G'day all:
In the fall and winter each year, there are a number of
contests that use Canadian Provinces and Territories and RAC
sections as multipliers. There are several inconsistencies
in the way the rules of these contests define Canada
domestic geography, and there are some further
inconsistencies in the look-up files logging software uses
to track multipliers. There are also some decisions by
organisers that defy their own logic, more out of ignorance
than wilfullness.
So, in an effort to help you all get it right, here is a
little tutorial on what counts for what, and what you might
hear when working a Canadian in these contests:
First a few definitions:
- Canada is divided into ten (10) provinces and three (3)
territories. Contests that define Canadian multipliers as
provinces and territories should count a total of 13.
- RAC, our national society, has a field organisation of
eight (8) sections. There is no field organisation in the
three (3) territories, but in contests that use sections as
multipliers, the three (3) territories count together as the
ninth multiplier.
- Canada Post has a series of recommended two-letter
abbreviations for each province and territory. These are in
widespread use, but some folks are still using older
abbreviations. It would be wise to know what these are and
add them to the look-up files your logging software uses, so
that you'll know just what mults you have worked.
RAC Canada Winter Contest
RAC Canada Day Contest
North American QSO Party
-----------------------------
These contests have got it right! Good on 'em! What you'll
see below is the name of the Province or Territory (A), the
call sign prefixes in normal use (B), the official postal
abbreviation (C) and some other older abbreviations you
might hear from more casual or confused participants (D).
(A) (B)
(C) (D)
Newfoundland and Labrador VO1 VO2 NL NF
NFLD LAB LB
Nova Scotia VE1 VA1 NS
no others used
Prince Edward Island VY2 PE
PEI
New Brunswick VE9 NB
no others used
Quebec VE2 VA2 QC
PQ QC QU
Ontario VE3 VA3 ON
ONT
Manitoba VE4 VA4 MB
MAN
Saskatchewan VE5 VA5 SK
SASK
Alberta VE6 VA6 AB
AT ALTA
British Columbia VE7 VA7 BC
no others used
Nunavut VY0 NU
no other used
Northwest Territories VE8 NT
NWT
Yukon VY1 YT
YU YUK
ARRL SS
ARRL 160m
--------------
In these contests, RAC "Sections" count as multipliers.
What you'll see below is the name of the section (A), the
call sign prefixes in normal use (B), the correct
abbreviation for the secion (C) and some other older
abbreviations you might hear from more casual or confused
participants (D).
(A) (B)
(C) (D)
Newfoundland and Labrador VO1 VO2 NL
NF NFLD LAB LB
Maritime VE1 VA1 VY2 VE9 MAR
NS NB PE PEI
Quebec VE2 VA2
QC PQ QC QU
Ontario VE3 VA3
ON ONT
Manitoba VE4 VA4
MB MAN
Saskatchewan VE5 VA5
SK SASK
Alberta VE6 VA6
AB AT ALTA
British Columbia VE7 VA7
BC no others used
Northern Territories VY0 VE9 VY1 NT
NWT YT YU YUK NU
ARRL 10m
ARRL DX
CQ WW 160m
CQ WW RTTY
-----------------
These contests all define provinces and territories as
multipliers. But they all make one senseless mistake: they
all define Newfoundland as one multiplier and Labrador as
another. This is complete and utter nonsense, and has no
basis in history or law. For reasons best known to them,
they will not fix their mistake. So, pleased be armed with
the knowledge that for these contests, these are the 14
Canadian multipliers you can count. (A) is for the name of
the multiplier, (B) is for the usual prefixes, (C) is the
best abbreviation for the multiplier and (D) is for others
you might hear.
(A) (B)
(C) (D)
Newfoundland and Labrador VO1 NF NL
NFLD
Labrador VO2 LB
NL LAB
Nova Scotia VE1 VA1 NS
no others used
Prince Edward Island VY2 PE
PEI
New Brunswick VE9 NB
no others used
Quebec VE2 VA2 QC
PQ QC QU
Ontario VE3 VA3 ON
ONT
Manitoba VE4 VA4 MB
MAN
Saskatchewan VE5 VA5 SK
SASK
Alberta VE6 VA6 AB
AT ALTA
British Columbia VE7 VA7 BC
no others used
Nunavut VY0 NU
no other used
Northwest Territories VE8 NT
NWT
Yukon VY1 YT
YU YUK
NCJ Sprint
------------
Now the NCJ Sprints have a unique scrambling of Canada's
geography. The rules identify "Canadian Provinces" (no
mention of territories) as multipliers, then bunch four (4)
provinces into one mis-named multiplier, identify six
multipliers only by prefix and make a separate multiplier of
the three territories but they fail to name Nunavut, even
though they mention its prefix, VY0. (A) is for the name of
the multiplier, (B) is for the usual prefixes, (C) is the
best abbreviation for the multiplier and (D) is for others
you might hear.
(A) (B)
(C) (D)
Maritimes* VO1 VO2 VE1 VA1 VY2 VE9 MAR NL
NF NFLD LAB LB NS NB PE PEI
VE2 VE2 VA2
QC PQ QC QU
VE3 VE3 VA3
ON ONT
VE4 VE4 VA4
MB MAN
VE5 VE5 VA5
SK SASK
VE6 VE6 VA6
AB AT ALTA
VE7 VE7 VA7
BC no others used
Yukon-NWT VY0 VE8 VY1 NT
NWT YT YU YUK NU
*Calling NL a "Maritime" province is just plain wrong. The
Maritimes have only ever been NS, NB and PE. Don't let
anyone from Upper Canada tell you otherwise.
So, armed with this knowledge, you'l be that much better
prepared to roll with the exchanges you'll hear in these
contests.
Oh yeah, another thing: in Phone contests, you Yanks would
do well to use phonetics when giving your state or section.
Oddly enough, most people outside your country is familiar
with the arcane distinctions between MA ME MI MS MO and MN,
for example. And when it comes to sections, come on - do
you really think "San Wakeeng Valley" is readily understood
by anyone who does live in it?
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