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RADIOALUMNI.CA |
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CANADIAN EPICS IN RADIOCOMMUNICATION ALUMNI WHO LIVED THE ADVENTURE OF RADIO WIRELESS TELEGRAPHISTS - SPARKS - RADIO PIONEERS RADIO OPERATORS - RADIO TECHNICIANS RADIO TECHNOLOGISTS - RADIO ENGINEERS RADIO INSPECTORS - SPECTRUM MANAGERS |
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ÉPOPÉES CANADIENNES EN RADIOCOMMUNICATION LES ANCIENS QUI ONT VÉCU L'AVENTURE DE LA RADIO TÉLÉGRAPHISTES SANS FIL - PIONNIERS DE LA RADIO OPÉRATEURS RADIO - TECHNICIENS RADIO TECHNOLOGUES RADIO - INGÉNIEURS RADIO INSPECTEURS RADIO - GESTIONNAIRES DU SPECTRE |
Earle Wintfield Smith, beloved husband of Barbara, passed away after a brave and courageous battle with cancer at the QEII Hospital in Grande Prairie, Alberta on February 24, 2012 with his family by his side.
Earle was born in Maccan, Nova Scotia on November 7, 1930, eldest child of Lorne and Mildred Smith and was raised in rural areas of Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at age 17 and was stationed in various parts of Canada including Montreal, Whitehorse, Alert, Beaverbank, and Beaverlodge. He retired in 1968 and then spent 23 years with Alberta Power (ATCO Electric) managing communication systems in northwest Alberta and retired in 1992.
Earle served as President of Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) from late 2004 to
the end of 2007 and was well respected by amateur radio operators both within
Canada and Internationally. He was a gentleman and friend to all hams and a
strong advocate for amateur radio and for the Radio Amateurs of Canada. Earle was first licenced in 1948 as VE1SA. During his RCAF career 1948 - 1968 he held calls VE3ADP, VE2ACW, VE2ATT, VE8AT, VE2ACH, VE8AT, VE3BMM, VE1ZQ/VE1WR, VE6APB, VE6NM/VE6EWS and VE8BY.
Earle served as VE8 QSL Manager for several years. He served as ARLA Director for NW Alberta and also briefly served as Assistant Canadian Radio Relay League (CRRL) Director for NW Alberta, then various executive positions with Canadian Amateur Radio Federation (CARF) and worked on merger of CARF and CRRL to form Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), followed by many years involvement with RAC as Director for AB/NT/NU, various Executive roles and retired as President RAC December 2007. Also RAC Delegate Team Leader to several IARU Region II conferences.
Earle was a Life Member of RAC, QCWA, SOWP, member of ARRL and member of several amateur clubs across Canada. Proud to be the sole Canadian recipient of the prestigious Azteca Award from Federacion Mexicana de Radioamateur Experimentadores A.C (FMRE) for services rendered to amateur radio in Canada and Mexico. His favourite band was Six Metres and he was involved in ARES. While serving as RAC President, he visited every Canadian Province and Territory while meeting many amateurs. He also attended several QCWA National conventions and enjoyed meeting so many enthusiastic amateurs. Earle also sponsored two Six Metre beacons, VE8BY at Iqaluit and VE6ARC near Grande Prairie, Alberta. He was a qualified Team Facilitator and kept himself current by doing facilitation on a volunteer basis for non-profit groups. Supposedly retired, he was occasionally found driving a Semi around Alberta and British Columbia during the winter months and in the summer months travelling with his truck camper through Canada's North, looking for new fishing spots.
All who knew Earle respected him as a leader, a friend and a force for good in the amateur radio community.
He will be missed !
Donald Courcy, VE1CG 28 February 2012
From : John Gilbert
John
De :
Jacques Hamel
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Related Links Photos Courtesy of Earle Smith at Alert Photo Gallery
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