Nova Scotia·NewThe brothers at the helm of a now defunct volunteer fire department in Joggins, N.S., are facing charges in connection with an assault earlier this month. Volunteer fire department recently shut down amid allegations of misconductLuke Ettinger · CBC News · Posted: Oct 21, 2025 1:37 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hour agoThe Municipality of Cumberland says the Joggins volunteer fire department is no longer registered with the county. (Google Maps)The brothers at the helm of a now defunct volunteer fire department in Joggins, N.S., have been charged in connection with an assault earlier this month.The Oct. 11 incident in River Hebert, N.S., occurred a week before the Municipality of Cumberland said it was shutting the Joggins fire department down, citing the “misconduct and poor judgment” of leadership, among other issues. Christopher St. Peter, chief of the Joggins fire department, faces three charges including possession of a telescopic baton without a licence. The 25-year-old is also charged with assault with a weapon and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.His 22-year-old brother, Dylan St. Peter, is charged with assault. He was serving as the fire department’s deputy chief at the time.Sources told CBC News the alleged victim is Dylan St. Peter’s ex-girlfriend. The brothers have been released from custody with court dates scheduled for late November and early December.Neighbouring department to take overIn a news release Saturday, the Municipality of Cumberland said fire services in the Joggins area would be provided by the neighbouring River Hebert fire department, located approximately five kilometres away, effective immediately.Cumberland Mayor Rod Gilroy said Saturday the decision to revoke the department’s registration came following a series of events over the past year that resulted in the municipality’s senior management losing faith in the department’s ability to do its job.A recent engineering assessment that found the fire hall to be unsafe also played a role.Gilroy declined to elaborate on specific instances of misconduct, but said recent events were factors in the decision.“This was just one of several things that have happened recently that would cause us to question the ability of the leadership of that department to lead and carry out their duties in the manner in which we want them to do so,” said Gilroy.1 brother to stand trialDylan St. Peter is set to go to trial in January in a separate case after pleading not guilty earlier this year to charges of sexual interference and sexual assault with a person under 16. The charges stem from an alleged incident in August 2024. The victim’s identity in that case is protected by a publication ban. Members of the Joggins volunteer fire department met Monday to discuss whether to ask for a review of the municipality’s decision to revoke the department’s registration. The deadline to request a review is Nov. 1. MORE TOP STORIES ABOUT THE AUTHORLuke Ettinger is a reporter with CBC Nova Scotia based in Truro. Reach him at luke.ettinger@cbc.ca.
Joggins fire chief, deputy facing criminal charges
