RAC 2020 Conference: Amateur Radio Challenges in Canadas North

Описание: Amateur Radio Challenges in Canada’s North
Ron Thompson, VE8RT and Angela Gerbrandt, VY0YL

Ron Thompson, VE8RT, described the challenges facing Canada’s North in his article “Updating Emergency Communications and Amateur Radio Public Service in Canada’s North” which was featured in the November-December 2018 TCA.

Licensed with his Dad (VE3EHT – SK) in 1970 as VE3CZV, Ron has lived and worked in avionics across Canada and St. Pierre et Miquelon (licensed there in 1992 as FP5EK). He currently operates on HF through mode B on satellite from Yellowknife as VE8RT and VE8TEA. He lives with his wife Laura, VE8LT, and youngest son Nathan, VE8TN, and “keeps the heat on by working for Buffalo Airways in Yellowknife”.

Ron also wrote an article for the September-October 2029 TCA about Angela Gerbrandt, VYOYL, and the challenges she faced in becoming an Amateur in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, with Ron’s mentoring and support.

Angela Gerbrandt Cambridge Bay“Her ‘Certificate of Proficiency in Amateur Radio’ is dated the 24th of April 2019. It’s going on the wall of her station when she gets it set up, and she tells me that a copy is going into a safety deposit box.

Self-taught for the most part, without help online or from a local Amateur Radio club, Angela Gerbrandt kept a study schedule for months in preparation for the Basic exam.”

Ron and Angela and the challenges in Canada’s North were also featured in a CBC News story on April 4, 2020:

“Amid pandemic, Amateur Radio societies across the North are seeking new recruits. Self-isolation is an opportunity to train up ham radio operators.”

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/...

This presentation provides an introduction to the Northwest Territories in the 21st century and discuss the many challenges faced by its residents and the possible solutions:

1) the isolation of communities, with a look at how they’re accessed
threats to life, property, and way of life here where Amateur Radio may play a role, and the challenges of emergency communications

2)possible solutions to communications challenges

3) the need for and the potential avenues of growing Amateur Radio, in particular, in smaller communities

4)reaching First Nations communities and learning about projects that may be of interest to schools

5) comments, thoughts on changing the Amateur Radio exam procedures to accommodate isolated candidates who lack access to high speed internet

Join Ron and Angela in their efforts to make a difference in Canada’s North.