Welcome to the Westcoast Amateur Radio Association. WARA is a not-for-profit Amateur Radio club based in the Capital Regional District area of Victoria British Columbia, Canada. (See map). Our quarterly newsletter, The QuarterWave is available on-line from Downloads | QuarterWave.

We have a large membership consisting of radio enthusiasts who have been issued an Amateur Radio Operator Certificate and call sign by Industry Canada. The association operates a number of remote repeater stations on various frequency bands used for the purpose of improving local coverage and extending the range of mobile and portable radio equipment.

During 2007/2008, the top priority of WARA is to rebuild the antenna tower at our primary repeater site. It was destroyed during a violent windstorm in December 2006. If you are able to donate to our Tower Fund, please use the PayPal Donate Icon on the home page or contact WARA. Click on Downloads | Bulletins to get a copy of the QuarterWave Tower Fund Special Edition #1.

WARA has approximately 300 members and each year our club is involved in providing communications at public service events, emergency communications for the Red Cross, and providing training courses for those wishing to become hams. In addition, WARA has a Monday Night Net which includes Swap and Shop. WARA also participates in the annual ARRL Field Day where we test our equipment and skills under simulated emergency conditions. Click on the WARA Departments menu item for more information.

Announcements and news items are sent by email to interested individuals. If you wish to be on our email Reflector list, go to Contact Us.

WARA also has a number of 2 m, 6 m, 220 MHz and 70 cm repeater stations in and around the Greater Victoria area as well as autopatch phone service for WARA members. As a member of WARA, you are encouraged to use the repeater system, the IRLP nodes and phone patch, participate in nets, come to meetings, offer to sit on the board, chair committees and help organize events. We want you to feel free to ask questions, ask for help and get to know your fellow members. WARA has a long and proud history of public service. From marshalling of marathons and assisting with the Swiftsure Race to providing emergency communications, there are many opportunities for you to get involved. If you want to do something for your community and for the club, volunteer. Your help is always appreciated.

We maintain an excellent repeater infrastructure for local communications and we are always investigating and installing new innovations. For example, the 1.2 GHz D-Star data system that was installed in the spring of 2005 was the first of its kind in Canada. This system allows direct communications between computer systems over a ham radio link providing a higher level of digital communications for the area’s emergency communications centres and the ham community.