Breaking New Ground—Stories from Defence Construction Breaking_new_ground | Page 122

Construction Program Manager Janette Brodeur also served at Camp Nathan
Smith. She recalls the impact the experience had on her:
Whenever I am asked the question, “How was your tour in Afghanistan?” I
always pause and reflect. My answer generally is, “It was an interesting life
experience.” I got to experience a whole new culture, experience war from a
front-line perspective, and (I) developed a large appreciation for how lucky
we are to be born and raised in North America. I wanted to go for both the
experience and to help in some small way to make a difference. This task is
very difficult, given the situation in Afghanistan. However, on my last day at
Camp Nathan Smith, I received an e-mail from one of the Afghan contractors
that I worked with. His e-mail stated, “I want to thank you for your small
efforts in trying to help rebuild my country.” This statement of gratitude
made my tour!
Former DCC Vice-President Steve Irwin noted in a 2008 interview that
although DCC’s primary role in Afghanistan is to support the troops—with
improved accommodation and amenities at the airfield, for example, and
with the PRT—there’s also a strong aspect of nation building to its work. This
echoes DCC’s overseas work in the 1950s, and extends beyond Afghanistan.
In 2008, DCC participated in Operation
Tropical Hammer, deploying staff to
Jamaica to help Canadian and Jamaican
Military Engineers and local contractors
build classrooms, workshops and accom-
modations for the Caribbean country’s
Defence Force.
As DCC was identified as a Military Engineer resource for deployment and
became integrated into the CF deployment planning, DCC began to participate
in other operational exercises. In 2008, for example, as part of the CF Military
Training Assistance Program (MTAP) to other nations, DCC deployed staff
to Jamaica, helping Canadian and Jamaican Military Engineers and local
contractors build classrooms, workshops and accommodation facilities at
three sites—an exercise that also provided invaluable training and experience
for those deploying to Afghanistan.

Environmental priorities
As part of DCC’s emphasis on building expertise in environmental matters,
the Corporation launched its own environmental management framework in
2000–01, implementing successive measures until the framework became
fully integrated within DCC operations by 2006 with the goal of minimizing
the environmental impact of DCC operations. For example, appliances are
Energy Star rated, items are made from materials that are recycled, re-used
and/or recyclable whenever possible, and energy conservation and efficiency
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BREAKING NEW GROUND
DEFENCE CONSTRUCTION CANADA