Canada sightings / British Columbia / Nanaimo
UFO sightings in Nanaimo, British Columbia
110 UFO reports from Nanaimo since 1989. The busiest year was 2012, with 21. The most common shape after plain lights: sphere. 11 were never explained.
- 110 reports
- 11 unexplained
- 1989 first report
- 2025 latest
How the reports were rated
- 10% unexplained
- 56% possibly explained
- 30% not enough information
- 4% explained
Reports by year
Unexplained cases worth reading
- Sep 4, 2012 00:00NanaimoUnexplained
Close encounter · green, disc · 2 witnesses · 2 min
Stationary object with lights; witnesses drove underneath; object vanished
- Dec 16, 2010 21:30NanaimoUnexplained
Light at night · disc · 2 witnesses · 210 min
Light seen moving towards witness, then moving away at angle, eventually
- Sep 14, 2023 21:30NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · grey, triangle · 1 witness · 11 sec
Large delta shaped object flew NNW across sky, occluded stars as it passed by
- Dec 16, 2014 17:53NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · triangle · 1 sec
Triangle shaped craft with 2 bright lights hovering over highway
- Aug 31, 2010 19:45NanaimoUnexplained
Object by day · grey, irregular · 1 witness
Cube-shaped object rotating slowly in sky above houses
- Apr 14, 2010 20:40NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · red, irregular · 1 witness
Rectangular light faded & black disc appeared, flew SE
Every report from Nanaimo
- Jun 16, 2025 08:08NanaimoNot enough information
Abduction claim · 1 witness
Photos: injury to navel caused by alien abduction?
- Sep 14, 2023 21:30NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · grey, triangle · 1 witness · 11 sec
Large delta shaped object flew NNW across sky, occluded stars as it passed by
- Jan 28, 2023 20:40NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · white, point of light · 2 witnesses
Photo: object moving E-W, stopped, "pretending to be a star"
- Aug 7, 2022 17:50NanaimoNot enough information
Object by day · yellow
Metallic unmanned aerial vehicle encountered @2000ft 2022P1542
- Jul 19, 2021 14:00NanaimoNot enough information
Object by day · black · 2 witnesses · 3 sec
Dark ring UFO "with opacity turned way down" zipped across sky
- Mar 9, 2021 21:15NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · red, point of light · 2 witnesses
3 orbs merged into 1, then tried to "pose as a star"
- Nov 6, 2020 21:20NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 1 witness · 5 min
2 bright flashing lights in NE
- Dec 12, 2019 20:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · multicoloured, point of light · 1 witness · 45 min
Stationary light finally began to move slowly across bay
- Apr 1, 2019 20:55NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 3 witnesses · 30 min
Bright flashing lights moving across sky, then dimmed
- March 2019NanaimoPossibly explained
Object by day · point of light · 1 witness · 20 sec
Bright white light moving across sky
- Jul 22, 2018 18:00NanaimoExplained
Object by day · point of light · 2 witnesses · 10 min
Object in sky with contrail and illuminated
- May 23, 2018 22:45NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · sphere · 1 sec
Ball of light streaming toward house then back up into sky, then vanished
- Dec 31, 2017 22:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · white, point of light · 3 witnesses · 10 min
Stationary light over mountains
- Jul 24, 2016NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 1 witness · 60 min
5 objects hovering in the sky, 2 pulsating
- Jul 4, 2016 03:30NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · point of light · 1 witness · 90 sec
Starlike object high in the sky, darting around
- Jun 25, 2016 22:50NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · point of light · 1 witness · 60 min
4 blinking lights for around an hour
- May 4, 2016 02:00NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · white, point of light · 1 witness
2 white lights moving at a steady pace before quickly changing direction
- Mar 16, 2016NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · red, point of light · 2 witnesses
Bright light with smaller red flashing light on top moving at a rapid pace
- Feb 8, 2016 23:50NanaimoNot enough information
Object at night · 1 witness · 45 min
Ufo seen over Nanaimo for 45 minutes
- February 2016 21:30NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · orange, point of light · 1 witness · 30 min
3 orange lights circling the city slowly, noiseless, before disappearing
- Jan 23, 2016 21:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 3 witnesses
6 orange lights floating up into the sky
- Jan 23, 2016 20:55NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 2 witnesses · 10 min
4 orange lights making no noise in a strange pattern, going straight up
- Nov 24, 2015 20:00NanaimoNot enough information
Object at night · irregular · 1 sec
2 ufos coming from opposite directions doing maneuvers, flying in unison
- Nov 22, 2015 18:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 2 sec
3 blinking lights in a row in sky
- Nov 19, 2015NanaimoPossibly explained
irregular · 2 sec
Objects in sky, likely kites
- Jun 8, 2015 22:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 1 witness · 15 min
Several small lights moving across sky appeared to be surrounded by a small
- Mar 15, 2015 23:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 1 witness · 5 min
Orange lights moving across sky
- Dec 31, 2014 21:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 1 witness · 5 sec
Orange lights moving across sky
- Dec 16, 2014 17:53NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · triangle · 1 sec
Triangle shaped craft with 2 bright lights hovering over highway
- Dec 12, 2014 20:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 2 sec
Light hovering in sky that went straight up
- Nov 14, 2014 18:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · orange, triangle · 3 witnesses
Triangle of orange lights seen in sky
- Oct 31, 2014 00:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 1 witness
Bright orange light came over mountain
- Oct 20, 2014 15:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Object by day · yellow, irregular · 1 witness · 3 sec
Yellow green object falling from sky
- Sep 7, 2014 20:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 2 witnesses · 10 min
Bright star like light going very quickly doing maneuvers
- August 2013NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · sphere · 1 sec
Orange ball of light moving across sky
- Jun 14, 2013 23:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 6 witnesses
Bright orange lights in sky
- Jun 5, 2013 23:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · blue, point of light · 1 witness · 90 min
Blue/whie light flashing for 90 minutes then flew away
- May 18, 2013 22:05NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 1 witness · 60 sec
5 orange lights moving across sky before disappearing
- May 10, 2013 22:20NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light
7 orange lights in sky witnessed by many people
- Jan 19, 2013 23:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · orange, fireball · 1 witness · 10 sec
Orange fireball going quickly then hovering, disappearing
- Nov 17, 2012 17:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · white, point of light · 2 witnesses · 30 sec
2 bright balls of light over harbour, dropped, faded
- Oct 13, 2012 19:20NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · red, point of light · 5 witnesses
Lights moving across sky in S, going N then W, vanished; photos
- Oct 13, 2012 19:20NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · sphere · 2 sec
Flaming round objects going W, climbing
- Oct 13, 2012 19:20NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · orange, point of light · 2 witnesses
4 lights moving in strange patterns
- Sep 25, 2012 00:23NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · sphere · 1 sec
Moon shining in window reported as UFO?
- Sep 16, 2012NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 2 sec
Glowing lights over ocean
- Sep 5, 2012NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · multicoloured, point of light · 2 witnesses
Object shining diff colours, shooting ray of light
- Sep 4, 2012 21:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 3 witnesses · 45 min
Light over mountains loving "like stunt kite"
- Sep 4, 2012 00:00NanaimoUnexplained
Close encounter · green, disc · 2 witnesses · 2 min
Stationary object with lights; witnesses drove underneath; object vanished
- Aug 19, 2012 21:45NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · point of light · 1 sec
Lights zig-zagging back & forth towards the ocean
- Jul 12, 2012 00:00NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · white, point of light · 1 witness · 5 sec
Fast-moving light
- May 18, 2012NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · multicoloured, point of light · 3 witnesses
Lights moving 1x1, then one like "flickering fairy's wings" approached
- May 1, 2012 22:20NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 1 witness · 5 min
Sparkling light in SE, vanished, reappeared moving SE, vanished
- Apr 5, 2012 21:25NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · multicoloured, point of light · 1 witness
Bright starlike object in W
- Apr 4, 2012 21:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · multicoloured, point of light · 2 witnesses · 180 min
Strange lights over mountains
- Mar 19, 2012 22:30NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · point of light · 1 sec
3 balls of light going from SE to NW, not in straight line
- Mar 19, 2012 22:00NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · red, point of light · 1 witness
2 lights appeared over city, moved slowly upwards in irregular pattern
- Mar 19, 2012NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · red, point of light · 2 witnesses
Slow moving light, erratic
- Mar 19, 2012NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · orange, point of light · 2 witnesses
Photo of lights moving in odd patterns
- Mar 17, 2012 22:10NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 3 witnesses
2 lights rose in sky, entered cloud, vanished, 3rd did same
- Jan 13, 2012 19:09NanaimoNot enough information
Object at night · orange, sphere · 3 witnesses · 6 min
3 balls of light appeared 1 at a time, moved S across sky
- Nov 28, 2011 19:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · red, sphere · 1 witness
3 lights ascended, headed W against wind
- Jul 19, 2011NanaimoNot enough information
Object at night · irregular · 1 sec
Strange "cloud" broke in 2, then light with halo seen
- Feb 5, 2011 03:40NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · silver, disc · 1 witness · 5 min
Reflective saucer hovered, then shot to S
- Jan 22, 2011 19:00NanaimoExplained
Light at night · orange · 1 witness
Bright object seen
- Jan 22, 2011 19:00NanaimoExplained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 2 witnesses
Light like "flames hanging in sky" went W-E
- Dec 28, 2010 18:30Nanaimo
Light at night · white, point of light · 2 witnesses · 3 min
- Dec 16, 2010 21:30NanaimoUnexplained
Light at night · disc · 2 witnesses · 210 min
Light seen moving towards witness, then moving away at angle, eventually
- Oct 14, 2010 20:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · multicoloured, point of light · 1 witness · 30 min
Starlike light moved, stopped, flashed, etc.
- Sep 30, 2010 23:19NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · red, point of light · 1 witness
4 lights in vertical line, arched, then flew away, no noise
- Aug 31, 2010 19:45NanaimoUnexplained
Object by day · grey, irregular · 1 witness
Cube-shaped object rotating slowly in sky above houses
- Jul 22, 2010 23:35NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · white, point of light · 2 witnesses · 28 min
Lights moving in sky stopped, seemed to be "watching" witnesses
- Jul 15, 2010 13:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Object by day · silver, irregular · 4 witnesses · 3 min
Jet or comet with large fire tail
- July 2010NanaimoNot enough information
Object by day · orange, sphere · 4 witnesses
4 bright objects came from NE to SW, slowly, no sound
- Apr 14, 2010 20:40NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · red, irregular · 1 witness
Rectangular light faded & black disc appeared, flew SE
- Apr 9, 2010 00:18NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 1 witness · 3 sec
3 lights in triangle formation came out of cloud, silently flew away
- Dec 25, 2009 20:29NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · orange, sphere · 2 witnesses · 40 sec
4 orange star like objects zig zagging in sky that turned into green glowing
- Jul 8, 2009 02:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · blue, sphere · 1 witness
Blue sphere flying back and forth in sky
- Feb 12, 2009 20:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · red, disc · 1 witness · 5 min
Red flashing light rotating and floating across sky
- Jan 1, 2009 00:03NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · disc
Lights in sky in video
- Dec 7, 2008NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · red · 4 witnesses · 2 min
Three lights seen flying in formation, eventually dimming out
- Nov 18, 2008 20:04NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · orange, sphere · 1 witness
2 circular objects Going E-W
- Nov 13, 2008 19:45NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · orange, fireball · 4 witnesses · 60 sec
Object like "plane on fire" going NW-SE
- Sep 29, 2008 00:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Object at night · grey, disc · 1 witness
Pillbox-shaped object with flashing lights going S-N
- Sep 3, 2008 20:02NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · multicoloured, disc · 1 witness
Saucer split into 3 orbs which flew around, rejoined
- Aug 17, 2008 01:00NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · irregular · 1 sec
Teardrop-shaped object flying low N-S
- Nov 14, 2007 01:00NanaimoNot enough information
Object at night · irregular · 1 sec
8 objects Moving throughout sky
- Sep 20, 2007NanaimoPossibly explained
Close encounter · silver, sphere · 1 witness
Bowling-ball-sized object flew over car
- Aug 20, 2007NanaimoPossibly explained
Object by day · silver, sphere · 1 witness
Hovering "bowling ball" in sky, flew off
- Mar 20, 2006NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · orange · 1 witness
Firey lights seen
- Feb 14, 2006 22:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · yellow · 1 witness · 3 sec
Fireball seen moving at high rate of speed
- Feb 1, 2006 19:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange · 1 witness · 15 min
Six firey lights seen to first hover, then move independently of one another, and then flick out one after another
- 2006NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · orange
Several people observed firey lights
- Aug 28, 2005 20:45NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · point of light · 2 sec
Bright light heading S, veered E, ascended, vanished
- Jun 22, 2005 12:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Object by day · white, cigar · 2 witnesses · 10 sec
Cylindrical object like missile moving in sky among clouds
- June 2005 22:00NanaimoNot enough information
Object at night · disc · 1 sec
Domed object moving through sky E-W, electronic humming heard
- Mar 12, 2005 19:30NanaimoExplained
Light at night · fireball · 4 sec
Bright fireball seen over wide area
- Feb 16, 2005 12:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Object by day · green, oval · 1 witness · 5 sec
Bright object changed shape to diamond then streaked downward
- Sep 29, 2004 16:10NanaimoPossibly explained
Object by day · silver, irregular · 2 witnesses · 5 sec
Object shaped like aircraft vanished, appeared far away
- Jul 28, 2002 23:30NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · orange, point of light · 2 witnesses · 15 min
Bright light stationary over trees, then dimmed
- Aug 26, 2001 21:00NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · white, point of light · 2 witnesses · 5 sec
Slow, falling light like airplane light; descending rapidly
- Sep 18, 1999 21:10NanaimoNot enough information
Object by day · white, triangle · 1 witness · 5 sec
3 lights in triangle; covered 45 deg, E-W, rapidly
- Apr 4, 1997 20:55NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · white, point of light · 1 witness · 5 sec
Bright object with short tail moving east-west;had fuzzy halo
- Nov 17, 1993 21:00NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · 300 witnesses
- Aug 1, 1993 04:00NanaimoNot enough information
Object at night · cigar · 1 witness · 60 min
Nrc076
- Jul 4, 1993 00:40NanaimoUnexplained
Object at night · white, point of light · 3 witnesses · 30 sec
Nrc067
- Jul 2, 1993 17:00NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · point of light · 5 witnesses · 10 min
- June 1993NanaimoNot enough information
Light at night · 600 witnesses
- Mar 11, 1991 23:45NanaimoNot enough information
Object at night · orange, cigar · 1 witness · 10 min
Object like "rotating tube"
- Jan 30, 1989 22:05NanaimoPossibly explained
Light at night · fireball · 2 witnesses · 30 sec
Object descending quickly in SE, like on fire
No report matches.
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About this data
These reports come from the Canadian UFO Survey, compiled each year since 1989 by Ufology Research of Winnipeg. Each year the survey gathers sightings sent to police, airports, the military, researchers and UFO groups across the country, and rates each one. We left out every report the survey received from MUFON, NUFORC or Enigma Labs, so the totals here are lower than in the survey itself.
The ratings are the survey's: explained means a likely cause was found (a plane, a planet, a satellite re-entry), possibly explained means there's a good guess, and unexplained means the investigators couldn't find one. Notes are short summaries, lightly tidied. Most places are the nearest town, not the exact spot.