Quarter Century Amateur Radio Club

The QCARC’s annual winter social, flea market and Ukrainian meal has now come and gone and we can say that it was another successful event enjoyed by many. Over one hundred attendees enjoyed socializing, scouring the flea market tables and haggling for a good deal.

Many thanks to our sponsors, Icom Canada and Radio World for their continued and generous support with their displays and door prizes. The executive and members of the QCARC greatly appreciate their support and participation. The event would not be the same without them.

A big thank you is due to each and every volunteer that donated their time and effort to the running of the event. These events would not happen without all of your contributions!

The excellent Ukrainian meal that was provided was enjoyed by many. While a caterer provided the food itself, generous volunteers laid it out for us and cleaned up afterwards. We are all thankful for your efforts!

Our friends at the NCAARC in St. Albert have the following announcement:

Chris Bone, VA6CMB, will be speaking about D-Star and related topics at the next North Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club meeting in February. This is an invitation to attend the event. There is room for up to 20 hams. 

    When: Saturday, February 21, 2026, 9:30 AM

    Where: Fire Station #3 in St Albert located at 100 Giroux Rd, St. Albert

There is limited space so if you are interested in attending please email Ernest Clintberg, VE6EC before end of day on Monday, February 16, 2026 at ernestedd@gmail.com.

This is a first come, first served event, so please email Ernest as soon as possible to ensure you have a spot.

At the upcoming QCARC winter flea market and social, Mitch, VE6OH, will have the following items for sale:

Group 1

Group 2

Where: Canora Hall: 10425 152 Street NW, Edmonton, AB

When: Saturday, February 7th, 2026

• 8:00 – 9:00: Vendor set up
• 9:00 – 11:00: Flea market
• 11:00 – 12:00 Social
• 12:00 – 1:00 Ukrainian meal (details below)

The QCARC will be hosting our annual winter flea market and social event featuring free admission, beverages and snacks. Door prizes will be drawn and you will find the usual amazing range and variety of items in the flea market.

A Ukrainian meal will be served at noon which will consist of four perogies, four cabbage rolls, two nalysnyky, one sausage, one scoop of coleslaw, one roll and dessert. The price is $25 per plate as per usual.

To reserve a plate please email or phone Neil at VE6TCK@gmail.com or 780-818-1975. Or give Neil a call on VE6QCR or the APSN most nights. There will be fifty meals available so please book early as they do go fast! Payment can be made on the day of the event.

We will be accepting membership renewals at the AGM in April to simplify accounting.

Bill Gillespie, VE6ABC, passed away on January 3, 2026 at the age of 96.

Here is Bill’s obituary

Bill was very active in the hobby from the 1970’s through the 1990’s.

Some notable areas of his activity were:

• Net Control station for the Alberta Public Service Net on HF in addition to section manager and section communications manager.
• President of the Northern Alberta Radio Club, the only active club in Edmonton at the time
• Northern Alberta Radio Club 2m Net Control station as well as the on-air swap and shop
• CW practice session on the NARC 2m repeater
• Maintained the tube bank for many years
• Produced, edited and oversaw the printing and distribution of the The Emitter, NARC’s news letter
• Participated in Hubert Johnson’s, VE6AMY, Field Day from 1979 to 2019 missing only one year 
• Produced an Alberta call sign directory in 1976 and 1979 (at the time Edmonton had two 2m repeaters the province had 18
• Bill joined the Quarter Century Amateur Radio Club in 1986, the first year the club held an Annual General Meeting and was a long term member

The annual QCARC fall social and flea market went off very well thanks to the work of all the volunteers and all those who attended. It seemed that everyone enjoyed themselves very much. There was a small issue when the entrance was forgotten in a locked state. This caused a bit of a rush when the doors were opened. The social aspect of the event was welcomed as always. It gives us all a chance to sit down over a coffee and a snack and get caught up with friends that we may not see as often as we would like.

The executor of the estate of Brian, VE6WHO, thanked the club again for the help with the sale of Brian’s radio-related items. The club also sold items from four other estates and reduced our inventory by about 50% or more. This leaves much less to store and to take to Calgary on the 25th for the big flea market there.

 The $200 gift certificate donated by Radio World/GPS Central was won by Rhonda, VA6SF. Icom Canada donated an IC-V86 HT which was won by John, VE6JKC. We are very fortunate to have generous donors that support our events. A great, big thank you to them! Thanks to other clubs for attending as well as all individual vendors for bringing their surplus items. The wide variety of equipment offered is what these things are all about!

The success of these events is a result of the volunteers that do the work and the attendees that show up to buy, sell and socialize. Thank you to everyone and special thanks to the volunteers who made it all happen, setting up, tearing down, manning tables and all the other things they do.

The weather was good given the time of year and made for easier travel for our out of town visitors. The chill in the air signals the end of antenna work. Or does it? Every ham makes this decision every year! We all hope for a slow and gentle transition into winter. Next up we’re off to Calgary with other executive for the next get together and flea market!

Our friends at the Northern Alberta Radio Club will be hosting a Christmas dinner on December 10, 2025. The details can be found on their website here:

NARC 2025 Christmas dinner

It is once again time! You are invited to the upcoming Quarter Century Amateur Radio Club flea market.

Where: Canora Community League Hall, 10425 152 st NW, Edmonton, AB

Doors open: 1000h to 1200h, Saturday, October 11, 2025

Vendors only: set up is from 0900h to 1000h

There will be free coffee and snacks and a large and varied collection of ham radio related equipment offered by a variety of clubs and individuals. To reserve your table email mail@qcarc.net with the number of tables you would like. As always, tables are free of charge.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Since he passed, the QCARC has been helping the family with the estate of Sig Preuss, VE6SP. Thus far that includes the removal of four towers, several antennas and the sale of his amateur radio equipment.

There will be a sale of vintage AM BCB radio equipment dating from 1913 to 1939. This is scheduled for Saturday, September 27th rain or shine from 1000h to 1200h. The equipment includes over 100 radios in excellent condition as well as more than 30 project and/or parts radios.

More information on this event including a list of sale items, photos of some items and direction to the sale can be found on our “Events” page here: