Ron Hook: Father of Communications in Northern Saskatchewan[1]

  

Introduction

 

Ron Hook for many years ran the communications network for Northern Saskatchewan out of Prince Albert. He developed and built the northern communications network: made the radio sets, installed and maintained them for some 40 years prior to the mid 1970s when first the Department of Northern Saskatchewan (DNS) and then SaskTel assumed this responsibility.

 

The Context

 

In August 2002, Saskatchewan Northern Affairs published Northern Saskatchewan – A Transformation outlining the establishment of infrastructure in Northern Saskatchewan.

 

Ron Hook in his workshop - July 1975

 

This document records “[An] area of service to the North where Saskatchewan became an international leader was radio communications. The government created the Radio Branch of the Department of Natural Resources. Until that time, northerners had to rely on primitive radio equipment used by various agencies without the benefit of a formal network of stations to serve the needs of industry, government and individual citizens.

 

In addition to improving emergency services and introducing a public “radiogram” service, the Radio Branch aided in medical services, forest fire suppression, weather data for aircraft, and logistical support for the many business activities that had developed. Later, trappers and others working “on the land” were rented portable equipment to maintain radio communication links.

 

In support of improved communications to and among northern communities, the Department of Natural Resources also initiated a daily radio broadcast (“Northern News”) aired on the Prince Albert radio station CKBI. Northerners would faithfully listen to the program to receive market and community information and personal messages – essential communication in the days before telephone service was available to northern homes.”

 

A Type 15 (one of the radio sets) in Stanley Mission with operator Murdoch Charles, who would chat with all the trappers, and then at night tell them to save their batteries while he told them the news of what was going on in town and an old story or two.

 

Ron Hook - 1975

Effective communication is essential in northern Saskatchewan to co-ordinate forest fire suppression, resource administration and other department activities and to contribute generally to daily life in the north.

 

Ten key or control stations, which serve as clearing centres for the handling of radiograms, were operated at Uranium City, Stony Rapids, Brabant Lake, Cree Lake, Buffalo Narrows, La Ronge, Divide, Beaver Lake, Prince Albert and Hudson Bay.

 

The Departments of Northern Saskatchewan and Natural resources use the radio communications network extensively for general administration purposes. Other government departments and agencies, such as the Northern Municipal Council and the Northern School Board, also use it for communication in the north.

 

The entire forest fire protection and suppression program in the north and in provincial parks and recreational areas is carried out through radio communications using portable, mobile, air-borne and base station equipment.

 

Radiogram message facilities and rental of radio equipment was made available to the public and the various government agencies. These facilities were used extensively by trappers, fishermen, Indian bands, tourist outfitters, logging camp operators and residents of the north.”

 

Ron’s retirement celebrations in 1977 tell something of his contribution.

 

“Ron Hook, the man responsible for the communications network in northern Saskatchewan, has retired after 40 years of service.

 

Born in England, Ron moved to Canada and in 1937 began work for the Saskatchewan government as a tower-man at Thunder Mountain. Then he got interested in radio communications and began building radios which could be used under northern conditions. He salvaged parts from older radios and built the parts he was missing. The network eventually linked all parts of the North and includes forest fire fighting communications and radios in the southern provincial parks.

 

As part of the retirement celebrations, all the radio operators from across the North met inn Prince Albert for a one-day conference. It was the first meeting held since the network was established and some of the operators had been talking to each other on the radio for 30 years but had never met face to face.

 

At the retirement party, Ron was presented gifts by the radio technicians, the radio operators, DNS and the provincial government. DNS Minister Ted Bowerman, Deputy Minister Marcel L’Heureux and former deputy Wilf Churchman all addressed the crowd of about 150 people.

Ron and his wife have decided to spend their retirement in Prince Albert and area.”[3]

 

The Legacy

 

Following on the pioneering work of Ron Hook, Northern Saskatchewan – A Transformation was able to report that “Over an eight-year period to the end of 1981, the provincial government had developed an impressive list of northern achievements [including] the extension of SaskTel microwave service from 24 per cent to 97 per cent of the population helping to increase access to CBC radio and television from 15 per cent to 96 per cent.

 

Persons consulted

 

Graham Guest, Archival Historian, Northern Saskatchewan

 

Through Graham Guest, a friend of his named Tom Roberts, who worked for DNS in the early days, said to call John Kushneryk who had he worked with Ron.  Graham called John who said Ron is his neighbour!  Graham also spoke directly with Ron Hook.

 

Brian Cousins, Previous Director, Northern News Service Branch

 

Mr. Jim Hutch  P.ENG, (Ex-President Saskatchewan Research Council)

 

Maureen Matthews and Charles Feaver, Winnipeg (knew Ron Hook at La Ronge)

 

Don Ching- until last year Pres/CEO of Sasktel now Pres/CEO of Areva Canada

 

Version 1

John Gilbert

7 May 2007