The Yellowknife Amateur Radio Society is a not for profit society incorporated under the Societies Act, RSNWT 1988, S-11. This means that it has a legal personality and that it is required to submit various reports to the Registrar of Societies. It also means that, under section 2 of the Act, is incorporated
...for [a] benevolent, philanthropic, charitable, religious, provident, scientific, artistic, literary, social, educational, sporting or other useful purpose other than the carrying on of a trade or business...
Our primary purposes are scientific and educational but also benevolent and philanthropic.
The Society has as its objects
- to foster, encourage and assist on projects which, in the opinion of the members will promote amateur radio;
- to further the enjoyment and understanding of amateur radio; and
- to provide assistance and support to civil authorities in times of emergency.
The Society was founded on April 19, 1985 by VE8DP, VE8RZ, VE8FB, VE8JH, VE8AM and five other persons with an interest in amateur radio.
The Society's membership ebbs and wanes over time. Society activities include regular meetings, participating in ARRL/RAC Field Day, RAC Canada Day Contest, RAC Winter Contest, various radio nets, the operation and maintenance of two linked repeater systems in Yellowknife and Behchokǫ̀. The Society also supports radio communication support for community events (at times) and has assisted in radio direction-finding for transmitters accidentally left activated (i.e. stuck push-to-talk button - PTT). Members also are active with experimentation and the unique propagation characteristics of living under the aurora oval. Members are also conversant with computers including digital communications and the use of exotic transmission modes and Linux.
The Society and its members strive to carry out amateur radio activities in accordance with the terms of our licences while adhering to federal laws, including the
- Radiocommunication Act, RSC 1985, c.R-2; and
- Telecommunications Act, RSC 1993, c.38.
Because radio waves know no boundaries and the amateur radio service has a planetary scope (even in Yellowknife), the Society and its members also strive to follow international rules and guidelines and particularly those of the International Telecommunications Union.
The Society's governing documents may be found at:
- Articles of Incorporation - Download YARS Incorporation 1985; and
- Constitution - Download YARS Constitution 1997.