VE1AMA/VA1BA Silent Key
May 25, 2010

     Burt was a member of the Canadian Armed Forces for over 32 years and very proud of his service to his country. He had postings in Summerside PEI, Gagetown NB, Lahr Germany and Greenwood NS, he also did tours of duty in Golan Heights and Bosnia and travelled to many many places eventually retiring in Auburn, NS.

     And speaking of people world wide – he had a genuine interest and love for them all. He truly was interested in everyone and their stories. That is why he enjoyed Amateur Radio so much. It was more than an enjoyment, it was his passion.

     Burt became VE1AMA in 1971 in Summerside PEI. 3 Years later he moved to Lahr Germany where he restarted the Amateur Radio Club. He loved to teach anyone interested and so by the time he left he had increased the club by over 60 people. In the Golan Heights he spent 6 months keeping servicemen and women in touch with their families via Amateur Radio phone patch.

     He was involved with just about every aspect of radio from providing communications at various events, EMO, Red Cross, teaching classes for new hams and operating CFARS as CIW805.

     One of his passions in amateur radio was packet and in 1986 he started “Network 105” a Canada-US wide HF/VHF packet network which is still growing and active today. This network is always on standby for emergencies like Katrina, ice storms and 9-11. Of course he would always aid travellers who wanted to touch base with home, plus daily keyboard chats and messaging. Together with VA1PR, Phyllis, his wife, Burt operated a packet radio bulletin board and world gateway using the Linux OS. Burt was also a promoter and beta tester for Kantronics packet equipment and held Callsigns VE1TNC and VE1KAM.

     Talking to the various amateur satellites and the ISS were also a great love of his. He was always listening for the "birds" to come in range to see who was there to chat with.

      Experimenting with the various digital modes was another interest of Burt's. If there was anything new on the digital horizon Burt wanted to try it out. Along with Murray VE9MB he ran the biweekly Maritime SSTV Net.

     Burt was truly an Ambassador for Amateur Radio, always happy to take time to explain and demonstrate all the various modes to anyone with an interest. He invited all newcomers to the Greenwood Amateur Radio Club with a “ Come on On – the Air’s fine"

     Burt you will be missed by people you have touched all over the world. 73 from all of us