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Secrets of Radar Museum Celebrates its 20th Anniversary

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On May 22, 2023, we celebrated our 20th year open to the public. The museum held a rare Holiday Monday opening to open its doors, free, to the public. Visitors were treated to tours that highlighted the new additions and sophisticated new display materials, lunch, and (brief) speeches. Theresa Armstrong, MPP for London-Fanshawe was on hand to deliver kind words and hansard, and cut the cake. She did both with enthusiasm and skill! Guests included former staff and Board Members, volunteers past and present, and family members of Jim Sands, one of the museum’s founders. There was even a well-behaved pupper who joined the fun. Thank you to Theresa Armstrong and the London Amateur Radio Club for joining us in our merry-making.

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Government of Canada supports The Secrets of Radar Museum through the Tourism Relief Fund

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We simply can’t keep quiet about this wonderful funding news anymore! See below for more details!

The Secrets of Radar Museum received nearly $38,000 from Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization through FedDev Ontario to support future growth, increase public access to its collections, and attract visitors.

November 8, 2022, London, Ontario

The tourism sector is vital to the economy and jobs in Ontario’s Southwest. The Secrets of Radar Museum is a distinct tourism destination that draws visitors from near and far. Not only does this relief fund allow us to move forward on major projects that preserve and present history within our region, the majority of our grant will be spent right here in southwestern Ontario with local vendors.

Today, The Secrets of Radar Museum received a non-repayable contribution of nearly $38,000 from Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization to upgrade aging infrastructure to support public access. This is part of the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization received nearly $11 million from FedDev Ontario to help local tourism organizations and businesses safely welcome back visitors, recover from the impacts of the pandemic and prepare for future growth.

This investment will help The Secrets of Radar Museum adapt and recover to attract new visitors and drive economic growth in London.

READ THE FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE

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Goodbye? Hello! to Elizabeth

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Elizabeth Grayson leaning on a display table in the Secrets of Radar Museum, August, 2022. Used with permission.

Sometimes a summer job contract or university intern really clicks with us and our mission and over the years we’ve had several employment contract staff and interns return to us or stay on as volunteers, sometimes for several years.

We are delighted to announce that following the conclusion of her summer Young Canada Works contract, during the Annual General Meeting, Elizabeth Grayson stood for election to the Board of Directors. She was unopposed and the membership unanimously accepted her election. She has taken on the job of handling memberships, among other things, and we couldn’t be happier.

During her three-month summer contract, Elizabeth worked diligently to catalogue, cull, and house several archival collections, attended museum network events, and developed her own interpretive approach to our exhibit material to provide excellent tours. Elizabeth is in the process of completing a Bachelors in Museum Studies at Western University and is brimming with ideas and enthusiasm. Welcome aboard, Elizabeth. We hope you enjoy your term on the Board!

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In Memorium: Remembering Dr. Frederick Hunt 1923-2021

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In the midst of the pandemic, unbeknownst to us, we lost Dr. Fred Hunt at the age of 97. Former curator, Maya Hirschman, had two opportunities to interview Fred in 2013 and 2014 and she remembers those interviews as poignant and profound, altering her understanding of radar mechanics’ roles as he described his work in mobile radar on the front lines. She remembers him as a quiet, kind, and intelligent man, whose experiences in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands left their mark without ever undermining his deep compassion for his peers and civilians alike. Maya and all of us at SORM offer our sincere condolences to Fred’s family and friends. We know he’ll be missed.

Below is an excerpt from his Obituary (link here):

HUNT, Frederick
(Normandy Veteran - French Legion of Honour)

Passed away peacefully in Ottawa on July 10, 2021 at the age of 97 years. Frederick Hunt, loving husband of the late Alice (née Emond). Born on October 6, 1923 in Port Hope, Ontario son of the late Roy and Elsie (née Jewell). Predeceased by his brothers Jack, Ted and Reese of Port Hope, ON. Predeceased also by his sister-in-law Carol of Baltimore, On. Fondly remembered by his niece and 5 nephews. Frederick spent many dedicated years as a RCAF/RAF radar technician from 1941-1946. He later studied and received his BSc, MSc., and PhD from the university of Western Ontario in the years 1947-1955. After university, he spent 31 years with the National Research Council involving Research and Development of radar and its applications.

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Anticipating Summer '22

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We are delighted to announce that we received funding through the Young Canada Works in Heritage program to hire a summer student! YCW is an excellent program that allows museums with small budgets to expand their capacity and get important work done. Our student will work with our collection and archives, learn to give awesome tours, and will participate in the day-to-day running of a small museum. Having a student means a return to our summer hours, opening 5 days a week! Our new student joins us for 13 weeks, beginning May 31 and we can’t wait!

Welcome to the team, Elizabeth!

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Annual General Meeting Summary

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Thank you to our members who attended in person, and to those who sent in their Proxy votes. Our meeting, which was held on site with social distancing protocols in place August 20, 2021, was an enjoyable and positive event. In spite of the challenges caused by a global pandemic that lead to restrictions and closures, over all the year April 1, 2020-March 31, 2021 was strong. Our finances are healthier and our community involvement on multiple platforms has increased. Steve Bourdeau reported on the activities of the Museum, Dan Steinhaur reported on the finances, which were accepted. Maya Hirschman reported on the Museum’s acquisitions, and gave a short talk about her PhD research which is interested in SORM and the veterans who founded it. Of significance, a motion was made and approved to raise the membership fees in 2022, which have not increased since 2006. More information on that will follow in the forthcoming Autumn newsletter. All members of the executive stood for re-election and have returned for another two-year term. The Board is looking for two additional members to assist with memberships and fundraising. If you have interest, please contact us to learn more. Your current Board of Directors is Steve Bourdeau (President), Dan Steinhaur P.Eng (Treasurer), Dr. Paul Joe, and Maya Hirschman MA.

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Notice of Annual General Meeting: August 20, 2021

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NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of The Secrets of Radar Museum will be held on Tuesday August 20, 2021 at 6:00pm at The Secrets of Radar Museum 2155B Crumlin Side Road, London, Ontario.

BUSINESS OF THE MEETING:

  1. REPORTS and FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 2021.

  2. ELECTION / RE-APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS

  3. ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT MAY TRANSPIRE.

PROXY FORM

Being a member in good standing of The Secrets of Radar Museum, I appoint Steve Bourdeau, Chairperson of the Meeting, or another member if listed below, as my proxy to act generally at the meeting on my behalf and vote in accordance with the directions given at the General Meeting of The Secrets of Radar Museum on August 20, 2021.

Please print the name of your proxy:____________________________________________________

Signed:________________________________ Dated:______________________________________

Please detach and mail to: The Secrets of Radar Museum

2155b Crumlin Side Road, London, On, N5V 3Z9

Or email digital version to: info@secretsofradar.com