Originally from Parry Sound, Ontario, Bob
developed an interest in communications at a young age, beginning as a shortwave
listener and youthful associate member of the ARRL.
This was just after smoke signals gave way to radio.
He spent many hours listening on a vintage
AM military radio to hams, becoming well-versed in terminology and getting
acquainted with many, some of whom are now silent keys. His love of Amateur
Radio was firmly established in those early years.
While in high school Canadian Army Cadets,
he was introduced to The Wireless Set No. 19, a world war two “tank”
transceiver, on which he trained at Camp Borden
(now Canadian Forces Base Borden) and for which he became a cadet instructor.
Today he has four operating 19s and since
1997 has hosted “The Wireless Set No. 19” Internet website,
an authoritative site visited by vintage military communications enthusiasts
from around the world, most of whom are hams.
He is an executive member of The Wireless Set No. 19 Group, formed in
1991 by VA3ORP and VE3CBK, and a member of the telecommunications arm of the
Museum of Applied Military History.
Bob pursued his interest in radio as a
Communications Operator (Com-Op) in the Royal Canadian Air Force and later with
the federal Department of Transport’s Telecommunications Branch, Air Services
Division where, during a vigorous six-month course, he was trained as a
ship/shore and air/ground radio operator.
He is an Industry Canada accredited
examiner for Amateur Radio and, until recently, a volunteer examiner for VHF
Radiotelephone Marine Operator certificates.
Co-founder of the Parry Sound ARC, Bob has also served on the executive of the Orillia ARC and, alternately, as a Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) Director, Assistant Director and District Emergency Coordinator. Currently he is RAC's Vice President for Field Services which includes the Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
A
RAC Certified Emergency Coordinator and recipient of several certificates in the
area of emergency management and communications, he holds Amateur Radio calls VE3BDB, VE3BD and VA3ROR, and
is
custodian of VA3WSN, the official call sign of the WS#19 Group.
Bringing new operators into Amateur Radio
has always been an interest for him and he continues to be active in organizing
and conducting Basic Qualification courses.
Bob, assisted by Doug Campbell VA3DC, operates 10-metre Amateur
Radio Propagation Beacon VA3ROR at 28.191.4 mHz and is active on many Amateur bands.
He has held two special event call signs: VC3F
for the Centennial of Powered Flight in December 2003; and CF3VEDAY,
a historic, first-ever 5-letter call marking the official opening of the Canadian War
Museum and the 60th anniversary of VE-DAY
A member first of the Canadian Amateur
Radio Federation (CARF) and then of RAC upon
the latter’s formation, he is retired and lives with his wife Sue, VE3SUH, in Orillia, after having served thirty years with the
Ontario government's Ministry of Public Safety
and Security at Ontario Provincial Police General Headquarters.
He is looking forward to
spending more time with his grandchildren, as well as in Amateur Radio and other pastimes.
Bob is a firm believer in a national
Amateur Radio organization and his involvement with RAC is his way of actively
promoting Amateur Radio service in Canada and safeguarding its future.