In the spring of 2007 the
EMO / Toronto ARES group were approached by the Commander of the 709th
Communications Regiment based out of Fort York Armouries with an offer
to supply volunteer emergency radio operators for the City of Toronto Emergency
Operations Centre and the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre
The
ARES group was tasked with preparing a basic amateur radio course to license
these newly recruited radio operators and set about preparing a series
of Power Point presentations to train the students. The deciding factor
to use power point was strictly financial, study guides would have set
the EMO group back about $1300.00 which we did not have and we did not
want to attach a price to the course as that may have been a deterrent
to recruitment of volunteers.
The ARES Training Team consisted
of Jim VA3KU as team leader, Ted VE3AAP, Dean VA3SUG, Jay VE3EMP and Joe
VE3OV. Our Industry Canada delegated examiners, Joe VE3OV and Dean VA3SUG.
Emergency Management Ontario and
the City of Toronto Office of Emergency Management supports amateur radio
as an auxiliary communications resource. The City of Toronto kindly offered
the use of space to conducted classes at the Toronto Emergency Operations
Centre. Gary Symonds, the Co-ordinator of the Toronto EOC also provided
printing and photo-copy supplies for the course.
The course commenced in October with
26 registrants which included soldiers & officers from the 709th and
one City of Toronto employee. We are pleased to announce that the course
was a huge success with 19 students acquiring an 80% and above passing
mark. Four student were unable to attend the exam as they were out on manoeuvres,
an alternate exam date has been arranged.
A series of classes is scheduled for
the spring to train these new radio operators in procedures at both the
Provincial Emergency Operations Centre and the Toronto Emergency Operations
Centre.
As a gesture of support Dean VA3SUG
has taken on the sponsorship of the new 709th Communications Regiment Amateur
Radio Club and acquired VA3TSR (Toronto Signal Regiment) for their club
station which will be located at Fort York Armouries. Once the 709th has
some advanced operators ownership for the club call will be transferred.
EMO and Toronto ARES looks forward
to working with the 709th Communications Group and are pleased to have
them on board as part of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service at both the
provincial and municipal level.
A lot of time & effort was put
into developing the Basic Amateur Radio Course Power Point presentations
and on behave of EMO ARES we would like to share them with all interested
ARES Groups and Clubs as an recruitment tool. The complete course can be
found online by visiting the training and tools area on the EMO ARES website
at: www.emoares.org/community.shtml
During the winter months plans are
underway to convert the power points into Word documents to publish the
course in book format, we found printing handouts of the presentations
not very cost effective and by the time the course was finished the students
had a binder the size of a city phone book.
Jim Taylor, VA3KU
Amateur Radio Program Co-ordinator
Emergency Management Ontario &
Ciy of Toronto Office of Emergency Management
Classes conducted at the City
of Toronto Emergency Operations Centre.
