May 2-4, 2025 - Fintry Provincial Park, Central Okanagan, BC
The life of silent key Cary VA7MXY Benson was celebrated at Fintry Provincial Park group site 3 this first weekend in May, 2025. Radio friends, childhood friends and family attended a wonderful weekend at the park topped with a decadent pot-luck dinner Saturday night. In total, nearly 30 people came together doing what Cary loved, camping. Stories were shared throughout the day and around the fire each night to ensure Cary's memory is preserved.
For NORAC members in attendance we remember Cary as being one of the most brilliant on-air operators, an instigator of many club camping trips, a regular club service volunteer and an all-round amateur radio enthusiast. At this event the hams in attendance tested out some of Cary's old gear as well as got on the air in his memory.
Group site 3 just before the pot-luck dinner on Saturday afternoon.
Mike VE7KPZ prepares for some FT8 digital mode communications while David VA7DRS looks on.
Colin VA7EEH's DX Commander Expedition multi-band vertical antenna setup at the edge of the site with Tao the dog in foreground.
Jane VE7WWJ working some FT8 to overcome the challenging HF band conditions.
Colin VA7EEH prepares his famous ribs for the pot-luck dinner while Tao the dog looks on with anticipation.
Good times around the campfire with Paul VE7PDE, friend of Cary's, Colin VA7EEH and Lorne VE7LWK.
Hams also in attendance but not pictured were Ritchie VA7RLX with YL Rose, Michal VE7TMZ/VE7MHX with YL and John VE7JWS.
John VE7JWS produced some fantastic laser-enscribed "dog tags" to mark the event.
It was great to see Cary's YL Maggie and son Aiden surrounded by so many great folks, some coming from as far as the lower mainland for the event.
Colin VA7EEH has already booked the group site for spring 2026 as it was such a well-attended event.