Note from VE6CIA: All input, ideas or suggestions from Alberta amateurs is welcome, to save this event from extinction, whether it be ARES/ACS related or not.
Gentlemen,
I’m writing today in hopes of getting long term ARES/ACS training in place for Alberta.
Cold Lake Amateur Radio Society (CLARS) has been supporting the Cold Lake air show for a little over 20 years. We support this event with assistance from amateurs all over Alberta, and it has become a very well supported and anticipated event. Cold Lake holds airshows every two years, and we support this event by spreading amateurs throughout the crowd and looking for issues. If issues are discovered we report through our net control, who then forwards the issue to the Military Command Post for resolution.
Our assistance is highly valued by the airshow organizing committee, who in turn supports us with free admission, lunches on both days, as well as free airshow T shirts and ball caps.
This event perfectly mirrors the work that ARES/ACS would be called on to support in a real life event.
Our Club is aging, and our membership has dwindled. In the past our club could support the event on our own (albeit with reduced effectiveness)- that is no longer the case. As a result our club is reluctant to proceed as hosts, in that if support from other amateurs doesn’t happen we’re unable to do what we promised- and that’s a risk we cannot take. In addition, I’ve been doing the bulk of the work organizing the event, and I too am aging out of being able to continue.
I suggested that Alberta ARES/ACS take this event over from CLARS, and to date no one has been willing to step up. I understand the reluctance- however I believe that I may have a more palatable option- have ARES/ACS take ownership of the airshow and use it as our Alberta SET.
If the ARES/ACS leadership owns the event, they could allow a different radio club (or clubs) the opportunity to run the event every second year. This would provide tremendous training for both the ARES/ACS team lead, as well as ARES/ACS support personnel throughout the province.
Note that Cold Lake and Edmonton International Airport are both on a two year opposing cycle for airshows- the SET could be a yearly event if we included the Edmonton show.
We are at a critical junction with ARES/ACS- our relevance as “last chance” long haul communications is at an end (internet, satellite phones and Starlink have pretty much ended our usefulness). However, we have a huge potential for use in emergencies as observers- be it fire, floods, or whatever, a self led, self supporting group of people is a huge bonus for any emergency manager. This airshow is an exemplary example of that, and one I’d hate to see lost.
I have one more go left in me, and would be very happy to assist in getting the airshow scheduled for this summer organized. I have the routine down pretty well, and the bulk of the difficulties have been identified and overcome. However, if I do not have someone to pass the torch to then I’m done- and more importantly we’ll have lost a tremendous training opportunity.
Please note that CLARS will happily provide full access to the local VE6ADI repeater, as well as free camping at Mike’s and my farms.
Thanks for your time- and I’m available anytime to amplify this email and discuss options.
Cheers- Garry
FG Naylor
VE6FGN
ARES/ACS rep, CLARS
