Ham Radio Callsign License Plates (Canada)

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In Canada, all HAM Radio operators are licensed with the Industry Canada. Their license numbers (or what they refer to as a "call-sign" or "handle") always start with V since all British Colonies were assigned call signs beginning with that letter after the War. The 18 call sign prefixes in use at this time are assigned to the various provinces originally Canada was assigned prefixes VE1 thru VE0 and Newfoundland, VO1 & VO2. Newfoundland was different since it wasn't part of Canada when the call signs were being allocated world-wide, just after the 2nd World War. Newfoundland didn't join Canada until 1949. VO6 was also issued to Labrador, but it was retired in the 50s, before plates were issued in that part of the country. When Canada ran out of VE allocations, it expanded using VY and VA as shown in the above table.

The call sign prefix is followed by two or three letters to form the operator's call sign. In the less populated areas such as NWT, the Yukon and Labrador, two letter calls are all that is needed, and three letter calls are available by choice. In more populated areas, both two and three letter calls are needed. In these cases, two letter calls are more desirable and, generally, require seniority to acquire.

Note: Unless otherwise stated these plates are from the collection of Bob Gammon VA3RX, if you have any questions about this collection you may contact Bob by email: va3rx@cogeco.ca

If you have a plate to add to this featured website please send digital images to va3ku@hfradio.net for inclusion. (Be sure the image is at least 400 pixels in width to insure a quality website image)

New Plates added (July 25 2008)
VO2AK VE1BJ