Page 12 January February 2018 TCA

AROUND THE CORNER...

People, Places, News and Events on the Canadian Amateur Radio Scene
Radio Amateurs of Canada Serge Bertuzzo, VA3SB
Welcomes New Officers RAC International Affairs Officer
The RAC Constitution states that Serge Bertuzzo presently works as
members of the RAC Board of Directors Director, Government Affairs for Bell
and the Executive can hold office for a Canada. He works closely with Innovation
Science and Economic Development
maximum of three consecutive two‑year Canada and the International
terms, and at the end of 2017 two Telecommunications Union (ITU) on a
members of our Executive completed their variety of spectrum, technology and
third term in office: George Gorsline, regulatory related matters. Serge has
VE3YV, International Affairs Officer; and been involved in ITU activities for the past
Paul Burggraaf, VE3PRB, Chief 20 years and actively participates as a
Information and Technology Officer. Canadian delegate to various ITU‑R/T company wrapped up its business in
meetings. His regular visits to Geneva, Ottawa. Lawrence then accepted an
I want to thank George for keeping us Switzerland also enable him to operate appointment as the Director of ICT Security
informed of and involved in developments the ITU Amateur Radio station 4U1ITU on at the University of Saskatchewan. In
in the Amateur Radio community outside a regular basis. Saskatoon, Lawrence once again became
of Canada, and Paul for his tremendous active in Amateur Radio joining both local
efforts with our website – in particular Serge’s Amateur Radio interests are quite clubs: the Saskatoon Amateur Radio Club
varied and include QRP homebrewing,
managing our move to a new website antenna experimentation, digital modes (SARC) and the Meewasin Amateur Radio
during his term. These are only the latest PSK31, JT‑65 and FT8, CW/digital Society. He is currently completing a
of a long series of contributions to RAC (RTTY) contesting and remote operation. two‑year term as President of SARC.
and Amateur Radio in Canada each has He is currently quite active operating with Lawrence’s Amateur Radio interests are
made. the new FT‑8 digital mode. quite varied and include public service,
emergency communications, Broadband‑
At the last Board of Directors meeting in Over the past two years, Serge has been Hamnet, digital modes, contesting,
odd numbered years (such as 2017), the focusing on assembling a remote technology innovation and portable
RAC Board elects its President and contesting station located at his summer operation. He is passionate about the new
Executive. At its meeting on November 16, cottage. The station consists of two technology in Amateur Radio, such as JT‑65
I was elected to serve a second term as stations: a K3s as well as a Kenwood and FT‑8, and he advocates strongly for
President. Present members of the TS‑480. The antennas are a K4KIO experimentation.
Executive who were eligible for a further six‑band Hexbeam at 55 feet as well as
term agreed to continue in office and were inverted V antennas for 40‑80 metres and Note: for complete bios please visit the
160 metres. He operates the station
elected to do so by the Board. regularly while travelling on business. RAC website at: http://wp.rac.ca
The Board also elected two new Lawrence Dobranski, VA5LD/VE3LGD Distracted Driving in Canada:
Executive members for the positions RAC Chief Information Technology Officer Ontario Exemption has been Extended
previously held by George and Paul: Distracted driving regulations continue to be
Serge Bertuzzo, VA3SB, as International Lawrence Dobranski is a native of Cape an area of interest for many Canadian Radio
Affairs Officer; and Lawrence Dobranski, Breton Island, Nova Scotia. As a youth, Amateurs. In Ontario, RAC Directors Allan
VA5LD/VE3LGD, as Chief Information he was very interested in sciences and Boyd, VE3AJB (Ontario North/East) and
technology, starting first with Meccano
Technology Officer. Their new positions and then with his first Heathkit (an Phil McBride, VA3QR (Ontario South) have
are effective on January 1, 2018. experimenters’ kit), a Christmas gift when been working hard on this issue.
As can be seen from their bios below and he was in Grade 4. Lawrence’s interest in On December 15, 2017, the Ontario Ministry
on the RAC website, both are active all things technical was cemented and of Transportation (MTO) announced that the
Radio Amateurs and have professional developed through secondary school current two‑way radio exemption for
leading to his participation in two
experience that provides a strong basis Canada‑Wide Science Fairs. “Amateur Radio operators and specified
for the work they will do with RAC. Serge commercial, public transit, and public
function drivers will be extended for a further
is a Director of Government Affairs at Bell Lawrence’s passion for technology led to three‑years, effective January 1, 2018 until
Canada and is a regular participant at a 30‑plus‑year career in Engineering. January 1, 2021.”
World Radiocommunication Conferences Lawrence started his career doing
and associated international Preparatory advanced radar research and now owns The update to the regulation can be found at
Meetings. Lawrence has had an extensive his own consulting firm providing cyber https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/
career leading information and cyber security professional engineering r17475. While we were hoping for a
services. His career has focused entirely
security transformations in large, complex on information technology and radio permanent exemption, this decision by the
MTO ensures our continued ability to
organizations. technology systems. Lawrence holds operate Amateur Radio apparatus while
I am proud to welcome them into their advanced degrees in information security mobile. RAC will continue to press for a
new positions on the RAC Executive. and has three patents. permanent exemption going forward.
A highlight of Lawrence’s career was his For more information visit our Distracted
Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA 10 years at Nortel – all in technology
RAC President and Chair leadership roles – and ending as the Driving webpage at:
http://wp.rac.ca/distracted‑driving/
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