Goodbye? Hello! to Elizabeth

Elizabeth Grayson leaning on a display table in the Secrets of Radar Museum, August, 2022. Used with permission.

Sometimes a summer job contract or university intern really clicks with us and our mission and over the years we’ve had several employment contract staff and interns return to us or stay on as volunteers, sometimes for several years.

We are delighted to announce that following the conclusion of her summer Young Canada Works contract, during the Annual General Meeting, Elizabeth Grayson stood for election to the Board of Directors. She was unopposed and the membership unanimously accepted her election. She has taken on the job of handling memberships, among other things, and we couldn’t be happier.

During her three-month summer contract, Elizabeth worked diligently to catalogue, cull, and house several archival collections, attended museum network events, and developed her own interpretive approach to our exhibit material to provide excellent tours. Elizabeth is in the process of completing a Bachelors in Museum Studies at Western University and is brimming with ideas and enthusiasm. Welcome aboard, Elizabeth. We hope you enjoy your term on the Board!

Social Distancing due to COVID-19

We have been monitoring the ever changing situation with COVID-19.

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Theresa Tam, has called for social distancing and a ban on public gatherings to stop the development of new cases. Canada is hunkering down for 3 weeks. Many public institutions, arts and culture organisations, and businesses have drafted new policies aimed at protecting their employees and safeguarding their ability to function. After consulting with our partners on site, the 427 Wing and LARC, the Board has made the decision to temporarily close SORM to the public until further notice.

Click here for more information about social distancing and “flattening the curve”.

Thank you for your continued support. Stay healthy!

Steve Bourdeau,

President

Happy New Year from the Secrets of Radar Museum!

Pictured is CFS Falconbridge, c.1971. Opened in 1952 as RCAF Station Falconbridge, just north of Sudbury, ON, it closed in 1985 after the Pinetree Line—the line of NORAD radar stations that spanned the breadth of southern Canada—was declared redundant. Photographer unknown. Did you take this photo or know who did? Please let us know! Collection of the Secrets of Radar Museum

For us at “Radar”, this new year—2020—is a special one. It marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

When the war began in September 1939, no one foresaw just how long it would last. As the years crept by, enlistment faltered, enthusiasm waned, and casualties mounted. When it finally ended, thousands of exhausted Canadians returned to their friends and families. Our radar story begins in late 1940 with a few hundred men with radio and electronics skills, culminating at war’s end with about 15,000 total Canadian men and women working in the RCAF radar program. Sworn to the Official Secrets Act, they toiled in often appalling, occasionally extremely dangerous conditions, overseas and in Canada, in every theatre of war, working beside Britons, Australians, and a host of other Commonwealth citizens, as well as Americans, to thwart, baffle, and defend against enemy operations.

We were, of course, founded by those very same WWII radar veterans in order to preserve and share their unique history whose secrecy was mirrored by those involved in experimental scientific and intelligence activities. Like the veterans themselves, many of whom continued to work in radar-related fields in their post-war careers, returned to school, built companies and families, we too have branched out. We’ve come a long way, with multiple exhibits, a unique collection of artefacts and archives, virtual exhibits, and education and outreach programming. Although the past year saw many challenges and changes, standing here looking at our displays, with all of you supporting us in so many invaluable ways, we feel pretty good about the future.

With that said, we offer you gratitude and the sincerest wish for a healthy and happy 2020, and hope that you will continue to engage with us in the weeks and months ahead as we commemorate this momentous anniversary year. To you and yours, Happy New Year!

Secrets of Radar T-Shirts have arrived!

You asked, we listened! Finally, Secrets of Radar logo tees are available for $20 (on site, or with additional shipping). Our attractive tees are standard fit men’s and women’s, navy blue with phosphor green printing. They feature our handsome new logo, designed by Winnipeg artist Gilles Messier, and our tagline, “Imagine saving the world… and keeping it secret for 50 years”.

Press Release Announcing our New Home!

Secrets of Radar Museum

Museum Announces its Relocation

London, ON – After 14 years at its original site, the Secrets of Radar Museum is on the move!

The Secrets of Radar Museum is moving and expects to reopen for the public at its new home in August, 2017. Inventory and packing are well underway, with the first stage of the move expected to occur in mid-June. The Museum is excited to enhance and re-imagine its exhibitions for the new location in a way that will make greater use of its archival and oral history collections.

Support in the form of advice, materials, and funding have been received from other local museums, the London Heritage Council, and individuals; however, relocating a museum is a big project and additional offers of assistance are welcome.

The new site is located at 2155-B Crumlin Side Rd, London, ON N5V 3Z9, which is directly adjacent to the Royal Canadian Air Force Association 427 (London) Wing and shared with the London Amateur Radio Club (LARC). The new site will make for exciting cross-programming and partnerships with the Wing, LARC, and nearby Jet Aircraft Museum.

 

About the Museum: During the Second World War, at the request of the British government, almost 6,000 Canadians were trained in all aspects of radar operation and loaned to the Royal Air Force (RAF). By the war’s end, thousands more had been trained and sent into every theatre of conflict. Sworn to an oath of secrecy that was not lifted until 1991, it was only recently that these men and women were able to share their experiences. Canadian radar personnel were a crucial part of the war effort. Many of these early radar veterans went on to have leadership roles in the development of radar during the Cold War and in the Canadian telecommunications industry. Our museum is dedicated to collecting and preserving their stories and remembering their important contributions. It’s no joke, radar helped win the war!

We're Moving !

You've heard the rumours and seen the posts on Facebook...

Well, it's true:

we're on the move!

That's right, the rumours are true, Secrets of Radar Museum is relocating.  We can't give give you the details, yet, as the paperwork hasn't been signed, but we're pretty sure you'll understand our excitement.  You can expect an announcement soon.

As was reported in our last newsletter, the Western Counties property, our home for 14 years, is changing ownership.  Unfortunately, the age of the buildings means that in order for the new owners to upgrade, everything has to be removed to clear out asbestos and address long-standing structural problems.  While we're sad to leave our idyllic location by the Westminster Ponds, we're happy to say that the new owners have great plans to restore and re-purpose the buildings. 

And we're even more excited about the plans for our new home!

Three great ways to help us out:

Moving is hard enough, but moving a whole museum (even a little one like ours) is a really big job!

• Volunteer to inventory and/or pack artefacts

• Donate packing supplies (bubble wrap, packing foam, plastic totes, packing tape)

• Donate money to help us re-imagine our exhibits in our new home!

The museum's final day open to the public is May 13, 10AM-4PM.
Inventory and packing will occur throughout the month of May.  The collection will be moved early June with the museum re-opening at its new site mid-summer.

Contact us to volunteer !

Cold War Radar in Canada: We want to hear from you!

Did you, perhaps, serve on one of Canada's three radar defence lines?  We'd love to hear from you.  We want to build our oral history library and permanent collection to include your experiences and artefacts.  Get in touch!

Unissued / unused material. Radar Station in Northern Canada. Travelling shot across snowy countryside. Various shots of the radar station and surrounding building. Various shots radar aerial operating. CU radar screen in operation. MS operators at control panel. CU Radar screen. CU radar location chart, pan down to operations tables.

A silent glimpse into RCAF Station Foymount in 1955. 

The early Pine Tree Line stations were more or less modelled on British WWII radar stations.  A number of our membership served on these Cold War era stations and are more than happy to talk about their experiences when they're volunteering around the museum. 

Anouncements !

We have some great news to share ! 

Firstly, congratulations go to Manager Maya on being a recipient of the 2013 London Community Foundation Vital People grant.  The grant provides $2000 to SoRM so that Maya can study Project Management at Western.  

Secondly, if you happen to be attending the OMA conference this week, Maya will be participating in a tech talk round-table tomorrow, and on Friday she will be presenting an Ignite session on museum engagement. 

Thirdly, on Friday, November 29th, the Physics & Astronomy building at Western will be celebrating its grand re-opening and we'll be there.  SoRM has been collaborating with the department to create some dynamic new wall content for the newly renovated building, and the first phase of the project will be unveiled at the event.  If you want to attend, please RSVP. 

View fullsize

Radar Resolutions

Image borrowed from this site, which has nothing at all to do with radar.

The year is drawing to a close and, as is traditional in Canadian society, we look to the future with an eye for betterment, improvement, enjoyment, hopes, and wishes.  Museums tend more toward vision statements, strategic planning documents, and exhibition plans rather than New Year Resolutions, but there's a nice informality to resolutions, and if you fail in achieving them, you don't lose your funding.

So, for the sake of the season, here are our Resolutions for the betterment of the museum.  In 2013:

1. We resolve to be a more engaging museum, be it through our exhibits, our research amenities, or through social media.
   
2. We resolve to make sure we give all facets of our Mandate equal weight.
3. We resolve to become the best known "secret" in London so that we're secret in name only!
4. We resolve to build excitement through new approaches to our subject matter.

Do you think we can do it?  It may not be easy, but we're confident.  With plans in the works to refurbish old displays and to create new content, and with ideas for building both partnerships and audiences, we think this is going to be a pretty exciting year.  As 2012 wraps up, we're anticipating that the energy and interest we've been building through the fall will take us to some fantastic new places. 

As a final thought, we'd like to take a moment to thank our volunteers for their hard work.  Norman Warnick and Roy Taylor are two of our wonderful volunteer tour guides.  Norman loves history and telling stories, bringing enthusiasm to all his tours.  Roy has been with the museum since the very beginning and is a WW2 Radar veteran able to share his own real life experiences.  Lawrence Petch has recently retired from volunteering, but his love of history and research have helped make our story that much stronger.  Thanks, Lawrence!  New volunteers Liz Myers (with her huge personality and love of organisation) and Bill Hilton (he's the guy who 'makes things go' for live demos) are happy additions to the Radar family.  Welcome!

We wish you a very safe and happy New Year's Eve and all the best for the coming year.  See you in the future!

Jan A. Bates

We would like to thank Jan A. Bates for her vision and dedication to The Secrets of Radar Museum.  Without the spirit, drive, and support of Jan and her late husband Fred, "Radar" would not exist.  We are deeply saddened at her passing and offer our sincerest condolences to her family.  Jan Bates passed away November 20, 2012, in her 90th year.