The memory of ufologist Stanton Friedman is alive and well in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
Carla (Kat) Sheppard, founder of the Fredericton Holistic Fair, started work on the Fredericton UFO and Metaphysical Conference earlier this year. Set for April 11, it brings together investigative and experiential perspectives on documented UFO cases and paranormal research, while opening the floor to discussions about consciousness and anomalous experiences.
Nuclear physicist and ufologist Stanton Friedman lived in Fredericton until his death. He died of a heart attack on May 13, 2019, at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, while on his way back from a conference in Columbus, Ohio.
The idea to organize a UFO conference in his memory came to Sheppard during meditation in January. She also hosts the biannual Fredericton Holistic Fair, which began in 2019.
“This is the first UFO conference that I am organizing,” she wrote in a message. “We understand that information is meant to be shared for the purpose of being helpful.”
Elliott Van Dusen, director of Paranormal Phenomena Research and Investigation and a retired RCMP corporal, and psychic medium Jodi Russell are among the guest speakers.
Van Dusen’s presentation, When the Dead Won’t Rest: Real Canadian Haunting Cases, explores what happens when reports of ghosts move beyond folklore and into investigation. He spends considerable time researching his topics to ensure they are accurate, credible and grounded in both historical context and modern investigative practices.
“I also draw heavily on my own case files and field experience, especially from my time in law enforcement and with PPRI,” he wrote in an email. “It’s really about finding that balance between education, evidence and storytelling so the audience walks away informed but also intrigued.”
After each presentation, people often approach him with their own ongoing experiences at home. Many are hesitant when they first reach out.
“In many cases, there’s a noticeable level of hesitation or anxiety,” he said. “People are often worried about being judged, not believed or even ridiculed. Some have kept their experiences to themselves for years before speaking up.”
That’s where Russell comes in. As a psychic medium, she acts as an intermediary between the veil and those experiencing hauntings. Her lecture, Mediumship in Paranormal Investigation, explores the challenges of presenting extrasensory perception to a mixed audience.
“What I continue to remind myself is, it isn’t my job to make anyone believe in mediumship,” she wrote in an email. “I can only present you with my own knowledge and experience. It’s up to the listener to decide if it resonates with them or not.”
There can also be a sense of catharsis when her talks resonate.
“There can be so much fear, doubt and shame surrounding psychic perception and mediumship,” she said. “It can feel very isolating if you don’t know anyone living the same experience. I’m always happy to be able to offer support and insight.”
Other speakers include UFO researchers Chris Styles and Jim Lawrence, former Canadian Army intelligence officer Maj. (ret.) Harold Skaarup and Sheppard, a certified quantum healing hypnosis technique practitioner.
Fredericton has hosted UFO-related events in the past. The Fredericton Region Museum features the Stanton Friedman Is Out of This World exhibit, and there is hope the conference will return.
“I would love to know that we have the interest to host this event on a biannual basis along with the fair, each spring and fall,” Sheppard wrote. “We are very interested to see where this will go.”
The UFO and Metaphysical Conference will be held at the Maritime Forestry Complex from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 and include entry to the holistic fair.
Photo courtesy Carla (Kat) Sheppard