Winnipeg Amateur Radio Emergency Service

Upcoming Events...

2026 Scouts Canada Klondike Derby

It is that time of year again. We are looking for amateur radio operators to assist with the Klondike Derby which is scheduled for Saturday March 7 & Sunday March 8, 2026 - 8AM to 4PM.

Amateur radio operators will be assigned to one of 12 sites (towns) that are set up in the wooded property or along a river trail to provide radio communications from your site back to HQ.

At these sites (towns), you will be assisting with the tracking the Klondike Derby teams as they arrive at your site. This is very important to ensure that the kids arrive safely and in a timely manner as sometimes they get turned around on the course.

Amateur radio also helps by reporting any logistic or medical issues that may arise at your site.

The Klondike Derby is a all weather event, which means that no matter what the weather conditions from -2 and slushy or -25 and breezy it is "on", so please dress accordingly.

The event is held at Scouts Canada Camp Amisk, located at 4349 Waverley Street, which is 3 km south of the Perimeter Highway located right across from La Barriere Park.
Camp Amisk is a wilderness camp, and as such, the restroom facilities are outhouses.

What is Klondike Derby?
Klondike Derby is a Scouting activity (competition) requiring teams of 6 to 8 Cubs/Guides or Scouts/Pathfinders to pull a Klondike-type sleigh over a course of approximately 2.5 km through the woods and along a river trail at Camp Amisk.

Teams follow a map and visit the various Klondike "towns" where the "town mayor" assigns the team a particular task or team work or problem solving activity.

Points (nuggets) are awarded to the team based on how well it performs the task, the speed and the demonstrated teamwork.

There is a published list of equipment/supplies that each team is required to carry on their sled to assist them in their tasks.

The teams time on the course is also tracked and also forms part of the overall scoring.

The Klondike Derby event is an excellent opportunity to get out and practice our hobby, while enjoying the outdoors - and maybe also have a hot chocolate around a camp fire.

This year, Steven Harrison VE4FTS will be coordinating this event and is looking for 15 amateur radio operators to assist with the event.

Steve will be providing detailed instructions once the final information is made available by the Scouts Canada planning team, and an in-person amateur radio event briefing will be taking place at the February 17 WARES meeting.
All volunteers attending the event are encouraged to attend that meeting.

The communications for the event will be on 2M simplex - and the required frequencies will be advised well ahead of the event.

Due to the possibility of cold weather, a speaker microphone is a desireable piece of equipment so you can keep your handheld & batteries warm inside your parka.

Thanks for helping making this great Scouting event possible.

If you are interested in volunteering with the event, please contact Steven Harrison VE4FTS

Manitoba Marathon 2026

The 2026 Manitoba Marathon will be Sunday 21 JUNE 2026.
We will require around 90 amateur radio volunteers to help this major event run safely and smoothly. The Start & finish times on raceday depends on the task you are working on.

We also require a handful of "back-up operators" (must have done Marathon communications previously), they would be on the air and ready "on-call" at home at 6:00am on Race Day ready to fill in should illness sideline another operator.
(If no back-up assignment arises, the back-up operators would be done by 7 am !)

Based on the size and complexity of the event and the number of tasks that amateur radio works on, we really need the volunteer registrations be made early for planning purposes, rather than leaving that to a few days before the event.

This event is also a great learning opportunity for newer amateur radio operators who will work with experienced amateurs and learn more about the hobby, and put into practice those things they have learned while studying to obtaining their amateur license.

We need a new registration from each Amateur Radio volunteer every year regardless of what Amateur organization they belong to.

Amateur Radio volunteers must agree to abide by the Manitoba Marathon Code of Conduct for volunteers.

Thanks to Mark VE4MWH for keeping track of the volunteer registrations this year.

Please note: The 2026 Amateur Radio Group Volunteer Briefing is Tuesday 16 June 2026 19:00h at the Crescentwood Community Club 1170 Corydon Avenue, Winnipeg (See Map 24 D2 in the Sherlock Map Book).

Although the briefing starts at 1900h we will begin distribution of race information packages, task related documentation, volunteer t-shirts and any pre-arranged equipment loans starting at 18:15h.
If you register as an Amateur Radio volunteer and cannot attend the 16 JUNE briefing please let VE4MBQ know in advance who will be attending to pick up your briefing materials and volunteer t-shirt.

For those amateurs who are assigned to tasks on the "medical side" of the event, there usually is an additional Medical Team briefing which is held the day prior to the marathon.

We ask that any borrowed equipment returned as soon as possible at the end of the event.
On Race Day, any loaned traffic vests or HTs should be turned over to the official Course Closing Vehicle as it passes by your assigned location on the course, which is staffed by Amateur radio volunteers.

Jeff - VE4MBQ

Please complete your Amateur Radio Volunteer registration for the 2026 Manitoba Marathon here.