Basil Dobbin
Born in St. John's, Newfoundland on April 2, 1939, Basil Dobbin has played a pivotal role in construction and real estate development in Newfoundland and Labrador.
In 1966, Mr. Dobbin graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering from St. Mary's University and Dalhousie University (Formerly Nova Scotia Technical College), both in Halifax. He later went on to form construction companies such as Viking Construction, Olympic Construction and Pyramid Construction which have played key roles in highway development as well as the Janeway Hospital, Delta Hotel, Mile One Stadium, and the Upper Salmon Hydro Development Project.
In 1980, Mr. Dobbin launched Cabot Development Corporation Limited, purchasing 130 houses in the Brazil Square area to facilitate the construction of the Delta Hotel & Conference Centre (Formerly Radisson Hotel) and the Cabot Place Office Buildings. Cabot designed, constructed owned and operated these facilities. The company is the main proponent of the Cabot Square Power Centre, which began development 1995 with the construction of several ‘big box” stores in the Stavanger Drive area of St. John’s, and is currently developing the 700 lot Clovelly Trails Housing development, and constructed, owns and operates the Clovelly Golf Course, a 36-hole public and private facility in St. John's.
Mr. Dobbin is a past member of the Board of Directors of Marystown Shipyards Limited and the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation, and the Board of Regents of Memorial University of Newfoundland. He has been actively involved in charity fundraising activities, serving as Chairman for the construction of the new announced Sports Complex, and supporting groups such as the YM/YWCA and Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. He is also Chairman of Committee for industrial benefits to the City of St. John’s, and Co-chaired the John Crosbie campaign for Leader of the PC Party in the 1980s.
Mr. Dobbin is married to the former Elizabeth Ann Giovanninni, and has four daughters.