This talk provides a brief history of the origins of the Ottawa Monitoring Station. It describes Monitoring operations, and the operation of the associated Direction Finder. Recognition is made of other Monitoring Services during wartime.

Mr. Brown qualified for Radio Operator Second Class from the Canadian Electronics Institute in Toronto in March 1941 and served in the Merchant Navy from March to October of 1941 during which he was twice torpedoed. He was then recruited by the Department of Transport as a radio operator to monitor German military radio signals, and in 1943, to work at a DOT intermediate airfield in the Yukon. He spoke to the Friends in January 2008 about "Radio Waves Across the North (Circa World War II), describing his experiences at this airfield. and in April, 2008 about a "Merchant Navy "Sparks" in the Battle of the Atlantic". He continued to work as a radio operator until 1953, when he qualified as a technician, and worked from then until 1966 as a technician and then worked in technician training from 1966 until his retirement in 1976, all with DOT.

At our last Board Meeting we decided that we should look at the Friends of CRC Mandate to see how we have been doing for the past 15 years and if any revisions are necessary. One of our Mandates was the preservation of our DRTEs’ and CRCs’ accomplishments and record them on the website. Some of this has been done but there are still many milestones which have not been written up for the website. Members who worked on many of these project are no longer with us so it’s important that those of us still around make the effort to submit a brief description of projects they were involved with before it’s too late. I believe Technical Reports and other history has already been destroyed. Doris Jelly has done a superb job with Alouette history.

The following members sit on the Executive Board of The Friends of CRC. If you are interested in becoming a board member please get in touch with us as we always need more help.

Exhibition Hall to Celebrate CRC’s 40th Anniversary in 2009
Request for Artifacts, Documents, Photos and Audio-Visual Material

CRC will celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2009. To commemorate this special occasion, CRC management committee has agreed to use the foyer of the new photonics building as an Exhibition Hall to permanently showcase CRC/DRTE achievements. The exhibit will educate visitors and employees alike on CRC accomplishments, its role in developing Canada’s telecommunications infrastructure, and the recognition given to award-winning employees over the years.

To assist in assembling a collection of artifacts, documents, letters, photos and audio-visual material, CRC is seeking assistance from current and former employees. If you have items of interest you would like to share for the exhibit, either on a temporary or permanent basis, please contact Anne-Marie Smith at Anne-Marie.Smith@ic.gc.ca.

CRC will also be working with the Canada Science and Technology Museum and Library and Archives Canada to obtain artifacts on permanent or temporary loan.

As previously reported, following the designation in 2007 of the Alouette 1 program as of National Historic Significance by the Hon. John Baird, Minister of the Environment, the next action required was the drafting of the text for the commemorative Plaque. As a preliminary to this, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board (HSMBC), at its June meeting this year, approved the revised "reasons for designation" to bring these in line with commentary that we had provided on the HSMBC historian's Submission Report to the Board. At this same meeting, the Board approved Parks Canada's recommendation that the Plaque be located at CRC and subsequently it was mutually agreed for a variety of reasons to postpone the official unveiling of the Plaque until September, 2009. In the meantime, agreement has been reached with Parks Canada staff on the proposed text for the Plaque. This text is to be submitted to the HSMBC's Inscriptions Committee later this month and if approved, to the next full meeting of the Board in December.

WIGNEY, Edward "Ted" Peacefully, after a lengthy battle with cancer, at the Hospice at May Court on Sunday, September 28th, 2008 at the age of 65 years. Loving husband for 37 years of Jackie Wigney (nee Barrett). Son of Loretta and the late Harold Wigney. Brother of Dawna Wigney. Uncle to Tom Mather. Son in-law of Iris and the late Malcolm Barrett. Brother in-law of Sean Barrett (Shawn), Dawn Godin (Mike). Uncle to Karen and Lara "Bette" Wigmore, Katie, Rachel and Delaney Barrett and special uncle to Patrick and Daniel Reid. The family wishes to express a special thank you to Dr. Susan Gick and the staff of the Hospice of May Court for their care and compassion. Friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair and McGarry on Tuesday, September 30th from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Funeral Service will follow in the Chapel on Wednesday, October 1st at 11:30 a.m. For those wishing, memorial contributions to the Hospice at May Court or the charity of your choice would be appreciated

Published in the Ottawa Citizen from 9/29/2008 - 9/30/2008

DOHOO, Roy McGregor Passed away peacefully in hospital on 28 September, 2008 in his 90th year. Born in Hornchurch, Essex, England on 3 September, 1919, Roy was, for 59 years, the beloved husband of Alice Rosemary (Mary). He was the loving father of Sheila (Thierry) and Ian (Susan), grandfather of Philippe (Carmela), Paul (Jessica), Jeff and Carolyn and great-grandfather of Nicholas, Isaac, and William. A service of celebration of his life will be held at Rideau Park United Church on Thursday, 2 October at 11:00 a.m. A reception with the family will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rideau Park United Church Foundation, c/o Rideau Park United Church, 2203 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 7L9

That’s all for now,

Jim Sawtell

iq4u@storm.ca

613-836-5795