Our Statement on Truth and Reconciliation

Statement on Truth and Reconciliation

The Secrets of Radar Museum acknowledges that it is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Attawandaron peoples, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.

Museums are not neutral. The history of museums is linked to histories of colonialism and classification—of things, places, cultures, people. Even us, a small museum dedicated to Canadian radar history, is touched by colonialism. The radar history we share has touched every part of the world, has both witnessed and enacted divisive and traumatic actions, not only in and because of war, but in the name of technological advancement and superiority.

We were founded by WWII veterans and share a predominantly military history that is, itself, one of marginalisation and personal sacrifice. It is a history about which we feel enormous pride and love, for our veterans, for our community, for the beautiful stories of overcoming the odds and rising above expectations. But, within that history, and surrounding it, are things that hurt, us, our veterans, our community. Broadly speaking, the Canadian Forces and military tradition share a long history of racism and sexism. This does not make our museum, or the military, inherently bad, but it must be acknowledged that arbitrary restrictions based on stereotypes and prejudices affected who could join what branches of service, for how long, or not at all, and what kind of experience they had while serving. We must acknowledge those wrongs and correct for them. It is a sometimes agonizingly slow process, and many excellent people have been damaged waiting for movement from those unwilling to accept the truth or the willingness to push for change.

Now, faced as we are with the evidence of a traumatic and violent system, one that Indigenous peoples have long spoken of, and about which investigations were demanded (and ignored), we are shaken. We are disturbed by this revelation, by this haunting truth about the Indian Residential School System, and we should be disturbed. It is appropriate to be disturbed, angry, disgusted, horrified, betrayed. What has been enacted against Indigenous peoples in the name of “civilisation” and “assimilation”—and the reverberations that continue to be felt today—are no less than disturbing, angering, horrifying betrayals of human rights and dignity. As a nation, Canada carries a burden of past and current injustices perpetrated against First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples, and these wrongs must be corrected. We must, collectively and individually, demand action, not just because of stolen and lost children, not just for missing and murdered Indigenous women, not just for clean drinking water, but for those human rights and dignity in which we as a nation so strongly believe.

We are a tiny museum, but truth and reconciliation matters to us.

In Memorium: Charles "Charlie" Murfin Jackson, May 7, 2021

We were deeply saddened to learn of Charlie Jackson’s recent passing. Charlie was a founder of this museum, and for many years he was a regular presence giving tours and answering questions. Intelligent, articulate, warm, and jovial, Charlie delighted in telling stories of his time as a radar mechanic and instructor during the Second World War, and his memory for technical radar and electronic specifications was exceptional. He was a teacher at heart and his passion for sharing knowledge was evident no matter who he spoke to. Charlie’s final visit to the museum was in 2018 when he gave a talk to a large group of Girl Guides who sat in rapt attention. We owe Charlie a great debt of gratitude for all the time he put in to make SORM the place it is today, and for his willingness to share his experiences. Our sincere condolences to his family, especially his wife Jean, who often accompanied him to the museum and although she must have heard his stories dozens of times, never lost her enthusiasm and always encouraged him to talk more. The family has graciously asked that expressions of sympathy and donations be made to the Secrets of Radar Museum or the Alzheimer Society through London Cremation Services (519-672-0459 or at www.londoncremation.com).

Charlie Jackson speaking to a visiting Girl Guide troupe, November 8, 2018.

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Charlie Jackson’s Obituary, from the London Free Press:

Charles (Charlie) Murfin Jackson passed away peacefully at Parkwood Veteran's Institute on May 7, 2021, in his 101st year. Charles was the beloved husband of Jean Jackson, to whom he was happily married since May 21, 1949, and the dear father of Brian Jackson (wife Joyce), Carolyn Wright (husband Charlie), Nancy Wiebe and Louise Hush (husband John). He was the proud grandfather of ten and great-grandfather of eleven. Charlie was a WWII radar instructor, an electronics teacher, Principal of the Western Ontario Institute of Technology, and Vice President of St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario. In his long retirement, he enjoyed playing golf and bridge, and dancing with his wife Jean and with the many friends they made through those activities. He also was a lifelong, active member of the Kiwanis Club in London and Windsor. The radar museum in London was a keen interest for him. Jean and Charlie enjoyed an independent life up until the past few years. Jean was a loving and devoted partner as Charlie transitioned to Veteran's Care at Parkwood. In keeping with his wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at a later date to reflect upon and to celebrate Charlie's life. Email louise.hush@gmail.com for details. Expressions of sympathy and donations would be appreciated and may be made to the Radar Museum of London or the Alzheimer Society through London Cremation Services (519-672-0459 or at www.londoncremation.com). Very special thanks to the attentive staff and Dr. Borrie at Parkwood. Through the pandemic, they have been an amazing support to Charlie's mental and physical wellbeing.

Published on May 12, 2021

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Obituary shared by St. Clair College: Charles Jackson was a trailblazer

May 12, 2021

Charles (Charlie) Jackson, who became head of the Western Ontario Institute of Technology (which was the predecessor to St. Clair College), died at his retirement home in London on May 7. He was 100.

Mr. Jackson became the principal of the Western Ontario Institute of Technology (W.O.I.T.) in 1960 and served until 1966. He served as St. Clair College’s Vice President – Academic from 1967 to 1978,

Mr. Jackson oversaw the transition of WOIT (which was located on Mercer Street in Windsor) to St. Clair College, under the provincial legislation creating a network of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology back in the late 1960s.

He once told a reporter that the success of the community college initiative was a source of pride for him. He noted that the year before the South Windsor land acquisition where St. Clair now sits, W.O.I.T graduated 80 students but there were 120 jobs waiting for them.

“Our students were already able to talk on their bosses’ level,” he said at the time.  “We were proving that we offered a concentrated and job-oriented education for people who wouldn’t or couldn’t go to university.  Our students were adults and we treated them as adults……and it paid off. “

Mr. Jackson moved to London after his retirement. He leaves behind his wife Jean, four children, 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

St. Clair President Patti France honoured Mr. Jackson as a trailblazer and someone who cared deeply about the College. “W.O.I.T. built the foundation for St. Clair College to continue the work of providing a place for students to advance their education, find jobs in their fields and contribute to their communities.”

In September of 2014, the College named the road in front of the Ford Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing (FCEM) at our main campus, Chas Jackson Way in his honour. His portrait is displayed on the wall of Griffin Hall (across from our College bookstore) alongside the portraits of the past College Presidents.

In Memorium: Jacob Julien Olson, 1921-2020

Julien Olson, as he was known to us, was a good friend to the museum. He passed away on June 24, 2020, just days away from his 99th birthday.

Originally from Alberta, Julien joined the RCAF in 1941 and successfully completed his training as a radar mechanic. Unlike many of his colleagues who were posted in multiple places and theatres, Julien served overseas in Britain for the duration, proudly supporting first the RAF Pathfinder 109 Squadron’s twin-engined Vickers Wellington medium bombers and then the legendary de Havilland Mosquito light bombers as a radar technician. The use of blind-bombing system Oboe was pioneered in the Mosquito; Oboe’s high accuracy enabled the Pathfinders to mark targets and was crucial to the success of the RAF's campaign against the Ruhr. The squadron continued performing marking duties until the end of the war, including the last raid on Berlin on 21 April 1945, as well as supply drops into the Netherlands near the war’s end. While overseas, Julien met the love of his life, Lilian, an RAF WAAF. They were married in September, 1945, and she returned with him to Western Canada. They eventually settled in Ottawa, where Julien, a trained architect, began a new career with the Federal Department of Public Works.

In 2013, Julien organised a radar luncheon so that former SORM curator, Maya Hirschman, could interview a dozen WWII radar mechanics and operators. Julien made sure she was well looked after and that as many veterans were there as possible. She returned in 2014 to carry out a couple deeper interviews, and again, Julien, along with his daughter Christine, was a terrific host. He also arranged for the museum’s H2X radar unit to travel from Ottawa to London, where it is proudly displayed. Several artefacts belonging to Julien are displayed at the museum that document his ingenuity, which was indicative of radar mechanics as a whole, including a small ammeter he built from the cannibalised parts of broken equipment warehoused on a base in England.

We at the museum will sincerely miss Julien—his dedication and generosity—and are eternally grateful for his decision to involve himself in the goings-on at SORM.

You can read Julien’s full obituary published in the Ottawa Citizen.

Left to right: David Barlow (donor of the H2X), former curator Maya Hirschman, radar veteran Roy Taylor, and radar veteran Julien Olson, 2014.

Welcome Back! We've Missed You!

Well hello there! It certainly feels like years since we last greeted you in person, but we’re excited to welcome you back to the museum on Saturdays, 10AM-4M, starting July 18. We’re following the advice of public health authorities and guidelines offered by the Ontario Museum Association in order to help ensure your visits are enjoyable, educational and, above all, safe. As we re-open SORM to the public, we ask you to work with us to keep the museum a safe place for yourself, for all visitors, and for our volunteers by carefully reading these guidelines.

Guidelines for Visiting SORM

1. If you feel unwell, or have recently travelled abroad, please stay home!

2. All staff, volunteers, and visitors must wear a mask or face shield and respect social/physical distancing. Some exceptions for masking apply:

• Children under two years of age.

• Persons with an underlying medical condition which inhibits the ability to wear a mask or face covering.

• Persons who are unable to place or remove a mask or face covering without assistance.

• Additional accommodations in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code will also be considered.

3. The museum floor is marked with direction arrows. If not taking a guided tour, please follow them.

4. Hand-sanitizer is available for use at the museum, but remember that this is a museum and unless expressly permitted, for your safety and the care of our collection, please don’t touch the artefacts.

5. In order to preserve a 2m physical distance, we have a strict visitor capacity. You may be asked to wait outside. Please be patient.

The safety of our staff, volunteers, and visitors is our top priority. We thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to monitor the situation closely and adapt our precautions as required.

Distance Vectors image by Vecteezy.

Update on Temporary Closure to the Public

Left: Coast Defence gun-laying radar, Newfoundland, c.1945. Simpson Collection, SORM
Right: Unknown man in bed with a dog, Marble Island radar station, 1943-4. Chown Collection, SORM.

A message from the President.

May 27, 2020

We at the Secrets of Radar Museum sincerely hope you’re doing well during these challenging times. The SORM Board of Directors feels it is important to communicate and update our members and supporters on our status as the pandemic runs its course.

The situation is generally looking positive for Ontario’s re-opening, but at this time it is not possible for the Secrets of Radar to comply with the requirements for the Stage 1 re-opening. Masks are still in short supply and sanitizing the sensitive vintage and historic artifacts after each visitor is simply not possible.

The Ford Government has, as of today, extended the Emergency Orders to June 9, limiting public gatherings to 5 people. Should there not be a second wave, we hope we can find a way to open in stage 2. This is projected to be in two to four weeks. Our partners, too, are affected by the rules around re-opening. The 427 Wing and LARC are evaluating the situation and we are working together to devise an appropriate, measured course of action.

We remain very active, applying for grants, looking after the collection, and producing new social media content regularly. Many of you have visited our new YouTube page to view our #MuseumFromHome videos (https://tinyurl.com/SecretsofRadar) and engaged with us during Museum Week, giving us great feedback and support. You can expect to see more new content in the days to come.

As a way of supporting us, please consider renewing your membership early!

Stay Home, Stay Well. See you soon!

Steve Bourdeau

President, Secrets of Radar Museum

Social Distancing due to COVID-19

We have been monitoring the ever changing situation with COVID-19.

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer, Theresa Tam, has called for social distancing and a ban on public gatherings to stop the development of new cases. Canada is hunkering down for 3 weeks. Many public institutions, arts and culture organisations, and businesses have drafted new policies aimed at protecting their employees and safeguarding their ability to function. After consulting with our partners on site, the 427 Wing and LARC, the Board has made the decision to temporarily close SORM to the public until further notice.

Click here for more information about social distancing and “flattening the curve”.

Thank you for your continued support. Stay healthy!

Steve Bourdeau,

President

In Memorium: William "Bill" Ireland, WWII radar veteran

William “Bill” Ireland, August 2014. Credit: Maya Hirschman for Secrets of Radar Museum

It is with sadness we report the passing of Bill Ireland, one of the Secrets of Radar Museum’s veterans. Bill recorded an oral history in August 2013 with then curator, Maya Hirschman. Bill, born in Saskatchewan, graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in Chemistry. He joined the RCAF in 1940, serving as a Radar Mechanic and was, like many of the first 6,000, loaned to the Royal Air Force. Bill began his radar training on Chain Home early detection radar, but in June 1943 he was sent to RAF No. 8 Radio School in Cranwell, Lincolnshire, UK, for a course on Mk.8 Air Interception radar equipment. Eventually, this skill sent him to India to support the theatre in Burma. When asked what kind of specialised training he received for that posting, he said, “jungle training”, which was all the usual stuff, plus a machete and anti-malaria pills. The humidity and temperature caused no end of trouble for the airborne radar equipment, and thanks to his small stature, he often found himself lying down in the aircraft as it flew, adjusting the sensitive instruments—literally, on the fly. He was honourably discharged in 1945. We fondly remember Bill as a humble man with a wry sense of humour. He passed away at the age of 101 on October 9, 2019.

Read his obituary in the Ottawa Citizen.

Happy New Year from the Secrets of Radar Museum!

Pictured is CFS Falconbridge, c.1971. Opened in 1952 as RCAF Station Falconbridge, just north of Sudbury, ON, it closed in 1985 after the Pinetree Line—the line of NORAD radar stations that spanned the breadth of southern Canada—was declared redundant. Photographer unknown. Did you take this photo or know who did? Please let us know! Collection of the Secrets of Radar Museum

For us at “Radar”, this new year—2020—is a special one. It marks the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

When the war began in September 1939, no one foresaw just how long it would last. As the years crept by, enlistment faltered, enthusiasm waned, and casualties mounted. When it finally ended, thousands of exhausted Canadians returned to their friends and families. Our radar story begins in late 1940 with a few hundred men with radio and electronics skills, culminating at war’s end with about 15,000 total Canadian men and women working in the RCAF radar program. Sworn to the Official Secrets Act, they toiled in often appalling, occasionally extremely dangerous conditions, overseas and in Canada, in every theatre of war, working beside Britons, Australians, and a host of other Commonwealth citizens, as well as Americans, to thwart, baffle, and defend against enemy operations.

We were, of course, founded by those very same WWII radar veterans in order to preserve and share their unique history whose secrecy was mirrored by those involved in experimental scientific and intelligence activities. Like the veterans themselves, many of whom continued to work in radar-related fields in their post-war careers, returned to school, built companies and families, we too have branched out. We’ve come a long way, with multiple exhibits, a unique collection of artefacts and archives, virtual exhibits, and education and outreach programming. Although the past year saw many challenges and changes, standing here looking at our displays, with all of you supporting us in so many invaluable ways, we feel pretty good about the future.

With that said, we offer you gratitude and the sincerest wish for a healthy and happy 2020, and hope that you will continue to engage with us in the weeks and months ahead as we commemorate this momentous anniversary year. To you and yours, Happy New Year!

Secrets of Radar T-Shirts have arrived!

You asked, we listened! Finally, Secrets of Radar logo tees are available for $20 (on site, or with additional shipping). Our attractive tees are standard fit men’s and women’s, navy blue with phosphor green printing. They feature our handsome new logo, designed by Winnipeg artist Gilles Messier, and our tagline, “Imagine saving the world… and keeping it secret for 50 years”.

In Memorium: Bill Bird

William "Bill" Bird was born in Sheffield, U.K. in 1917, and later moved with his parents to Manchester.  After working in his father's business, he joined the R.A.F. and became involved in the development and use of radar during the Second World War as a Flight Sergeant.  In 1953 Bill immigrated to Canada to work for A.V. Roe in Malton, Ontario, and then with his newly arrived family, moved to Clinton, Ontario as a civilian radar instructor for the R.C.A.F.  He and the family then moved to Peterborough, Ontario, where he was hired to set up and teach in a new electronics lab at Kenner Collegiate.

Click here to read the full obituary.