Field Day 2025 Wrap-Up: Rain, Radios, and Resilience at Cowie Hill

Despite a soggy forecast, spirits were high at this year’s Halifax Amateur Radio Club (HARC) Field Day, held June 28–29, 2025, at our Cowie Hill repeater site. Over 30 hams turned out for the event, showcasing the strength, adaptability, and community spirit that amateur radio brings—especially in a simulated disaster scenario.

This year’s Field Day focused on a mock city-wide wireless communication outage in Halifax. With all conventional systems down, our goal was to demonstrate how amateur radio remains a critical tool for emergency response. And we did just that—with contacts made across North America and participation from partners including HATS, DARC, and local emergency organizations.

In the Media Spotlight

Field Day 2025 caught the attention of the media, too. French CBC Radio interviewed members of our team, and GlobalTV ran a short feature on our role in disaster communications—putting a well-deserved spotlight on amateur radio’s relevance in today’s emergency landscape in Halifax.

Community and Camaraderie

Even with wet weather overhead, the atmosphere was anything but gloomy. Thanks to the hard work of our volunteers and the Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services team, hot meals were served throughout the weekend—keeping everyone fueled and focused. From setup at 9:00 AM on Saturday to final cleanup on Sunday afternoon, it was a full weekend of learning, laughter, and on-air action.

Thank You, HARC Members and Nova Scotia Hams!

A big thank-you to everyone who helped make this event a success—from the early morning setup crew to the operators who braved the rain to keep our radios humming. Your dedication is what keeps this club vibrant and ready for anything.

If you missed it this year, we hope to see you next time. And if you’re new to Field Day or curious about getting involved in emergency communications, this event proved once again that there’s no better place to start than right here with HARC.