Breaking New Ground—Stories from Defence Construction Breaking_new_ground | Page 53

Keeping busy
Along with projects such as Expo 67 (discussed in more detail later on),
DCL was in the mid- to late 1960s handling major runway improvements
at Canadian Forces bases that included Gimli, Summerside, Greenwood,
Chatham, Moose Jaw and Namao. Lighting and landing aids were also
installed at a number of bases.
Stranded on the roof…
Summerside, 1965—Don Turney
We were doing a simple roofing job at CFB Summerside, PEI, in 1965. The
BCEO, Flight Lieutenant John Woods, had obtained a ladder and we both
went up onto the roof to inspect it. During this time, someone decided that
he needed a ladder and took ours, not realizing that we were still on the
roof. It took us some time to get someone’s attention so that we could be
helped down. The Flight Lieutenant, however, continued to climb the
“ladder” of success to become Chief, Construction and Properties at the
rank of Major-General.
During my approximately 35 years with DCL, I remember the many fine
people I worked with, and I appreciate the help they provided. This comment
applies to both DCL and military personnel. Between the two, there was
always a good working relationship and a strong sense of the teamwork
necessary to get the jobs done.
Don Turney joined DCL in 1953, working at Head Office, on five different
military bases and on loan to the Department of Transport for two years
during runway construction at Pearson International Airport. He was Project
Engineer at CFB Borden when he retired in 1988.
As the 1960s drew to a close, new defence priorities from the Trudeau
government led to a reduction of Canada’s NATO commitment and of
DND’s need for new facilities. Defence spending cuts through the late
1960s, and continuing on into the early 1970s, meant that DND focused
on maintenance work, or “patch and fix” jobs such as painting, roofing,
renovations and window replacement. If the contract for these was
estimated at $30,000 or more, DCL was involved. It set the tone as DCL
entered the 1970s.
BREAKING NEW GROUND
DEFENCE CONSTRUCTION CANADA
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