The original VE7PT, Peter Thomas, was my teacher at Royal Oak High School in the 1950s and early 1960s.  He encouraged the formation of a radio club at the school.  He was also the CO of the local Naval Reserve, HMCS Malahat, on Wharf Street.  One night he took me down there to see the reservists operating an HF net from the top floor of the building.  I asked what the frequency was but he wouldn’t tell me, so when I got home I listened on my Heathkit short wave receiver and easily found them.  After his death I was proud to obtain his call sign.