Coast guard radio officer at Thunder Bay/VBA MCTS (marine communications & traffic services centre). Canadian coast guard radio (CGR) & vessel traffic services (VTS) amalgamated in the mid 90's. A lot of technology (1980's to 21st century) is crammed into a very small space, with enough flashing lights, buttons, switches, computers and monitors to impress visitors! 

The photo is of my "shack" at work. There are 3 identical communication consoles. We normally work single stand in the winter, have 2 ROs on about 9 months of the year, and run with 3 ROs during our summer season peak (about 400 distress/urgency and other cases) in a "good" year.

I was sending the last Morse code transmission on 4 November 1998. We found out later that the first RO arrived at the newly built Marconi station, that would become VBA, on 4 November 1910!

In November 2010, Thunder Bay/VBA (VE3VBA) will celebrate 100 years of continuous radio service to the upper Great Lakes, from the city of Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay). Work the first, and therefore the oldest Canadian Great Lakes radio station, next year, for a special 100th anniversary award.

Trainied as a dual Aeradio/Marine radio operator, graduate of the Transport Canada Training Inistitute (TCTI) Ottawa, class of 76-7. I've had the good fortune to attend courses, over the years, at the other governent training institutes including TCTI Cornwall (air), and the Canadian Coast Guard College in Sydney (marine), Cape Breton, NS.

Licensed as a ham in 1994 with Morse code, and advanced endorsements. Please QSL via the FISTS buro, eQSL.cc, or direct.

73.