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 !

The Radar-Carrot Myth on the Food Non-Fiction Podcast

In late November, Manager Maya took a call from one of the producers of a podcast called Food Non-Fiction.  What Lillian Yang wanted to talk about was the 'carrot myth' and how it helped keep the secret of radar during the war.  Maya was, of course, happy to oblige.  The results are up now on the Food Non-Fiction website, and we encourage you to listen and share your thoughts (and carrot recipes) in their comments section. 

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While it's true that carrots are good for you and improve the overall health of your eyes, they don't really give you better vision.  At least, not like the Second World War British propaganda machine would have you believe.  So, by all means, eat them, but they won't help you see in the dark.

Remembrance Day

On this day, we do not celebrate war, but the willingness of our veterans to serve, sacrifice and protect, and we remember the thousands who never returned. We remember also the unsung civilian heroes, who fought and died, never wearing uniforms. In a larger sense, we also mark the tremendous price paid by all people affected by war and conflict. Whether you remember someone specifically, or contemplate the impact of war in a general sense, thank you for taking time to remember.

Collection of Secrets of Radar Museum
This may not be a complete list of all fallen Second World War RCAF radar personnel.  The list was not compiled by Museum staff.  Please don't hesitate to contact us with omissions or corrections.
Abbreviations: KIA = Killed In Action; KAS = Killed Active Service (killed in non-combat action such as accident); DAS = Died Active Service (died of wounds or illness while serving).

Spring and Summer Volunteer of Note

We don't usually award our 'Volunteer of Note' to the same person two seasons in a row, but we're making the exception for Bob Aggerholm.  Bob has been diligently working on our Digitisation Project since the spring, assisting collections co-ordinator, Bethany Hayward, with scanning and editing of hundreds of photographs.  Thank you, Bob, for all you do for us!

Notice of Annual General Meeting 2016

Join us for our Annual General Meeting taking place Friday, September 16, 2016 at 7:30 P.M.  Light refreshments will be served.  Members in good standing of the Secrets of Radar Museum who are unable to attend are invited to complete the Proxy Form and return it by mail or electronically before the 16th of September.

Not in good standing?  You can renew your membership online through PayPal.

Bethany Blogs: Poké­-hunting in the Great Outdoors

So, this morning I got the best work assignment ever: Manager Maya sent me off into the wilds of the museum grounds to go Pokémon hunting. Of course, having just downloaded the app yesterday, I haven’t quite figured out how to do that yet – technology and I have a strained relationship. That being said, I did manage to suss out a few things.

1. There are at least 3 Pokéstops in the immediate area. I now have a lot more pokeballs than I (literally) know what to do with.
2. There is a gym next door, which is currently controlled by the red team. So, if you’ve hit at least Level 5, it’s a good location to train.
3. There are at least 3 Pokémon to be found in the area, probably more.... and I will catch them, eventually.

Did you know that Pokémon GO tracks your position using the Global Positioning System (or GPS)? You probably did. Did you know that Radar is also used to track the position and speed of many other things, like planes, cars, and weather systems? Yes, well that’s because you’re brilliant. If you didn’t know, then you should totally come into The Secrets of Radar Museum to learn all about it.  You should come visit anyway, because it's worth it.

Bethany out.

Still Standing: Vanastra episode

We're becoming quite the place for film and TV researchers and we are delighted to tell you that our - okay, Vanastra's - episode of CBC's "Still Standing" airs tomorrow (June 21) at 9pm! Manager Maya attended the taping and laughed her head off and now you can, too.

We helped the "Still Standing" team understand and break down the former RAF/RCAF/CFB Clinton's history, and we put them in touch with spry WWII radar veteran Jim Sands, who came down from the Ottawa area to participate in the making of this episode.

"Cock's Folly", formerly a silo, the only vestige of the farm RAF Clinton replaced.  1942.  Collection of the Secrets of Radar Museum

https://m.facebook.com/stillstandingtv/

‪#‎StillStandingTV‬

Winter 2016 Volunteer of Note

At the changing of each season, after some discussion, we select one volunteer to recognise as our "Volunteer of Note".  We have chosen volunteer and member of the Board of Directors, Corbin Lippert, as our Winter 2016 VoN. 

Corbin represents the London Amateur Radio Club on our Board of Directors, but has become quite dedicated to the Secrets of Radar Museum.  Corbin not only brings technical radio knowledge to the museum, but he actively engages the LARC membership with the goings-on of the museum.  He's enthusiastic, enterprising, a bit of a handyman, and always looking for new ways to help both organisations thrive.

Thanks for everything you do, Corbin !

Corbin Lippert, December 2015.  Courtesy of the London Amateur Radio Club

A Tribute to the Women of Radar (today, and every day)

We can't tell the radar story without talking about the pivotal roles played by women, so in a sense, every day at the Museum is a Women's Day.  Women participated in radar research, made up what is very likely a majority of radar operations work, and built the equipment.  Their roles spanned science, technology, mechanics, communications, and operations.  In many cases, if not most, there was a high degree of precision and skill required to do the radar work they did, and like so often is the case, history has been pretty quiet telling their stories. 

Women working in RCAF/RAF radar during the Second World War were held to the Official Secrets Act just like the men, but unlike many of the men who returned and were encouraged to continue education in the fields of physics, engineering, radio, and electronics, women were expected to relinquish their places and return to the limited careers permitted to women, or more likely, to get married and make a home.  We don't mean to say that being a homemaker or mother isn't hard work, we know it is!  We are simply drawing attention to the fact that these women, who played such a vital role in the rapid development of radar, and more broadly speaking, the outcome of the war, were not given opportunities remotely equal to those of the returning men, but were still held to the same level of discretion and secrecy. 

So to those women, and those that followed in their footsteps, thank you for your service, your commitment, your dedication, and trailblazing.  We thank you, we are grateful, and we wouldn't be here without you.