Balaklava Island

Congratulations go out to Ivan, VE7IVN, for activating Balaklava Island off the northern tip of Vancouver Island.

Ivan is a resident of the island and lives in the old Lighthouse Keepers cottage.

The grid is CO60eu, and the new island number is BC-180.

Bigelow Island

Just received word from Chris, VA3ECO, that he has successfully activated for the first time, Bigelow Island in Lake of the Woods near Kenora, in grid EN29np.

Chris reports that he made 30 contacts in an hour including QSO''s into the Canary Islands and Puerto Rico.  Not too shabby considering the lousy propagation forecast we had that day.

Congratulations to Chris!

W/VE Island QSO Party 2018

The W/VE Island QSO Party is coming up on the weekend of August 25 & 26.

This weekend is used to promote the U.S. (USI) and Canadian (CIA) islands programs to amateurs worldwide. To promote verifiable amateur radio contacts with stations located on islands in the U.S. and Canada.

Over the last few years participation from Canadian Amateurs has been extremely low, under 10 of us most years.  Let's see if we can change that this year!!!!

The 2018 Rules can be found HERE.

Pick an island and get out and have some fun.

Not Islands but.........

Port Dalhousie Lights CAN 540 & 541

Weather Permitting VE3ISE/M will activate the above lights beginning at 1400 UTC on Sat. August 4, 2018 ending 1700 UTC. Will be working 7.275 +/- QRM.  Also planning on 20m 14.260 +/- QRM around 1530 UTC 

Hope the bands are in good shape 73
John McInally
VE3ISE/M

Just in....

Just received this information tonight.  See link below for latest James Bay activation:

Click HERE.

ON-303

John, VE3ISE will be re-activating Lakecourt Island, ON-303 and Grimsby Breakwater Light, CAN-1417 this Saturday July 7th 

John's starting time  will be 1400 UTC (10AM Local Time) to 1600 UTC (12 Noon Local Time).  Working Frequency 7275 +/- QRM

He will break for lunch and plans to return to the island at 1900 UTC (3pm Local Time) to 2100 UTC (5 PM Local Time),  Working 20M 14260 +/-  QRM.

Hopefully the crappy propagation will improve by Saturday and allow us to work John.

ON-303

John, VE3ISE was able to qualify Lakecourt Island this morning on 40 Meters.     He made 26 contacts on 40, then moved up to 20M and made another 6 contacts to give him a total of 30.  

Lakecourt Island is has been given the locator ON-303.

Two VE3'S and all the rest were U.S. stations.  Where was the Canadian support for this activation ??????????  I realize that this is the Canada Day long weekend, but surely we could do better than just 2 VE contacts!!

John did this activation in 94F in the shade.  

Well done John.