Happy Birthday DVA!

The Daniel J. MacDonald Building turned 20 years old this week.

It’s hard to be anything but positive about having the Veterans Affairs Canada as a neighbour (if I squint and angle myself just right, I can see the building out my front window).

DVA employs thousands of Islanders (and pays them well). Their mission of supporting veterans is hard to argue with. And having DVA as a major presence in Charlottetown’s downtown is perhaps the primary reason the neighbourhood retains the retail and restaurant community it does.

So, happy birthday DVA. Thanks.

Comments

Derek's picture
Derek on June 20, 2003 - 20:03 Permalink

>The Daniel J. MacDonald Building turned 25 years old this >week.

Actually, it’s only a spring chicken at 20!
> Happy Birthday DVA!
(The DVA itself has been around much longer).
As someone who has been working for the DVA longer than the building has, I feel really old!

BTW, look for a shiny new building across from the ATC in the next three years or so, to replace the venerable Dominion Bldg where I and many others work. I had a chance to see the concept drawings this week. They have done a great job making it fit into the “streetscape” with a combination of bricks and stone, and lots of greenery at street level. There are a number of “townies” sitting on a committee to ensure that it fits in with the community, and I think everyone will be very pleased with it.

Derek's picture
Derek on June 20, 2003 - 20:23 Permalink

Re: DVA employs thousands of Islanders

Actually, there are only 1100 DVA employees in PEI (and some of them Came From Away!)

Alan's picture
Alan on June 20, 2003 - 20:34 Permalink

…and some came from elsewhere that is not away — ie the Maritimes.

Wayne's picture
Wayne on June 21, 2003 - 00:57 Permalink

They still qualify as being “from away”, Alan!

Alan's picture
Alan on June 21, 2003 - 01:10 Permalink

…so rude and wrong…

Steven Garrity's picture
Steven Garrity on June 21, 2003 - 14:46 Permalink

Derek, you’re info on the promising development of the new fed building is very encouraging. I’ve been dreading seeing a new monolith on that corner. Thanks.

Andrew Chisholm's picture
Andrew Chisholm on June 21, 2003 - 17:00 Permalink

Yeah the new GOCB is going to look very good on that corner. It Will definitely make Charlottetown feel more urban downtown. For as long as I’ve been around the land was home to an Esso and recently a vacant lot. Seeing a well designed building there will be great.

Steven Garrity's picture
Steven Garrity on June 21, 2003 - 17:18 Permalink

Anyone know when the plans will be public?

Andrew Chisholm's picture
Andrew Chisholm on June 21, 2003 - 19:43 Permalink

I emailed the public works department a couple months ago asking them the same question and they said sometime in June the plans would be make public then would be put online shortly there after.

Keep checking the web site for the new GOCB in Charlottetown: http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/charlottetown/text/index-e.html

Derek's picture
Derek on June 22, 2003 - 12:00 Permalink

I think that Andrew’s assessment is on the money. Once the project gets Treasury Board approval, senior bureaucrats will descend on the Island (usually during lobster season or just before a federal election call), make a big announcement, and show off pretty drawings. After that happens, I understand it may take six to eight months to develop detailed plans, and two to three years after that before move-in.

hannah's picture
hannah on June 23, 2003 - 13:32 Permalink

the launch with the pretty drawings is at Memorial Hall this afternoon (Monday June 23) at 2 pm. Inside info!

Derek's picture
Derek on June 24, 2003 - 11:34 Permalink

The Mayor is in the paper caressing a model of the building. We only got to see the drawings!

Mark Stewart's picture
Mark Stewart on December 24, 2003 - 08:01 Permalink

What are the plans for the old buildings?