Sunday May 4, 2025

Maple Ridge Amateur Radio Club

Host of the biggest and best swap meet in the province.

Great prizes, free parking, tons of items for sale.  Over 300 attendees!

This page is the official source for all swap meet information and will be continually updated with information as the event draws closer.  If you didn’t see it here, it’s an unconfirmed rumour. 

If you have a question, please contact us at swapmeet@mrarc.net

UPDATE April 16, 2025:  See the important caution below regarding parking restrictions.  Overall planning is now complete, we hope to see you there!

2025 SPONSORS:

• Fleetwood Digital
• Canadian Tire, Maple Ridge
• Burnaby Radio 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 

• 07:30- Doors open to vendors for set-up
• 08:00- Pancake breakfast starts. ($8)
• 08:30- Early-bird/VIP entrance to start buying
• 09:00- general admission opens
• 09:30- first of six door prize draws
• 11:30- 50/50 draw 
• 11:45-  Raffle prize draw 
• 12:00- event ends; clean up.

STAR WARS DAY!

May 4th is Star Wars Day (“may the fourth be with you”).  In recognition of that, and because many hams loves science fiction and Star Wars, we wanted to do something super fun to celebrate.  So dust off your favourite Star Wars costumes, we will be recognizing all those that show up in full costume with a 50% reduction in the admission price.  A full chewbacca outfit might just earn you full admission.  No joke, 50% for those in full Star Wars regalia.  

PRIZES 

Door prize draws start around 9:30 and run continuously thorughout the event.

• Door Prize #1:  Digital multimeter (donated by Canadian Tire)
• Door Prize #2:  One year membership in RAC Canada (donated by Radio Amateurs of Canada)
• Door prize #3:  $50 gift certificate for/donate by Fleetwood Digital Systems.
• Door Prize #4:  SignalLink USB Sound Card (donated by Burnaby Radio)
• Door Prize #5:  $100 DX Engineering gift certificate  (donated by DX Engineering)
• Door Prize #6:  Icom V86 2m handheld transceiver (donated by Icom Canada)
• Door Prize #7:  Icom IC-T10 Dual band handheld transceiver (Donated by GPS Central)
• Raffle Prize:  Icom V3500 65watt mobile transceiver 

ADMISSION COSTS 

• General Admission – $10 (includes door prize ticket)
• VIP Admission (access 30min early) – $20 (includes door prize ticket)
• Vendor Table Rental – $25 (includes one table and admission for the vendor) 
• Additional Prize Tickets:  $TBA – sold at event

Please note that admission costs have increased from past years for several reasons:  Our operating costs have steadily increased each year due to rising costs of food, hall rental, and prizes.  The kitchen food sales generally lose money, but we do this because it’s popular among attendees and allows a nice social event for friends to meet over breakfast prior to the event.  In addition to the general admission rate, we have also priced the table rental higher and created a VIP access ticket to remedy a past problem where sellers would pay for a table rental without much (or any) material to sell.  They would do this just to get early access to the sales area.  This resulted in some empty tables or very scant items for sale on some tables in the past.  We’re hoping that with this pricing scheme, those that pay to rent a table will be legitimate sellers and that all tables will be full of items for sale, not empty just to allow someone in early.  Having tables full of items to buy benefits everybody.  The VIP access ticket allows those that want early access to achieve it and those that don’t care for a 30-minute head start on their shopping to pay half the cost for regular admission.

TABLE RENTAL/PAYMENT

Only 40 tables are available and these WILL sell out, don’t delay if you want to reserve a table.

Contact info for table sales:

• Email:  swapmeet@mrarc.net   for questions or to book a table. 
• See “vendor info” below for more info related to table rentals and procedures on the ‘day of’.
• Payment is to be made prior to the event via e-transfer to swapmeet@mrarc.net.
• Table rental includes admission for one person; a door prize ticket is not included. 
• Vendors will be asked to display their amateur radio call sign and email address on their table.

Q&A

Q) What are VIP Tickets?
A) Some buyers are willing to pay more to avoid the long lines and get a head start on buying.  Anyone purchasing a VIP ticket will get access to the sales area 30 minutes prior to the regular "general admission" ticket holders being allowed inside.

Q) Will there be assistance on hand to help me carrying items upstairs?
A) The facility has a disablity-assitance lift that can be used to get upstairs.  The club will also attempt to have some younger members on hand to assist with labour, though this obviously can't be guaranteed.

Q) I'm new to the hobby; what is a swap meet?
A) The event brings together buyers and sellers of radio and electronics equipment.

Q) Are there pictures or video of past swap meets?
A) Yes, photos on our website photo albums and a great video of our swap meet and venue can be found here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=simmJp-KJQM&t=45s

Q) Is there food nearby?
A) While we hope you'll buy your breakfast at our venue and eat with your fellow ham radio enthusiasts, there are several food facilities including a McDonalds and Subway within a very short walk.

Q) Is there lots of parking?
A) Sort of, and this is an important change to know:  The normal Heritage Hall parking lot is currently reduced with the construction of the police station next door.  The lot WILL fill to capacity during the swap meet.  Though there is still ample parking available on the surrounding streets and shopping areas, all within a couple hundred meters of the hall, an easy walk.  If your physical ability necessitates parking very close to the building, arriving early will be necessary. If you're okay with walking about a block, you'll have plenty of other parking options.  See additional details below in the directions/map section.

Q) Is there a talk-in frequency?
A) Does anybody actually still need this?  Google Maps is your friend if you need directions, or see the map below.  If you really do get lost, most club members monitor the club's 2m repeater.  :)

Q) What are you serving for breakfast?
A) Breakfast has traditionally been pancakes, sausages and coffee.  Potentially TH donuts as well.  All for minimal expense (our cost). Skilled cooks have been arranged and a provincially certified FoodSafe-trained volunteer on hand.  


Q) I still have a question that isn't answered!
A) Please send us an email at swapmeet@mrarc.net and we'd be happy to help.

VENDOR INFO:

• Vendor access to upper hall starts at 0730h.
• Vendor packages will be handed out at 07:30 entry.  Wristbands will be issued to track vendors and helpers.
• MRARC volunteers may be available to assist moving in and out of the hall upon request.
• Vendors must register with the event coordinator on arrival for their table assignment.
• Clean-up and clearing of tables is not to occur before 1200hrs.
• Power outlets are limited in the hall, please advise at time of booking if power will be required.
• Power served tables allotted on a first-come, first-served basis.
• The $25 table rental fee includes one eight foot table and chair.  Assistants accompanying the vendor must pay for an admission.
• Table bookings are to be made via email at the email address above. Don’t wait, they will sell out early.
• All table rentals must be paid in advance by e-transfer to the above email address.
• Confirmation of rental and receipt of payment will be made by return email.
• Vendors are asked not to start taking down until 11:30.

Pancake & Sausage Breakfast

An important note about breakfast:  We charge only a nominal fee that just covers food costs, this aspect of the swap meet is NOT a part of our fund-raising.  In fact, we usually lose money on the breakfast.  Putting this part of the event on is a considerable amount of work for our volunteers, one of which must be “Food-Safe” trained, and also requires rental of the downstairs kitchen and dining area.  Lots of work and lots of cost go into this aspect of the swap meet, for no profit.  So, why do we keep doing it when it’s a ‘money-loser’?  It’s the social aspect of the swap meet that many of you love, getting together with fellow hams over breakfast before the event starts.  For that reason, despite it losing money, we continue to provide a pre-event breakfast.  So, please do come early, sit down and have a coffee with fellow hobbists.  We do this for YOU.  🙂

Swap Meet Location

The swap meet location is the same location as all previous years:
     Pitt Meadows Heritage Hall, 12460 Harris Road, Pitt Meadows.

This is just a block off Lougheed Highway, south of the McDonalds on Harris Road.
PARKING IS FREE. Please note the new parking issues:  The lot at Heritage Hall is currently reduced in size to accomodate construction of the new RCMP detachment.  It will fill to capacity early, however there are several other parking options, both street parking and large commercial lots, all within a couple hundred meters.  

Accommodations:  If you're travelling from afar and need overnight accommodations, the Best Western Pitt Meadows Inn & Suites (604-460-9859) is also walking distance to the venue, 2 blocks north on Harris across Lougheed.