Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is composed of certified Radio Amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service when disaster strikes.
Every certified Radio Amateur, whether or not a member of RAC or any other local or regional organization, is eligible for membership in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). The only qualification is a sincere desire to serve. The possession of emergency-powered equipment is desirable but not a requirement. Applicants will be required to provide personal information that will allow a background check to be done which may include a criminal records check.
Any and all use of the RAC Amateur Emergency Service & Design trademark requires a call sign or permission from Radio Amateurs of Canada, Inc.
National Traffic System (NTS)
The NTS is the principal facility for medium- to long-range traffic. It is organized on the basis of daily operation, in consonance with the operating habits of the average Radio Amateur. In emergencies, NTS is geared to go into continuous operation in accordance with the needs and the extent of the particular emergency.
Please select the applicable Section Manager (province or territory) from the link at the bottom of the ARES information page.
Submit monthly Community Services Activity Report (ARES).
Please contact the webmaster to obtain access to post monthly reports (blog format) for your section.
Here are some articles about how Amateurs responded to emergencies that have been published in The Canadian Amateur magazine.
“Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the Fort McMurray Fire: An Inside Look”
– An article by Al Parsons, VE6RFM
Cover story of the July/August 2016 issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine
Cover photo courtesy of Al Parsons, VE6RFM:
“Fire threatens the Regional Emergency Operations Centre in Fort McMurray on May 4 at 12:30 pm prompting the initial evacuation to a temporary Emergency Operations Centre at Nexen/Long Lake.”
Cover plus the complete article (pdf version; 620 kB)
How Field Day became a Reality: The Story of the High River, Alberta Flood of 2013
Cover story of the September/October 2013 issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine.
An articl
e by Vince d’Eon, VE6LK – Foothills Amateur Radio Society/ARES, Okotoks, Alberta with contributions from Kerry Atkinson, VE6GG and Ian Burgess, VA6EMS.
“What follows are three first-person reports of the happenings in High River Alberta from June 20 to 22 and the support that Radio Amateurs provided. Unprecedented flooding rapidly struck the area after 100 millimetres of rain and above average temperatures in a 36-hour period. High River is located just east from the Foothills of the Rocky Mountains and is about one hour south of Calgary.”
Cover plus the complete article (pdf version; 1.7 MB)
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
Section Managers Contact Page
List of RAC Section Managers
ARES Sections | ARES Bulletins | Certified Emergency Coordinator
ARES Operational Training Manual | Simulated Emergency Test
Forms
ARES Membership Form – Click Here
(Recommended to print in Landscape mode – sideways)
Public Service / ARES Forms – Click Here
Information Resources
CANWARN | Environment Canada | National Hurricane Center |
The Hurricane Watch Net | Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network |
National HF Emergency Communications Frequencies