National Capital Chapter 70 - Ottawa, Canada
VE3BEF Biography 
Donald Bower - SK - QCWA# 28492 (Silent Key)
Background
Education / Employment History
- 1945 - Don began as a radio operator aboard the ship “Hillcrest Park”. (He died before getting his Merchant Navy pay for that work)
- 1946-1947 - DOT Clyde River, NWT (now Nunavut). Radio Operator - Weather Observer
- 1948-1949 - DOT Resolute Bay, NWT (now Nunavut). Officer in Charge.
- 1949-1958 - Radio Technician at Defence Research Board (now CRC)
- 1959-1967 - Technical Officer at Dominion Observatory in Ottawa. While at Dominion Observatory, Don made important contributions to ship-borne measurements of the Earth's magnetic field and to the study of sold-earth tides.
- 1967-1970 - Don graduated from University of Durham with a Ph D degree.
- 1970-1987 - He was a Research Scientist at Energy Mines & Resources
- 1987 - Don was awarded the prestigious designation Emeritus Research Scientist
Amateur Radio History
- While at Clyde River in 1946, Don operated with the DOT station call sign VE8ME.
- Upon returning to Ottawa in 1949, he was assigned the call sign VE3BEF, which he held until his death.
Additional Information
He joined QCWA and Chapter 70 in 1996.
Don was presented with his “50 Year Licensed” Golden Certificate and lapel pin at the Chapter 70 May 1997 dinner meeting.
Don became a Silent Key on Feb 13, 2000 at the age of 72 years.