Join the OARC

Welcome to the Ottawa Amateur Radio Club! We are a welcoming community of Amateur Radio enthusiasts who share a passion for communication, exploration, and learning.

Click here to join the OARC

This button takes you to Zeffy, the secure, Canadian online payment system. Learn more1.

Whether you are a seasoned Amateur Radio operator (a “ham”) or just getting started, we embrace members from all backgrounds and experiences. Here, everyone is valued for their unique perspective and love for the hobby. Join us as we connect, learn, and grow together, fostering a supportive environment where all voices—both on air and off—are heard and respected. We are excited to have you with us!

Purchase a new OARC membership

Click here to join the OARC

This button takes you to Zeffy, the secure, Canadian online payment system.

Renew an existing OARC membership 

To renew an existing membership, please wait to receive our membership-renewal reminder email, which you will receive 30 days before your membership expires. Then, just follow the instructions in that email.

Membership fees and discounts

TypeFeeDescription
Regular$25Regular membership
Family Add-on$5The $5 Family Add-on Membership covers a second person at the same address as a valid regular member. Create a second Zeffy account for the family member and, during the payment process, enter the name of the regular member who resides at the same address.
Youth$15Under 19 years old
New ham$0New hams (having passed the ISED exam within the past 12 months) are entitled to a free one-year membership. Please email membership@oarc.net for a discount code.

OARC newsletter: We do not automatically subscribe you to our newsletter so click here to visit the OARC Newsletter page where you can subscribe and see past issues.

At the OARC, we love our name tags!

Name tags make it easier to meet people and start conversations—no awkward “What was your name again?” moments. They help everyone feel more included, especially at bigger events or when there are new faces. Please wear your OARC name tag at all OARC Club activities and Community Events, or if you are taking an OARC course, or participating in a workshop. For more information about getting a name tag, please click the FAQ below: How do I get an OARC name tag?

Membership FAQs

Yes, you can pay for your OARC membership online. The OARC uses Zeffy, a secure, zero-fee, Canadian online payment system for non-profit organizations. When you pay, you will be asked for a donation to Zeffy, but this is optional. Whether you donate or not, OARC is not charged a fee.

To pay for a new membership, click this link. To renew an existing membership, please wait to receive our membership-renewal reminder email, which you’ll receive 30 days before your membership expires. Then, just follow the instructions in that email.

To renew an existing membership, please wait to receive our membership-renewal reminder email, which you will receive 30 days before your membership expires. Then, just follow the instructions in that email.

There are three ways to know when your OARC membership is expiring:

1. A reminder email will be sent to you.

Thirty (30) days before your membership expires, you will receive our membership-renewal reminder email saying your membership will expire in a month. This email will go to the email address you used when you paid for your membership. You will receive this reminder even if you have enabled automatic renewal.

2. Download your membership card, which has your expiry date. There are two ways:

Click the “Download membership card” button in the email you received when you paid. The email has the subject line “OARC Membership”.

Click this link to “activate” your Zeffy account, using the same email address you used to pay for your membership. Once inside your Zeffy account, you’ll see your OARC membership payment on the transaction list. Click “download e-ticket” to see your membership card.

3. Click this link to Contact Us

We will check our records and let you know your membership expiry date.

You can check if you set up automatic renewal – and make changes – in three ways:

1. Your membership-renewal reminder email will state if you set up automatic renewal.

Thirty (30) days before your membership expires, you will receive our membership-renewal reminder email saying your membership will expire in a month. If you set up automatic renewal, the email will also confirm that your card will be charged in a month. The message will include a link to make changes, if needed. This email will go to the email address you used when you paid for your membership.

2. Your payment-confirmation email will state if you set up automatic renewal.

The email you received when you paid for your membership will indicate if you set up automatic renewal. The email has the subject line “OARC Membership” and, if you set up automatic renewal, inside it will say “This is an annual recurring payment….”. This email contains a link to make changes, if needed.

3. Your Zeffy account will state if you set up automatic renewal.

Click this link to “activate” your Zeffy account, using the same email address you used to pay for your membership. Once inside your Zeffy account, you’ll see your OARC membership payment on the transaction list. The button with the word “Yearly” on it indicates that you have set up automatic renewal. Click the “Yearly” button to make changes, if needed.

Yes, if you added a donation to Zeffy to your previous membership purchase, and you also set up automatic renewal, the donation will be included in the recurring payment. 

If you prefer not to make this additional donation to Zeffy, you can cancel and re-establish your automatic renewal. One way is to use the link in the membership-renewal reminder email you will receive 30 days before your membership expires. Another way is by activating your Zeffy account, using the same email address you used to pay for your membership. 

  • All current OARC members should have their name tag already.
  • If your name tag was lost or damaged, you can order a replacement for $20 by clicking: Order an OARC name tag. This link takes you to Zeffy, our online payment system.

New hams (having passed the ISED exam within the past 12 months) are eligible for a FREE one-year OARC membership (value: $25) and FREE name tag (value: $20). New hams can contact membership@oarc.net for a discount code, then follow these two steps (these are two separate transactions):

  1. Click Join the OARC and use the discount code to get your FREE one-year OARC membership.
    • Next year, 30 days before your OARC membership expires, you will receive a reminder email with a link to pay for your next membership.
    • You will have the option to set up automatic renewal at that time and we hope you will. Automatic renewal lessens the administrative burden on you and on the Club.
  2. Click Order an OARC name tag and use the same discount code to get your free name tag. You will be asked to enter your call sign and your first name, as you would like them to appear on your name tag.

Your annual membership fee goes towards the following types of expenses:

  • Maintenance and upgrades of OARC radio-communications equipment, including repeaters and antennas, radios, tools, kits, and go kits;
  • Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) insurance, which protects you from liability during club events and when you are operating on your own at home or out and about (some conditions apply) Note: Only members in good standing are covered by RAC insurance;
  • Monthly club meeting expenses such as room rental, audio-visual technology, refreshments; and
  • IT and web expenses, such as web hosting and maintenance.
  1. The OARC uses Zeffy to manage membership and other payments. Zeffy is a secure, zero-fee Canadian online payment system for non-profit organizations. It provides maximum security for you as none of your membership or payment details are kept on the OARC website. You will be asked for a donation to Zeffy, but this is optional. Whether you donate or not, OARC is not charged a fee. ↩︎

Last Updated on 2026-04-11 by Joannadanna