Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)

For almost 100 years, and over 60 years at the York Region Amateur Radio Club, amateur radio operators have responded to communities in need. From earthquake to hurricanes, wildfires to train derailments, amateurs provide vital links between victims, responders and aid organizations to bring resources to affected areas.

Amateurs around the world donate their time to developing technological capabilities to better assist the public, including email over radio and high-speed microwave data links to supplement or replace absent or degraded commercial or public telecommunications.

YRARC works with regional and municipal governments and aid organizations by training, preparing and exercising emergency radiocommunications capabilities. These capabilities include equipment at municipal emergency operations centres, our communication trailer, as well as members’ vehicles and residences. They also include training and exercises to better prepare members for effective communication when disaster strikes.

For more information, please contact our Emergency Coordinator, Rob Schuetze VE3XBI.