Report of the RAC Election Committee  (Sept., 2005)

On Saturday, September 10th, 2005 an Election Committee was convened in Kingston, Ontario.  Pursuant to a motion adopted by the RAC Board of Directors at its August 16th meeting, Steve Pengelly, VE3STV, the RAC Honourary Legal Counsel, established and chaired the meeting, on behalf of the RAC Secretary.  The Committee opened and reviewed the nominations received for the positions of Director, Quebec, Ontario South, and Alberta/NWT/NU Regions.

The Election Committee membership was as follows:

Mr. Ron Walsh, VE3GO
Mr. Roy Clarke, VE3VJF
Mr. Bill Nangle, VE3CLQ/VE7CVQ
Mr. Andrew Wollin, VE3UIN

Quebec Region Director:
            One nomination was received for this position.  Following a review of the documentation submitted and taking into account the constitutional and election process requirements, the Committee determined that the nomination was complete and in order.  There being no other nominees, the Committee declared Mr. Noel Marcil, VE2BR elected as the RAC Director for Quebec Region for the 2006-2007 term.

Ontario South Region Director:
            No nominations were submitted for this position.  As a consequence, this position remains vacant.

Alberta/NWT/NU Region Director:
            One nomination was received for this position.  Following a review of the documentation submitted and taking into account the constitutional and election process requirements, the Committee determined that the nomination materials were not in order and were not complete as only nine of the nominee’s nominators were members in good standing of RAC.  The Committee unanimously determined that since the election requirements of the RAC Constitution were not met, the nominee was not eligible for election.  As a consequence, and because there were no other nominees, the Alberta/NWT/NU Region Director’s position remains vacant for the 2006-2007 term.

The Committee recommends that a second call for nominations for both Ontario South and Alberta/NWT/NU Regions, be issued.

(RAC Bulletin 05-015)

Message from the CARB Editor (Oct. 2 2005)

Greetings all, it has been a very busy week at HFRadio.Net. We have moved to a new server in Manitoba, this was found necessary after many months of being plagued with mail server problems. The new server seems to be up and running smoothly and we are pleased to announce that with this move we will be able to offer more services to the Canadian Amateur community.

If your amateur radio related non profit club or organization is in need of a new website presence please feel free to contact us. We can set you up with domain names and server space all free of charge. This service is funded through donations from dedicated individuals and clubs that want to make a difference in our hobby.

On a side note:

I will be involved with family matters over the next two weeks and may not be able to publish the weekly bulletin. Please be patient as I must take some time to resolve things on the home front.

Best regards,
Jim Taylor VA3KU
CARB Editor
www.hfradio.net

Westcumb Amateur Radio Club News (Sept. 22 2005)

WARC River Hebert Army Cadet Corp Radio Demonstration:

      On Saturday afternoon, the 15th of October, several retired military radio operators belonging to the WARC will give a demonstration to the River Hebert Army Cadet Corp. They will have a HF station operational for SSB and CW.  VHF setup will include a base setup and seven HTs. They will be using the Amherst 147.285 repeater for their demonstrations and small exercise. (That should liven the repeater up). It should be noted that when the cadets are using the repeater, they will be under the supervision of a licensed Amateur. - from Jim Hannon, VE1AFH.

The Red Cross in Amherst is looking for a volunteer Amateur Radio Operator for one day a week. 
Jim Hannon, VE1AFH, was contacted by the Red Cross and sends the following request:

Every Thursday morning @ 11:45 am, the Red Cross has a province-wide radio net. This net involves Amateur VHF working through the VE1BHS repeater (145.350 - MHz.). We will very soon have a fully operational, licensed Amateur radio station at the Red Cross Building, 16 Church St. Amherst. If anybody would like to take on the task of doing the Red Cross radio net, please drop in and see Angie Lohnes. There is always a fresh pot of tea and a cookie to be had.  E-Mail: angela.lohnes@redcross.ca

Jim Hannon, Emergency Measures Coordinator,
jhannon@cumberlandcounty.ns.ca
 

For more information about the Westcumb Amateur Radio Club visit:www.westcumb.com

Hamilton Amateur Radio Club "HAMFEST 2005"  (Oct. 15 2005) 
Sponsored by:  Hamilton Amateur Radio Club
Location: Marritt Hall (Ancaster Fair Grounds) On Highway #53 (Rymal Road)- between Southcote Road and Kittymurry Lane. 
Opens:  Vendors 7:00am and to the General Public at 9:00am. 
Cost:  All tables $10.00 plus Admission. General Admission;- $6.00 
Talkin: VE3NCF 146.760 (-) 
Notes: Book early to avoid dissapointment. Refer to our Marritt Hall Layout on our website to pre register and pick your location. 
For more info visit: http://www.hwcn.org/link/radio/

Greenwood Annual Flea Market  (Oct. 15 2005) 
Sponsored by: The Greenwood Amateur Radio Club 
Location: Greenwood Community Centre Church St Greenwood  Kingston NS 
Opens: Sellers 8AM, Buyers 10AM 
Cost: $3 admission, tables free 
Talkin: VE1WN, 147.240+ 
For more info contact: Guy VE1NC ve1nc@rac.ca

Montreal South-Shore Hamfest 2005 (Oct. 22 2005) 
Sponsored by: Montreal South Shore Amateur Radio Club 
Location: The Montreal South Shore Amateur Radio Club will hold it's annual Hamfest at Place Desaulniers, 1023 Taschereau blvd. Longueuil (Quebec)
Situated only 10 minutes from downtown Montreal.
Opens:  Set up Sat. 6-9 AM; public 9 AM to 3 PM 
Cost: $10.00 per table and that include admission for one. General admission is $5.00 per person 
Talkin: 145.390 (-) 
Notes: Free parking, handicapped accessible, refresments.
For more info visit: http://www.ve2clm.ca/hamfesta.htm

York Region Hamfest (Oct. 29 2005)
Sponsored by: The York Region Amateur Radio Club 
Location: Markham Fairgrounds, Markham, ON. McCowan Road at Elgin Mills Road E. 
Opens: Vendors 6:30 a.m. Public 9:00-1:30 p.m. 
Cost: General Admissions $5.00. Vendors-refer to website for table fees. 
Talkin: 145.350- (VE3YRA) 
Notes: YRARC extends an invitation to you to come and particpate in Ontario's Leading Hamfest - 2 large buildings plus a 3rd building holding seminars. 
Exams may also be available to interested parties -- please contact the Hamfest Co-ordinator if you are interested prior to event date. 
The 29th Annual YORK REGION HAMFEST Wheelchair accessible; handicap parking available

For more info visit: http://www.yrarc.on.ca

Ham Radio, Electronic & Computer Swap Meet  (Nov. 6 2005) 
Sponsored by: The Maple Ridge Amateur Radio Club 
Location: 12460 Harris Road Pitt Meadows In the old Rec Hall 1 Block South of the Lougheed Hwy On the left side of Harris Road. Maple Ridge BC
Opens:  9:Am To 12:30PM Doors open for Vendors at 7:30AM Open for public 9AM 
Cost: Tables $20.00 includes ONE Entry Admission $3.00 
Talkin: 146.800 -600 Tone 156.7 
Notes: Pancakes and Sausages served between 8Am & 9Am. Coffee Juice and Do-Nuts served throughout the event.Great Prizes Icom Handheld 2mtr radio.50/50 Draw and many other Prizes 
For more info visit: http://www.qsl.net/ve7rmr

Trans Canada  PowWow Club back on the air! (Oct. 1 2005)

The Trans Canada  PowWow Club kicked off its  its activities for the 2005/06 Season on October 1st at midnight EST / 05:00 UTC on 3750.00khz. 
If the experience of hearing Canadian stations from British Columbia to Newfoundland and all  in between captures your imagination then tune in and check in. 
Your Net Control station will be VA3AAG Gerry. 

The link provided here is somewhat dated but it will give you a good idea of what happens on the Club frequency.  Please click on this link for further information TRANS CANADA POW WOW CLUB

(Thanks to Hart VA3OU)

Maritime Swap Shop

The Maritime Swap Shop is held every Monday at 7:30pm local time on 3.750 MHz. All station are invited to checkin and post their wants and items for sale. The Maritime Swap Shop list can be found on many places on the internet, here are just a few: The Loyalist City Amateur Radio Club ,  hfradio.net ,    VE1AIC's Home Page  and  Truro Amateur Radio Club

Please Note: The Maritime (on-air) Swap Shop, which was formerly held on Tuesday evenings, will now take place on Monday evenings at 1930 local time on 3750.

Looking for that special piece of radio gear to finish off your ham station? Do you have extra radio gear you'd like to turn into some cash?

Well the place to visit is the 'Ontario Swap Shop' held every Sunday at 12 noon on 7055 kHz and 7:00pm on 3755 kHz. Nick VE3NJG and Ken VE3YK host the hour long program and all amateurs are invited.

The Swap Shop list is posted every Monday on the Trans Provincial Net website, Ontario Swap Shop Listings , the swap shop list can also be found on packet by calling up VE3DID

Introducing the "Ontario Swap Shop Club" a place where you can record your e-mail address or phone number where it will always be available even if you have nothing currently listed on the swap shop. 
 

(Nick VE3NJG)

The Manitoba Repeater Society Swap & Shop
 

This is a bi-weekly net, and listings are posted for four weeks.  Only HAM radio gear & computers may be posted.  www.ve4sss.ca/swapnshop.html

If you are ever in the Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, plan to visit Canada's Secret Nuclear Bunker and take a walk down through history. Want to know more. Read on. Located in Carp Ontario, approximately 30 miles from Ottawa, Canada's capital, is a 100,000 square foot, four story building that you can't see! Buried in an old gravel pit is the secret nuclear bunker that would have housed Canada's federal government in the case of nuclear war. 

The photo shows early stages of construction with levels 100 and 200 almost complete.

The facility was officially known as Canadian Forces Base Carp but it quickly got the nickname of the Diefenbunker after the Prime Minister of the day, John Diefenbaker. Constructed over a 14 -month period between 1959 and 1961, the building contains over 5000 tons of steel and 32,000 cubic feet of concrete. That is more concrete and steel than you'd find in a 10-story building. The building contains 358 rooms and was designed to house 525 people for 30 days in case of nuclear war.

Here is a photo of the main blast doors. 
The two doors on the right are freight doors and normally always kept closed. 
The door on the left is the main door. There is a second similar door inside. 
The two doors act as an air lock and security system. The doors each weigh 4000 lbs.

The facility was part of the military communications system and operated 24 hours a day, 7-days a week, 52 weeks a year, for 32 years. Every message the military sent passed through this facility. There was approximately 120 people, mostly military, in the building at any given time. The primary purpose of the facility was for Continuance of Government in the case of nuclear war. The theory was that if we could continue to govern the country even though we'd been attacked, we were less likely to be attacked in the first place. The facility was decommissioned in 1994 and was in danger of being closed and sealed forever when a group of local citizens took up the cause and the facility is now a private museum dedicated to educating the general public on the cold war. 

Here is a photo of leaving the facility along the 378 foot blast tunnel, back into the daylight again.

Visitors to the museum will see various departmental offices, the CBC studio, the Prime Minister's quarters, various sleeping quarters, the hospital, cafeteria, communications rooms, secret communications center, the huge Bank of Canada vault with its 40 ton door, and much more. 

Here is a photo of the CBC control room equipment. It is still in 100% operational condition.

Amateur radio operators will want to spend some time in the Emergency Radio Room that was originally licensed as VE3GOC and is back on the air as VE3CWM, broadcasting around the world once again from 45 feet under the ground.

Here is a photo of the current Emergency Radio Room now operating as VE3CWM. 
The three blue cabinets are the original cabinets that sat in this room.

The facility is open to the public for guided tours 360 days a year. Informative guides conducted tours daily. Call 613-839-0007 to reserve a place on one of these fascinating walks down through history.

In my off hours, I act as the Manager of Volunteer Services for the Diefenbunker and try to encourage people to become involved in this incredible facility. I also conduct tours on a regular basis. 

For more information call the number above or visit their web site: www.Diefenbunker.ca. 

Visit Brian's website for other interesting articles: www.storm.ca/~ve3uu