For short distances, there are 3 basic options...
GMRS/FRS will have a range of a couple kilometers
CB will have a range of about 10 kilometers or so
HAM will put you in touch with a wider range, and likely your best bet for province wide comms.(2 meter band handheld)
CB would be fine for town wide and a bit beyond
GMRS/FRS is good for around the homestead/farm

Good question Henry not something I had thought about

I do not know how many people have CB or ham radio. That why I think is so important yo get together area preppers to exchange ideas and discus questions of that nature.I am sure everybody has some question that is best discussed in person.
Do not know why everybody is avoiding meeting.
Henry

Pick a CB channel and a frequency in the RAC band plan and post it to all preppers that this will be the frequency to broadcast and/or monitor.
Folks then just need to monitor the frequency with receivers or transeivers.
No problem.

I think we should pick a channel for all forms of comms...
Have a common frequency for GMRS,
have a common channel for CB
have a common frequency for different ham bands ie 2m, 20m, etc.
keeping in touch with family and the outside world is important,
but keeping in touch with fellow preppers, even if outside your immediate area, could be very beneficial.
The only way I see this working is with the ham bands.
I tried setting up a ham network before, but there doesn't seem to be that many of us with ham radios.

Just remember with GMRS any channel below 14 is the old FRS frequencies and are only .5 watts.... above 14 is full power.
Back in the 70's ( when CB was in it's hay day) the official call channel was 11, if you were a trucker 19 and the emergency call channel was 9

I think it is a good idea so why somebody that is more into communications pic up channel for CB and frequency for HAM and post it for everybody to copy and keeps on record.I have ham radio and just looking for good CB.
I still think that local prep. group organization will be very beneficial if anything happened.
Henry

Excellent Idea Denob. I have always thought that there would have been some preferred channels already chosen. We don't want to invent the wheel and I would imagine that our US counterparts would have this sewn up.

Also for those who just want to listen a good scanner can check all the channel. Scanners can be picked up relatively cheaply. They would also have the advantage that they might pick up other relevant transmissions.

I think it is a good idea so why somebody that is more into communications pic up channel for CB and frequency for HAM and post it for everybody to copy and keeps on record.I have ham radio and just looking for good CB.
I still think that local prep. group organization will be very beneficial if anything happened.
Henry

Henry,
you just may be the guy we need...let's just not start posting frequencies and such here right now. We should find another, more secure way to distribute this info.
What kind of rig do you have?
2m handheld? 20m base?

I couldn't upload the pdf version of this so I cut and pasted it. It would probably be prudent to use the same as this as enough of Canadian population live close to the American border. This is from catastrophenetwork.org with permission to distribute freely.

Standardized Amateur Radio Prepper Communications Plan
About
In the event of a nationwide catastrophic disaster, the nationwide network of Amateur Radio licensed preppers
will need a set of standardized meeting frequencies to share information and coordinate activities between
various prepper groups. This Standardized Amateur Radio Communications Plan establishes a set of
frequencies on the 80 meter, 40 meter, 20 meter, and 2 meter Amateur Radio bands for use during these types
of catastrophic disasters.
Preppers are encouraged to monitor conventional Amateur Radio and non-Amateur Radio frequencies for
sources of information, including: National Traffic System nets, state ARES/RACES HF nets, global Centers of
Activity (CoA), local VHF/UHF repeaters, CB channel 19, and national simplex calling frequencies. However,
these standardized frequencies and channels provide a place for preppers to meet and exchanges information
relevant to those of a prepper mindset after a catastrophic disaster.
Routine nets will not be held on all of these frequencies, but preppers are encouraged to use them when
coordinating with other preppers on a routine basis. Routine nets may be conducted by The American
Preparedness Radio Net (TAPRN) on these or other frequencies as they see fit. However, TAPRN will promote
the use of these standardized frequencies by all Amateur Radio licensed preppers during times of catastrophic
disaster. The promotion of this Standardized Amateur Radio Communications Plan is encouraged by all means
within the prepper community, including via Amateur Radio, Twitter, Facebook, and various blogs.
Standardized Frequencies and Modes
80 Meters – 3.818 MHz LSB (TAPRN Net: Sundays at 9 PM ET)
40 Meters – 7.242 MHz LSB
40 Meters Morse Code / Digital – 7.073 MHz USB
20 Meters – 14.242 MHz USB
2 Meters – 146.420 MHz FM
FRS/GMRS - Channel 4 (462.6375 MHz)
CB - Channel 4 (27.005 MHz)
MURS - Channel 4 (154.570 MHz)
The communication of critical information using the AM mode is encouraged on the standard 80, 40, and 20
meter voice frequencies at the top of each hour so that those who do not have SSB capable receivers may
obtain pertinent information using the AM mode.
Nets and Network Etiquette
In times of nationwide catastrophic disaster, the ability of any one prepper to initiate and sustain themselves as a
net control may be limited by the availability of power and other resource shortages. However, all licensed
preppers are encouraged to maintain a listening watch on these frequencies as often as possible during a
catastrophic disaster. Preppers may routinely announce themselves in the following manner:
This is [Your Callsign Phonetically] in [Your State], maintaining a listening watch on [Standard Frequency]
for any preppers on frequency seeking information or looking to provide information. Please call [Your
Callsign Phonetically].
Preppers exchanging information that may require follow up should agree upon a designated time to return to
the frequency and provide further information. If other stations are utilizing the frequency at the designated time
you return, maintain watch and proceed with your communications when those stations are finished. If your
communications are urgent and the stations on frequency are not passing information of a critical nature,
interrupt with the word “Break” and request use of the frequency.
For More Information
Catastrophe Network: http://www.catastrophenetwork.org or @CatastropheNet on Twitter
The American Preparedness Radio Network: http://www.taprn.com or @TAPRN on Twitter
© 2012 Catastrophe Network, Please Distribute Freely

I personally have 4 hand held walkies and a vehicle cb radio that i can hard wire.

this info is handy, thanks.

my biggest concern in a situation pertaining to radio is that others, that may be wise enough, would be able to triangulate your/my position.
Therefore, i agree with henry that preppers in your general area would be smart to set up their own networking/comms ability with certain
times and channels to communicate. If you were to be discovered and your position located by triangulating, your goods are pretty much gone.
Set yourself and friends/family a code to use to change channels.

ie.
change to channel delta, 'break' zulu
delta = 4 (fourth letter in alphabet)
zulu = 26 (twenty sixth letter)

therefore channel 4.26

just an idea. many other ways to start and make your own codes.

Hey Denob. Here is my confession.I am civil ( Architectural) designer,mechanical designer,good carpenter,I can wire up your house,I am pretty good plumber,good bricklayer,have good knowledge of farming BUT when it comes to electronics,computers,communications I HAVE NO IDEA.I do not even have a cell phone .For all that I thanks GOD for my wife. I just asked my friend who is into ham radios to help me to purchase one because I realize how IMPORTANT it will be if something happened.
So if anybody nearby (MUSKOKA) is building something,or starting a farm I would be glad to help , especially now when I am retired.
Henry

There is an excellent sub forum entitled Emergency Communication on the APN. It is well worth joining the APN for this sub forum alone. All the issues that we are talking about here are discussed in depth and many of the participants are seasoned hams. If you are new to communications I recommend reading the HAM Radio Primer thread. There are many post on choosing a CB channel alone. Reading the thread gives you deep appreciation for the issues involved with the choice of channel. For instance the Standardized Amateur Radio Prepper Communications Plan posted above designates CB - Channel 4 (27.005 MHz) as the designated CB channel. For a number of reasons this is probably not the best choice. Also it does not designate any CB sideband channel. There is a good argument for not making any such designation of channels blatantly public on a forum. Direct prepper to prepper private messages would be MUCH more secure in the long run. For those who intend to transmit should the SHTF there are a whole load of serious consequences that need to be seriously considered. The first question that you need to address is should the SHTF do you wish to be informed about what is happening outside your area or do you wish to have two way communication with people outside your area?

To triangelate a radio signal, requires some special wave length recievers. Also the people using them would have to be a fair ways appart and in communication with each other. The way that the Gov. agencies get around this, is sending messages in a micro blurp, too small and fast to locate.