During the violent record breaking wind storm on the night of December 13/14, 2006, WARA's repeater tower on Mount McDonald was badly damaged. Because of the tower's precarious nature, and because another wind-storm was imminent, the tower had to be cut down to save neighbouring emergency structures. There was no time to save parts of the tower or any of the antennas mounted on it. As a result, the tower and most of the antennas were destroyed.

It wasn't long before a committee was struck to solicit contributions for the purchase and erection of a new tower. Alice Uher, VA7ALU, kicked-off the project in fine style with a cheque made out to the WARA Tower Project, presenting her cheque to Al Muir, VE7BEU, WARA's President and Technical Director.

This tower was the centre for a network of radio repeaters that spanned Greater Victoria, the Gulf Islands and parts of Northern Washington. Its loss is keenly felt both by Amateur Radio operators and by emergency organizations. Because of the forest of antennas and guy wires in the immediate proximity of the downed tower, the CRD specified that any new structure must be free-standing, and engineered (no guy wires). 

Click to get a copy of the QuarterWave Tower Fund Special Edition #1.

This web page is to honour and to thank the individuals and organizations who have generously supported the Tower Fund.

October 2009.  We are concluding a contract with CRD Water and expect to start installing the new antennas on new tower shortly thereafter.  Antennas are being installed by commercial companies.

January 2010. 
We are working on the contract for finalize it as soon as possible.  It has been reviewed by the club executive and membership.  A meeting to discuss with the CRD will be arranged shortly.  Final contract will be brought to the membership at a meeting for finalization and voting on.

October 2010 up to February 2011: 

2011 Final contract with CRD has been signed and received.

 October 2011 Final contract with Bell Mobility is being completed for submission.