Cowichan Valley Amateur Radio Society

About Us

The Cowichan Valley Amateur Radio Society (CVARS) is an incorporated Not For Profit group. CVARS is comprised of amateur radio operators from Ladysmith to the Malahat including Lake Cowichan and the Gulf Islands.

CVARS provides training in amateur radio operations; assists interested persons in obtaining required Certificates and licenses issued by Industry Canada and instructs them in procedures and methods of operating in times of declared civil emergency.

CVARS assists its members to advance their Amateur Radio Certification levels by means of organized instructional programs. CVARS helps operators with physical disabilities in the use of specialized equipment and training necessary to actively participate in amateur radio as a hobby and a community service.

CVARS provides radio communications operators and related equipment necessary for the operation of an Amateur Radio Disaster Support and Emergency Communications Service to assist volunteers with Federal, Provincial, Regional or Local Authorities. CVARS also provides radio communications services to fulfill requests by non-profit community and/or charitable organizations in support of their activities.

A system of radio repeaters is owned and maintained by the CVARS as part of CVARS ongoing commitment to the amateur radio groups and operators in our area. This includes independent repeaters and connections to the Island Trunk System (ITS). The Island Trunk System allows communications by linked and independently operated repeaters covering Vancouver Island.

The society was incorporated on December 19, 1991. At that time members met in a room on the top floor of the City Hall. A radio station was located there as well. After city hall CVARS rented a large room in the Professional Centre on Duncan Street. That was expensive. Members agreed to hold their official weekly meeting at what was then the Silver Bridge Inn on the Trans Canada Highway, which became Travelodge Silver Bridge Inn. Recently the meetings were moved to the Best Western Cowichan Vally Inn in Duncan. To hold equipment and also to act as an emergency communication centre members converted a travel trailer. The travel trailer was replaced in 2012 when CVARS built a new Communications trailer.

The board of CVARS is elected at the Annual General Meeting each November. Committees are comprised of volunteers and members appointed by the Board.

Meetings

Coffee meetings: Wednesday at 0900 and Saturday at 0800, York Dinner, Duncan, BC. with the Whitespot as an alternate if the York is closed. Monthly General Meetings: held every 3rd Saturday of the month except July, August and December Annual General Meeting: held on the 3rd Saturday of November

Nets, daily at 0815, 146.68 - pl 141.3 VE7AQW
Monday Evening Communications Net at 1930, 145.47 - pl 127.3 VE7RVC

 

The Board Members
President	George Farris	VE7FRG
Vice President	Rick Coles	VA7RKC
Secretary	Ian Low	VA7IGL
Treasurer	Dale Jones	VE7JP
1) Director	Steve Bradshaw	VE7CBH
2) Director	Darrell Robinson	VE7DDR
3) Director	Les Dawes	VA7CBN
4) Director	Chris Brandson	VA7RXD
5) Director	Pat Oakley	VE7QP
6) Director	Donna Sassaman	VA7CHS
7) Director	Jens Barsballe	VA7BAZ