2005

Sub-Zero SMO's

By: Laurna Thede
 

Plumes of exhaust hanging over

the Mobil/Sierra Road Checkpoint.

 


SMO's and RCMP bundled up

against the cold hard at work

checking commercial vehicles.

 


Daytime high temperature

showing -40 degrees.

 

While most of us prefer the cozy comfort of home on cold January days, Spectrum Management Officers (SMOs) in the Northern BC/Yukon District office can be found hard at work in the field. 

 

On January 10th - 14th, Morris Bodnar and Brad Davis participated in a road check in Fort Nelson. For those of you who aren't familiar with Fort Nelson, it's located in the northeast corner of BC very close to the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

 

And, as you can imagine, January can be a bitterly cold month in this region.

 

Why not wait for warmer weather, you ask? Well, Fort Nelson is located in BC’s oil patch. Much of the area is muskeg and marsh, so it is not easily accessed in the warmer months. Much of the oil patch activity takes place when the muskeg freezes, making vehicle travel to and from the well sites safer and less daunting. 

 

Because this area of the province is remote, radio is the main method of communication for companies conducting business. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a vehicle in this region that doesn’t have a radio installed.

 

With a few exceptions, all two-way radios require a licence issued by the Spectrum Management section of Industry Canada before they can be operated legally. Many radio users don’t realize that a licence is required. This is particularly true in the north. On an inspection trip to Fort Nelson last summer, Brad learned from local law enforcement officials that the area is a hotbed of activity in the winter months and it was suggested that a road check in January could yield a fairly substantial number of unlicensed radios.

 

So, off to the frozen tundra Morris Bodnar and Brad Davis went. With the exception of Jeff Stanhope in Whitehorse - and a few crusty inspectors who have been around a while and spent some of their pensionable time in the north - few of us have experienced working outside in sub zero conditions. Brrrr!

 

Each morning before daybreak, "Morris of the North" and his "Sidekick Brad" dressed in thick winter garb and ventured out of their hotel rooms into the thick pall of diesel fumes and exhaust which hung low over the town from vehicles that were left running throughout the night. 

They met with two RCMP members, and then made the trek 30 Km northeast from Fort Nelson into a frozen wasteland to check vehicles for unlicensed radios and various other infractions. With the outside air temperature gauge on the rear view mirror showing the daytime high of -40º, they inspected radios installed in commercial and service vehicles, issued warning tickets, and collected applications for unlicensed radios. It was a productive week, and their presence was well received.

 

Back in the office the following week, they recounted their exploits to an eager assembly of co-workers. They were happy with the results from the road check and encountered only a few cold-related problems with their electronic tools... laptops and PDA’s. 

They reiterated that old refrain: Working outside in the cold weather isn’t bad if you are dressed for it. Of course, it also helps if you are young and made of rather stern stuff!

 

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