Field Day is an annual amateur radio exercise, widely sponsored by IARU regions and member organizations, encouraging emergency communications preparedness among amateur radio operators, it is typically the largest single emergency preparedness exercise in the North America, with over 40,000 operators participating each year.

Radio amateurs throughout North America practice the rapid deployment of radio communications equipment in environments ranging from operations under tents in remote areas to operations inside Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs). Operations using emergency and alternative power sources are highly encouraged, since electricity and other public infrastructures are often among the first to fail during a natural disaster or severe weather.

To determine the effectiveness of the exercise and of each participant's operations, there is an integrated contesting component, and many clubs also engage in concurrent leisure activities (camping out, cookouts, etc.). Operations typically last a continuous twenty-four hours, requiring scheduled relief operators to keep stations on the air. Additional contest points are awarded for experimenting with unusual modes, making contacts via satellite, and involving youth in the activity.

The Toronto EmComm Group, which provides auxiliary communications support to Emergency Management Ontario and the Toronto Office of Emergency Management provided mutual aid support to the York Region EmComm Group along with military personnel from the 709 Communications Regiment and 700 Communications Squadron were pleased to participate in Field Day Operations with the York Region Amateur Radio Club.

The 709/700 Communications personnel upon arrival at the operations site setup modular tents to house the kitchen area, command post, radio operations and sleeping area. A 10 Kilowatt generator was also setup which provided power to the entire site.

The Command Post served as the GOTA (Get-On-The-Air) station where visitors and military personnel were able to participate in radio operating and logging duties. Radio and antenna equipment for the GOTA station was provided by the Toronto Office of Emergency Management.

Visiting Officials included;

Maj. Greg Stasyna
709/700 Commanding Officer

Jim Taylor VA3KU
Amateur Radio Program Coordinator 
Emergency Management Ontario

Jean Ramroop 
Toronto Office of Emergency Management
 

Report Filed June 30 2011
Jim Taylor VA3KU
Toronto EmComm Group