ARES-Overview

Peel Amateur Radio Club Inc.
P.O. Box 23532
Centennial Postal Outlet
227 Vodden St. E
Brampton, ON L6V 4J4

ARES – AN OVERVIEW

A quote from the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) web site - “Amateur Radio exists as a frequency spectrum user because it qualifies as a service. Its continued existence depends to a great degree not on the service it has performed in the past, or on its simple potential for service, but on what service it is performing now and will continue to perform in the future.”

In 1935 the U.S. American Radio Relay League (ARRL) created the Amateur Radio Emergency Service ,(ARES), and in 1949 created the National Traffic System (NTS). Each of these organizations is also active throughout Canada and is sponsored by Radio Amateurs of Canada.

The emergency preparedness program of ARES, combined with the daily traffic-handling program of the NTS produces a unified, efficient service for providing reliable communication service in times of need. This readiness is maintained by regular drills and tests. While local ARES nets handle local communications, the NTS acts as the vehicle for conveying traffic over medium and long distances

The ARES consists of licensed Amateur Radio operators who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment for communications duty in the public service, when required. Any licensed Amateur Radio operator, whether or not a member of RAC or any other local or regional organization, is eligible for membership in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service. The only requirement is a sincere desire to serve when called upon.

SCOPE OF ACTIVITIES

The Brampton-Caledon ARES group is an official participant in various municipal emergency plans; namely, the Region of Peel, the City of Brampton and the Town of Caledon. The extent of participation will be as required by the nature of the emergency. Under a 1980 Agreement, Brampton-Caledon ARES will also be fully responsible for communications facilities for Peel Region Red Cross. In addition, Brampton-Caledon ARES works with other agencies, such as St. John Ambulance, Sheridan Institute of Technology, and The Salvation Army, and will assist them with communications as resources permit.

In the event of a major emergency in an area adjacent to the Region of Peel, Brampton-Caledon ARES will supply communications assistance as requested by ARES groups in those regions.

OBJECTIVES

	Establish and provide training for a core group of emergency communicators
	Provide emergency communications in time of need for Police, Red Cross, Municipal or other agencies as requested
	Build a trained core of licensed Amateur Radio operators and other volunteers who will respond to training, exercises and public service activities which require radio communications, including declared emergencies
	Create the nucleus of skilled and trained radio operators who will establish the first line of communications at the emergency site and will assume supervision of the amateur communications network