Breaking New Ground—Stories from Defence Construction Breaking_new_ground | Page 11

INTRODUCTION
Throughout Defence Construction Canada’s work on
behalf of Canada since the early 1950s, its role has often
been played out behind the scenes. This is, after all, as
it should be—in essence, providing a strong foundation
for the infrastructure needs of its clients, particularly
the Department of National Defence. But “behind the
scenes” deserves its moment in the spotlight, too.
That’s because, as the Corporation evolves, its core
values become ever more important. Those values—
articulated in 1981 as dedication, fairness and compe-
tence—were set down more than half a century ago, as
the Honourable C.D. Howe and the Corporation’s first
President, Dick Johnson, were creating the organization
in the turbulent years after World War II.
This was a time when the Cold War was taking hold
and the Korean War was being fought—both, in their
own way, sending a message that Canada’s defence
policy was essential to the country’s future. Canada has
never forgotten, however, that foreign aid is a critical
factor in nurturing peace—and so the Corporation has
often been involved in this arena, also behind the
scenes, from India and Pakistan to the Caribbean to
Bosnia–Herzegovina and Afghanistan. Throughout the
years and throughout the world, DCC has always strived
to provide the best possible service to DND while
maintaining its reputation for integrity and fairness with
the construction industry.
BREAKING NEW GROUND
DEFENCE CONSTRUCTION CANADA
From wind tunnels to rocket launching facilities, from
dams to mess halls, from barracks to entire military
bases, DCC has helped to build them all. And it has
done so from Europe to the farthest reaches of Canada’s
north, in places where the requirements of weather,
foreign governments, deadlines and terrain have often
placed it on the leading edge of contract management
techniques and construction technology.
Today, as the organization is forging new frontiers—
overseas or here at home at the forefront of
environmental issues—it is also managing the life cycle
of the facilities that it once helped to build. To under-
stand where we are now, we need the opportunity to
look back, to see the challenges and accomplishments
of the past—indeed, to understand the legacy of all
those who have paved the way for the present and the
future.
We are DCC. These are our stories.
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