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[CQ-Contest] Canadian multipliers in upcoming contests

To: <cq-contest@contesting.com>
Subject: [CQ-Contest] Canadian multipliers in upcoming contests
From: "Dave VO1AU" <VO1AU@rac.ca>
Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2005 23:41:55 -0230
List-post: <mailto:cq-contest@contesting.com>
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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