Page 62 May June 2014 TCA

disaster. A meeting is being parking or security tasks assigned The Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry As the Section Manager, I want to
planned in order to determine how to us.) It is anticipated that RCE (SD&G)-ARES group participated thank my Section Emergency
the ARES members of RCE can will supply teams of four ARES in a multi-municipal / Red Cross Coordinator Rick Harrison, VA3NV,
serve this worthy organization as a members to cover two shifts (7:30 deployed exercise on February 1. for his exemplary work in building
part of their plan. am to 12 pm on June 4 and 5) with The SD&G ARES group exercise the leadership team. In the past
RCW supplying a team of four to with the Cornwall Red Cross, the two months, Rick has made key
Discussions are underway for cover one shift (12 pm to 4 pm on Township of South Stormont, the appointments to our group that is
another opportunity for RCE-ARES June 4 or 5) and Lanark-Leeds to Township of South Glengarry and already producing key results. Rick
to take place in Arnprior in June. supply a team of four to cover one the City of Cornwall went well. The nominated Malcolm Kendall,
A municipal trade show for the shift (12 pm to 4 pm on June 4 or 5). group’s EmComm exercise VE3BGD, as the DEC for Toronto
Association of Ontario Road In all shifts, two members will be involved seven related sites and and worked with Malcolm to add
Supervisors will be held at the Nick responsible to work the base fve ARES operators. During the Tim Andrew, VA3TMA, to the team
Smith Centre on June 4 and 5. It is station and two members will four-hour, on-the-air exercise the as EC for Etobicoke.
estimated that there will be 250 circulate through the exhibit areas simulated emergency of an ice
exhibitors of materials, services in watching for anyone needing storm allowed us to confrm the A key activity that will have taken
and equipment needed to maintain assistance or as “extra” eyes. serviceability of the ARES place by the time this edition of
municipal roads and infrastructure installations at seven locations TCA is printed, is a meeting which
projects. The show is also a The teams will meet again in May close to Cornwall, simulate an took place at Radioworld in late
showcase for GPS/GIS technology, to tie up any loose ends and to emergency and pass related traffc May. RAC President Geoff Bawden,
staff training, underground utility present their action plans. using offcial RAC radiogram VE4BAW and Rod Hardman,
VE3RHF, will be speaking to
locators, wastewater treatment and Information on the Association of forms. It allowed us to enhance members of our community, both
traffc control. The organizers Ontario Road Supervisors can be radio communications with the RAC members and non-members,
expect approximately 3,000 found: http://www.aors.on.ca CEMCs of the above organizations. about the development of our
visitors. She anticipates that, national society. No doubt there
depending on the needs of the In other news, Group Coordinator After the exercise and debrief were will be more to say about this in the
organizers, it may be necessary to Debra, VE3IEH, will be meeting concluded, the lunch period future. There will be a second
call out additional ARES members with a co-owner of the Neat Coffee allowed for discussions to better meeting, featuring ARES activities
under the mutual aid program. Shop in Burnstown to discuss how prepare for emergencies where
ARES members might be of SD&G ARES may be called on to and planning for the future that will
The Renfrew County East (RCE)- assistance with their “Get There respond. The exercise went well also take place at Radioworld on
ARES Group Coordinator Debra, From Here” initiative which is a and reinforced that we have many the weekend before Field Day.
VE3IEH and Renfrew County West series of runs or bike rides of strengths. It also allowed us to I encourage as many as possible
Group Coordinator Bob, VE3YX varying lengths from nearby towns make over 29 recommendations to attend this meeting.
and his AEC George, VE3GPD, using scenic routes. These for improvements to our system. Amateur Radio is about passion
met on February 19 at the Nick activities are scheduled to be held and experimentation. Get involved
Smith Centre with the Association from April 26 to October 8. Districts reporting: in whatever aspect refects your
of Ontario Road Supervisors Eastern Ontario passion.
(AORS) trade show Chairperson Renfrew County West ARES-Group ECs (GCs) reporting:
(Steve Boland), Logistics Manager Submitted by Group Coordinator VE3VY, VE3FFK, VE3YX, VA3LP, SEC Rick Harrison, VA3NV, report:
(Don England), Director of Bob, VE3YX VE3IMP, VE3IEH. Tim Andrew, VA3TMA, has been
Recreation Services (Glenn Arthur) The Renfrew County West appointed as the Emergency
for the Town of Arnprior and Fred (RCW)-ARES Group held four DECs reporting: VA3LP. Coordinator for Etobicoke.
Blackstein, VE3FPB. Members of Wednesday evening nets in January OBS reporting: VE3YX, VE3KII,
the Lanark North Leeds ARES on the VE3STP repeater located in VE3VY, VE3ZJS and VE3IQZ. A meeting of Emergency
group were not able to attend, RCW-ARES region. As well as Coordinators from the GTA was
held on Thursday, January 30 at
however they are expected to be attendance reported in the RCW – 73, Michael Hickey, VE3IPC the Red Cross Ontario Zone Offce
full participants in the ARES callout Group report, the group provided in Mississauga and 16 people
on June 4 and 5. safety communications for Deep ONTARIO GTA SECTION REPORT attended. Amongst those attending
River’s Silver Spoon Ski Race for SM: George Duffeld, VE3WKJ
The group was escorted through were the District Director and the
the Nick Smith Centre and the the 41st time on February 8. AGC ASM: Vic Henderson, VE3FOX Section Manager for the GTA
grounds and provided with a full Dom, VE3DGZ and Ken, VE2HFX, ASM: James King, VE3ETZ Section. The ARES coordinator for
description of where key operated the base stations on 2m SEC: Rick Harrison, VA3NV the Provincial Emergency
STM: Vacant
stakeholders would be located. and 70 cm. Richard, VA3BIX, was SBM: Brad Rodriguez, VE3RHJ Operations Centre was also
The AORS team provided several at the ski chalet to provide present. The meeting was chaired
options concerning where the communications for the ski patrol if JANUARY-FEBRUARY by the Section Emergency
ARES team would like to set up required. Dan, VE9DAN, Bob, SM REPORT: Coordinator. This group plans to
and the likely choice will be outside VE3YYG and GC Bob, VE3YX, There is a lot going on in the continue meeting on a quarterly
in the 40x100 tent along with the were stationed strategically along Amateur Radio world in Canada basis. At this meeting Fldigi was
registration table. Hydro will be the route. and this is no more evident than in adopted as the digital mode that
available in the tent. The ARES Fortunately, there were no incidents the GTA Section. It is unusual to will be used by all GTA ARES
team was invited to have an although we did have to keep track have so much energy and groups. Packet radio will remain as
information table available in of one skier that took a “long cut”. camaraderie displayed as it has a backup mode.
addition to the portable operation The stations in the feld relayed the been in the Section over the past A note of thanks to Toronto DEC
station. Bob, VE3YX, proposed bib numbers of the skiers as they several months. Malcolm Kendall, VE3BGD.
that HF equipment be included as passed and the base stations Malcolm has been quite active in
a way to “advertise” Amateur Radio. checked them on the start sheets. Members of the various clubs demonstrating Fldigi to various
Debra, VE3IEH, stated that she All the handhelds in the feld were across the Section are attending ARES groups in the GTA Section.
may have a highly portable vertical on 2m and a car with crossband meetings of clubs other than their On a related note, it seems as if
antenna by then that could be used was positioned to provide 70 cm to own, to share knowledge and most ARES groups in the GTA
to cover all of the HF bands and the base for two of the more distant expertise so that every operator Section are moving ahead with the
indicated that she would lend it for sites. One of our group members, involved in ARES activities will plan to adopt Fldigi as the main
the purpose of the ARES presence Tony, VA3HWH, participated in the have the opportunity for training to digital mode for emergency
at the show. race having missed only one race the same level of competence. operations in the Section.
in the 42 years it has been held. There remains work to be done,
The AORS team fully understand specifcally in Durham Region and The donation of a trailer to the
that the ARES people are there for Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry- to a lesser degree in York Regiion, Oakville ARES group should
one purpose only and that is for ARES Group but the goal is to expand the enable them to provide even
communications. (There will be no Submitted by Group Coordinator knowledge to every corner of the greater service to their local
Earl, VE3IMP Section. government agencies and NGOs.
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