[karc] FW: [RAC-Bulletin] Amateur Radio Operators Honoured at One Year Anniversary of Devastating Flood at High River, Alberta

From: "Steve Cutway" <ve3kc@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "KARC List" <karc@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 25 Jun 2014 14:32:36 -0400
From: rac-bulletins@xxxxxxx [mailto:rac-bulletins@xxxxxxx] 
Sent: June 20, 2014 4:12 PM
To: Steve Cutway VE3KC
Subject: [RAC-Bulletin] Amateur Radio Operators Honoured at One Year 
Anniversary of Devastating Flood at High River, Alberta
 

June 20th 2014

Before the summer of 2013 High River was known as the hometown of the 
Honourable Joe Clark, writer W.O. Mitchell and the TV series Homeland. In June 
of 2013 it became the location of one of Canadaâs greatest natural disasters. 
With little warning the river overflowed its banks and raced across town 
destroying businesses, homes, infrastructure and lives.

Ham radio operators from the Foothills Amateur Radio Club and across the region 
responded to the emergency in the community by working closely with their town, 
area hospitals and emergency and support services (including fire, Alberta 
emergency measures and social services) to augment or replace communications 
that had been damaged or destroyed in the torrent. This is an example of the 
Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) at its finest.
To honour the extraordinary efforts of these amateurs, the Foothills Amateur 
Radio Club arranged a ceremony and banquet for its members and for those 
amateurs that came to assist in time of dire need. Their story is one of 
service and exceptionalism and these hams deserve the recognition that they 
received.

Honouring the volunteers were:
The Town of High River though Councilor (and former Mayor) Emile Blokland.
High River Fire Chief Len Zebedee.
The President of the Radio Amateurs of Canada; Geoffrey Bawden VE4BAW
The President of the Foothills Amateur Radio Club; Ray Bourne VE6LG
The Foothills Amateur Radio Club Emergency Coordinator; Wally Gardiner VE6BGL
The Emergency Coordinator for the Calgary Regional ARES Society; Ian Burgess 
VA6EMS
The Master of Ceremonies was the Assistant Emergency Coordinator (and Emergency 
Coordinator at the time); Vince dâEon VE6LK

Special Guests included;
Scott Nalder VA6OC/VE6OBL, Assistant Emergency Coordinator and Net Controller 
at time of flood.
Mitch Mitchell VE6OH, RAC Director for Alberta, Northwest Territories and 
Nunavut.
Neal Sunderland VE6NL, Section Emergency Coordinator.

The Truly Honoured Guests were the responders to the disaster. Their names are 
on the RAC website at:

http://wp.rac.ca/volunteers-alberta-floods-2013/

All received a certificate signed by Vince dâEon, Geoff Bawden and Ian 
Burgess.
Certificate: http://wp.rac.ca/alberta-floods-certificate/

Former Mayor Blokland and Chief Lebedee, the two principle High River 
authorities during the disaster, presented letters of recognition and thanks 
from the Town of High River to volunteers signed by the current Mayor Craig 
Snodgrass.

Mr. Blokland also presented a letter of thanks to the national association 
signed by Mayor Snodgrass. The letter in part states; âThe Radio Amateurs of 
Canada â¦ should be very proud and inspired by the Foothills Chapter and its 
members, in the wake of their actions and services to the community â¦ The 
quick response, expert technical knowledge and skill every member of the 
Foothills Amateur Radio Society demonstrated cannot be discounted in the 
positive effect they all had on the Town of High Riverâs quick and safe 
recovery .. A debt we canât soon repay, but wish to acknowledgeâ

Letter: http://wp.rac.ca/high-river-ab-mayor-letter/

In his remarks RAC President observed that ââ¦these amateurs serve as 
beacons and examples to hams all across Canada and I am proud to be invited to 
this ceremony and represent Canadian hams. Many radio volunteers had their 
homes flooded and some had family members missing and despite personal stress 
and fears they served others.â

--

Geoff Bawden VE4BAW
RAC President

 



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[karc] FW: [RAC-Bulletin] Amateur Radio Operators Honoured at One Year Anniversary of Devastating Flood at High River, Alberta

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