, Canada announced it will invest $4.9 billion over six years in Norad and continental defence, primarily to replace the 1980s-era North Warning System: a chain of 52 radar stations that stretches 4,800 kilometres from Alaska to Labrador to act as "trip wire" for the continent鈥檚 northern approaches. With no firm timeline for its replacement, defence officials say North America will have to rely on "deterrence by punishment" until new technologies are deployed.

    NORAD TRACKS SANTA

    According to , it all began by accident in 1955 due to a phone number typo in a local newspaper ad. When a child dialed it in the hopes of speaking with Santa, they actually got the on-duty commander of what was then known as the Continental Air Defense Command in Colorado Springs.

    Quick to realize the mistake, U.S. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup assured the child that they were speaking to Santa himself. Calls kept coming in, and Shoup assigned an officer to answer them, creating a tradition that continued when Norad was formed by the U.S. and Canada in 1958.

    Today, Norad says it reports Santa's location to millions of children and families across 200 countries worldwide, with volunteers typically answering more than 130,000 calls from the Norad Tracks Santa hotline. On Christmas, you can now follow the action on the .

    Obtained through multiple access to information requests, these documents outline times Norad tracked something that wasn't Santa.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Why brain aging can vary dramatically between people

    Researchers are uncovering deeper insights into how the human brain ages and what factors may be tied to healthier cognitive aging, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, speaking a second language or even playing a musical instrument.

    The union representing some 1,200 dockworkers at the Port of Montreal has overwhelmingly rejected a deal with their employers association.

    A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

    opinion

    opinion How to transition from renting to owning a home in Canada

    In his column for CTVNews.ca, personal finance contributor Christopher Liew offers a step-by-step guide on how to make the shift from renting to becoming a homeowner, and what you can start doing today to help the process go smoother.

    • Weather watchers were treated to an exceptionally rare display on Friday evening as rare cloud formations filled Vancouver skies.

    • For some shoppers it was Nov. 1, but for others the first hints of Christmas - saccharine treats, festive-fragranced candles and gaudily wrapped gift sets - were being noticed in stores long before the final Halloween decor had been cleared.

    • Thousands of people are expected to gather in downtown Vancouver on Monday to observe the city鈥檚 100th Remembrance Day ceremony.

    • Toronto is expected to see an economic boost to the tune of nearly $300 million thanks to Taylor Swift鈥檚 upcoming Eras Tour, which will be making a stop in Canada鈥檚 largest city for a six-show run later this month.

    • One man was transported to hospital early Monday morning after a stabbing in the northwest end of the city, Toronto police say.

    • A man who was critically injured in a police-involved shooting in Hamilton late Sunday afternoon has died in hospital, says the province鈥檚 police watchdog.

    • A pair of 105-mm howitzers bark constantly as they turn plywood tank targets into kindling kilometres away on the windswept landscape of one of Canada's largest military bases.

    • Two semis were among the vehicles involved in a multi-vehicle crash that brought westbound traffic along Stoney Trail Northwest to a standstill on Sunday.

    • More than 700 people danced, ate, and sang to celebrate Diwali Saturday night at the Genesis Centre in northeast Calgary.

    • NEW THIS MORNING

      NEW THIS MORNING

      An Ottawa boy with a rare disease will be getting the chance to see Taylor Swift in concert after the winner and organizers of an auction held on his behalf gifted the tickets to him.

    • CTVNewsOttawa.ca looks at Remembrance Day ceremonies in Ottawa.

    • After months of controversy surrounding a dog park in Ottawa's west end, a solution has been reached to divide the park in half.

    • An elementary school in Greenfield Park on Montreal鈥檚 South Shore is closed after it was the target of an alleged arson attack.

    • Two vehicles were set on fire in Montreal鈥檚 east end Riviere-des-Prairies neighbourhood.

    • A First Nation near Quebec City says the provincial government and Quebec鈥檚 hydro utility have ignored their constitutional duty to consult about four planned wind projects south of the Saint Lawrence River.

    • Monday is Remembrance Day, a time to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

    • Boasting 2,300 square metres of skating space at its new location, Edmonton's Rollers Roller Rink believes it is the largest in Canada.

    • A woman is dead after a driver crashed a truck through a Boston Pizza in Fort McMurray late Saturday morning.

    • A pillar in Canada鈥檚 history was honoured in Winnipeg Sunday afternoon, with thousands showing up to pay tribute to the life and legacy of the late Murray Sinclair.

    • Winnipeg police have identified two men involved in a stabbing incident earlier this week.

    • The Winnipeg Blue Bombers whipped the Saskatchewan Roughriders 38-22 in Saturday's CFL West Division final to earn their fifth consecutive trip to the Grey Cup.

    • Regina author Valerie Crowther is celebrating the release of her book 鈥榃ar Letters: Linking Lives in the Second World War.鈥

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • Twilight Tech Arcade, an entertainment location specializing in retro gaming, is closing its doors for the foreseeable future.

    • A man has been charged after a stabbing at an apartment building in Kitchener.

    • The Guelph Police Service is putting out a warning after two deaths in the downtown area.

    • Two new tributes to Canada鈥檚 veterans have been unveiled at the Elmira Cenotaph.

    • Saskatchewan RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was seriously injured in a farm-related incident in Montreal Lake.

    • It was a somber day at Mosaic Stadium as members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders officially cleaned out their stalls and closed the book on the 2024 season.

    • The Regina Rams claimed the Hardy Cup after a hard fought battle against the Saskatoon Huskies 19-14 on Saturday in the first all Saskatchewan U-Sports western conference final since 2002.

    • CTVNewsNorthernOntario.ca is livestreaming the annual Remembrance Day ceremony at the Sudbury Community Arena starting Monday at 10:30 a.m.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Emergency crews responded to the scene on Road 68/Highway 2 east of Thamesford around 7 p.m.

    • On Friday, the Sarnia Police Service (SPS) received a report of an alleged abduction in the area of Kathleen Avenue and Walnut Avenue.

    • The events will start at 10:15 a.m. with a parade that forms up in front of the Delta London Armories, marches east on Dundas Street and turns north onto Waterloo Street to Dufferin Avenue, the west to the Cenotaph.

    • A group of former NHL players faced off against York Regional Police officers in Newmarket Sunday afternoon to raise funds for Special Olympics programs across the province.

    • A driver is facing multiple charges after a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 400 early Sunday morning.

    • The agreed statement of facts was read to the court on Friday in the case of Alex Williams, the 24-year-old jail guard charged last fall with smuggling cannabis and tobacco into Central North Correctional Centre in Penetanguishene.

    • One person has been arrested after Chatham-Kent Police Service (CKPS) received multiple complaints about an alleged drunk driver.

    • More details have been released about a police investigation at the Ambassador Bridge that connects Windsor, Ont. and Detroit, MI.

    • An individual is dead following a collision involving a motorcycle in Kingsville.

    • Environment Canada says heavy rain and winds could cause power outages on Vancouver Island as an "intense" storm system is set to hit the B.C. coast Sunday.

    • Six deer were struck by vehicles in six different locations in a six-hour period on B.C. highways on Saturday, according to the transportation ministry.

    • The union for locked-out port workers in British Columbia says the BC Maritime Employers Association cut off talks in less than an hour Saturday, refusing to budge on a final offer that the union has so far rejected.

    • The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, the second such closure in a week and the third since the start of November.

    • Police in Kamloops, B.C., are reminding parents and guardians to check their children's Halloween candy after receiving a report of a mother finding a razor blade in one of her daughter's treats.

    • More than two years after Alannah Brown and Douglas Barker were found dead north of Penticton, police are asking for help identifying a vehicle they believe was associated with the crime.

    • The Southern Alberta Recreation Association is officially announcing the Town of Taber as next year鈥檚 host for the Southern Alberta Summer Games.

    • The Lethbridge Hurricanes broke open a close game with three goals in the first two minutes of the third period as they defeated the Warriors 7-3 in a game played Friday night in Moose Jaw.

    • There might not a lot snow just yet, but many southern Albertans are still itching to get outdoors.

    • Police have arrested a 15-year-old in connection with a break-in and $50,000 in damage done to the Centennial Arena in Elliot Lake in September.

    • Mayors of the five largest cities in northern Ontario met in North Bay the last two days to discuss a range of critical issues impacting their cities and the region.

    • Residents in the Sault expressed concerns ranging from vandalism to privacy invasions during recent consultations on the city's plan to install automated speed enforcement cameras.

    N.L.

    Local Spotlight

    For the second year in a row, the 鈥楪ift-a-Family鈥 campaign is hoping to make the holidays happier for children and families in need throughout Barrie.

    Some of the most prolific photographers behind CTV Skywatch Pics of the Day use the medium for fun, therapy, and connection.

    A young family from Codroy Valley, N.L., is happy to be on land and resting with their newborn daughter, Miley, after an overwhelming, yet exciting experience at sea.

    As Connor Nijsse prepared to remove some old drywall during his garage renovation, he feared the worst.

    A group of women in Chester, N.S., has been busy on the weekends making quilts 鈥 not for themselves, but for those in need.

    A Vancouver artist whose streetside singing led to a chance encounter with one of the world's biggest musicians is encouraging aspiring performers to try their hand at busking.

    Ten-thousand hand-knit poppies were taken from the Sanctuary Arts Centre and displayed on the fence surrounding the Dartmouth Cenotaph on Monday.

    A Vancouver man is saying goodbye to his nine-to-five and embarking on a road trip from the Canadian Arctic to Antarctica.

    Politics

    • Murray Sinclair鈥檚 family members say the late justice and senator has been laid to rest according to his wishes.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced voters in Cloverdale鈥擫angley City will pick their next member of Parliament on Dec. 16.

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    Sports

    Autos

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at 麻豆影视. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow 麻豆影视