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ARES

Our club members are active in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, a North-America-wide organization devoted to disaster relief support.

Members train to work with municipal & regional officials & front-line emergency service providers. They ready themselves to provide backup support and communication systems in the event of a major disaster.

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Foxhunting

No, we don’t hunt foxes!

Foxhunting is a popular game in which the players use wits and radio equipment to find a transmitter (the "fox") hidden somewhere in York Region.

Come and join one of our games! We'll help you learn what to do, and even lend you equipment to do it.

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Club Projects

Each year our club undertakes a number of radio-related kit-building projects. They are usually small kits which can be completed in one or two evenings.

The projects are usually designed to teach a little about radio, and produce a useful device or equipment part when completed.

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Field Day

In June of each year, radio clubs across North America participate in Field Day, a competition demonstrating our abilities to quickly set up radio stations outdoors and communicate non-stop across the continent for 24 hours.

Our club usually scores very well, and we welcome visitors to observe or participate at this interesting event.

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Community Service

YRARC offers free help to major community events throughout York Region.

Our members volunteer their time to give communications support, act as traffic and safety marshalls, and assist with the planning and ground organization of community parades & major charity events in York Region.

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Our Hamfest

In October of each year, our club sponsors one of the largest hamfests in Canada. (A "hamfest" is a flea market for radio, electronics, and computer equipment.)

Our hamfest also features interesting presentations, license exams, prizes, and a big social area. Visitors are welcome.

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Training Courses

The amateur radio hobby includes many technologies and skills, from basic radio systems through satellite and internet communications and into emerging technologies.

Our club periodically offers training for basic licensing, as well as more advanced courses covering other aspects of the hobby. We welcome newcomers, and old hams looking to upgrade.

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Activities

Field Day


Who: Field Day is open to EVERYONE licensed or not.

What: RAC/ARRL Field Day is the largest on-the-air operating event in Amateur Radio.

Where: Field day this year will be run from the property of Al's Tack Shop located on Vandorf Side Road (near Hwy 48) in Stouffville.

   Why the change? The new site is just shy of 100m higher in elevation then previously used (one of the highest points in York Region), and is more centrally located.


When: Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1:00 pm EST (1800 UTC) Saturday and running through 2:59 pm EST (2059 UTC) Sunday. Field Day 2010 will be held June 26-27, 2010.

Why: The idea behind field day is to test your ability to set up and operate a station competitively under non-ideal conditions. It is also a great social event to meet people, try radio equipment for bands which you may not be licensed for or new hardware which you may not have access to at home. Also its just lots of fun!



Click the map to bring up a larger version.

Field Day tower raising

At the end of June each year, club members participate in a world-wide exercise and competition called "Field Day".

temporary power

Since the first Field Day in 1933, amateurs have annually dedicated the fourth full weekend in June to proving their readiness and abilities for emergency communications.

The Field Day exercise involves setting up temporary radio stations (antennas, power sources, and radio equipment) outdoors - usually, literally in a field - and proving the ability to communicate with them for an unbroken 24-hour period.




Visitors are always welcome to join us at Field Day, either to just observe or to actively take part in making radio contacts around the world.

Field Day

Points are awarded not only for the number and locations of contacts made over the air, but also for using alternative forms of energy (in 2008 we used a hydrogen fuel cell), for making contacts in Morse code instead of by voice, for having young people operating the stations, and other points categories.

Our club has scored at the top or near the top of our category in Canada for many years, demonstrating the broad set of skills, diversity, and experience of our membership.

Have a look at the Upcoming Events calendar on our Home Page to learn the date and location of the upcoming Field Day.

For more information, come out to one of our meetings or contact us via our Contact Us page.

Field Day working field day