The March 23, 2017 edition of The Richmond News features an article by Alan Campbell: “'Hotbed' amateur radio waves getting bigger”
Here is a
n excerpt from the article:
“Amateur radio is on the rise across Canada due to the interest in emergency preparedness and the growing participation of women, such as Richmond’s Carole Eng.
A ‘hotbed’ of activity and ‘growth’ membership are not the two words that roll off the tongue when you think of amateur radio. That is, however, exactly how the president of the Richmond Amateur Radio Club (RARC), Urey Chan, describes the surprising movement taking place within the confines of organizations across the Lower Mainland and Canada.
According to Chan, 40 per cent of the national growth in amateur radio licenses is here in the Lower Mainland, where the interest in the activity is matching pace with the increase in population.
And, although not known for being a sexy hobby by any stretch, the Richmond president puts the majority of the recent rise in popularity in the formerly dusty pastime down to people’s preoccupation with being prepared for a natural disaster.
“The president of our national organization was in Vancouver recently and he spoke of a demographic analysis, which showed that amateur radio is actually on the rise in Canada,” said Chan.
“It just doesn’t receive the media profile it deserves; it’s actually rising at the same growth rate of the population in the Lower Mainland.
“It is (sexy) when you tie it to emergency operations and preparedness; people’s eyes widen and all of a sudden they’re interested when you mention the connection.”
“That’s by far the main reason for the growth; 40 per cent of which, in terms of the national figures, comes from the Lower Mainland. This is the hotbed here for amateur radio.”
RAC President Glenn MacDonell, VE3XRA, visited British Columbia in late February and early March and he made a presentation to both VECTOR (Vancouver Emergency Community Telecommunications Organization) and the North Shore Amateur Radio Club. Executive members from several other Vancouver area clubs attended including Urey Chan, President of the Richmond Amateur Radio Club. Watch for more information about the trip to British Columbia in the RAC President's Message in the May/June 2017 issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine.
For the complete article visit: https://www.richmond-news.com/community/hotbed-amateur-radio-waves-getting-bigger-1.12737507