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RADIOALUMNI.CA |
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CANADIAN EPICS IN RADIOCOMMUNICATION ALUMNI WHO LIVED THE ADVENTURE OF RADIO WIRELESS TELEGRAPHISTS - SPARKS - RADIO PIONEERS RADIO OPERATORS - RADIO TECHNICIANS RADIO TECHNOLOGISTS - RADIO ENGINEERS RADIO INSPECTORS - SPECTRUM MANAGERS |
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ÉPOPÉES CANADIENNES EN RADIOCOMMUNICATION LES ANCIENS QUI ONT VÉCU L'AVENTURE DE LA RADIO TÉLÉGRAPHISTES SANS FIL - PIONNIERS DE LA RADIO OPÉRATEURS RADIO - TECHNICIENS RADIO TECHNOLOGUES RADIO - INGÉNIEURS RADIO INSPECTEURS RADIO - GESTIONNAIRES DU SPECTRE |
1967 - D.O.T. career that spanned the past 39 years has entered a new phase, according to F. W. (Fred) Sealey, who retired recently as officer-in-charge of the Victoria aeradio station.
"Retirement has always seemed to me to be the end of things," Mr. Sealey wrote in a letter to "The DOT" in which he said he wanted to express his thanks for the wonderful farewell party given by his fellow employees.
"Instead, I suddenly realized that retirement was another phase of a D.O.T. career and, rather than something to be feared, was something to be looked forward to," he said. "Looking around and talking to fellows who were there, many who were happily retired and active, gave me the inspiration to emulate them." He added : "This going away is something experienced, never to be forgotten, as long as I live. Thanks, fellows."
Born in England, Mr. Sealey discovered his calling in 1918 while his family was en route to a new home in Victoria. "While on the boat from Vancouver, I happened to be outside the `wireless' cabin when the operator started up the old spark transmitter and the crash of the spark could be heard all around the deck," recalled Mr. Sealey. "I decided right there and then that the `wireless' was for me."
With a daytime job and classes at night, he quickly obtained his certificate and went to sea with the Canadian Marconi Company.
In 1928, he was inducted into what is now D.O.T. telecommunications and assigned as radio operator aboard the famed Royal Canadian Mounted Police vessel St. Roch on her maiden voyage to the Arctic. (see link below) When the ship returned home 17 months later, Mr. Sealey was re-assigned to Coppermine where he later served as OIC from 1931-32.
Following postings in Victoria and Lulu Island, B.C., Mr. Sealey returned to technical duty in connection with airways installations across B.C. during the Second World War and remained in this field until he retired as OIC at Victoria last May 17 and was formally inducted as the newest member of a large group of retired D.O.T. employees living on the West Coast.
Among the retired D.O.T. staff at Mr. Sealey's farewell party were Jack Bowerman, Jim Harker, Bill Meiss, Don Mitchell, L. W. Stevenson, George Gilbert, George Lowe and O. H. "Doc" Quealy.
In summing up his career, Mr Sealey says: "Where else could the technicallyminded person find such a career except in the Department of Transport? And, mind you, I am not any exception. The chances are there still."
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