The Skywide Amateur Radio Club successfully braved the elements at Winter Field Day 2026, demonstrating the resilience of ham radio at Colonel Samuel Smith Park on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

The weather was truly challenging—temperatures started at around -15°C but warmed up as the day went on, making this a genuine test of cold-weather operating. As it turned out, we picked our day wisely: the very next day, Toronto was buried under a record-breaking snowfall!

Members set up field stations starting at 9:00 AM and operated until dusk. The temporary tent was made warm and cozy using three buddy heaters, providing a comfortable base of operations despite the frigid conditions.

On the air, we had two HF radios operating and made contacts as far as Ireland—proving once again that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only challenging operating conditions!

The club provided sandwiches, coffee, and hot beverages to keep everyone fueled throughout the day.

Thank you to Tom Stefanac (VA3VWX) for bringing the bulk of the equipment we used to operate that day, and to everyone who came out to help with setup and operations.

We can definitely call this field day a success! 73!