Nova ScotiaThe training facility announced changes to its structure and leadership Thursday following years of public scrutiny pertaining to safety after the 2019 death of firefighter Skyler Blackie.’This is an opportunity to reset,’ says the board chairCelina Aalders · CBC News · Posted: Oct 02, 2025 4:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoJohn Cunningham is stepping down as the head of the Nova Scotia Firefighters School. (Twitter: @HFXFireHistory)Nearly two months after the province severed its relationship with the Nova Scotia Firefighters School, the training facility announced on Thursday that its executive director will retire, and a new board of directors has been appointed. Executive director John Cunningham will retire effective Oct. 31, following “a period of significant public discussion about the future direction of the school,” said a news release from the school in Waverley. Cunningham had previously expressed that he would not step down, despite calls from his peers and the family of firefighter Skyler Blackie, who died at the facility in 2019.”While many perspectives have been shared, one point has become clear: to rebuild confidence and ensure the school continues to meet the evolving needs of Nova Scotia’s fire service, meaningful change is required,” said the release. The school — which trains both volunteer and career firefighters — said the new board of directors consists of people who have not previously held management positions. It will also restructure its management model, replacing the role of executive director with a “modernized leadership framework more reflective of today’s fire service.” Audit found safety and policy gaps The Nova Scotia government cut ties with the school at the beginning of August, after a value-for-money audit found a number of issues including a “breakdown in safety accountability, lack of stakeholder engagement, inadequate governance and oversight of the executive director and eroded public trust.” The province had previously been providing funding to the school, but that money was suspended in 2024.The audit was commissioned in June to help ensure the safety of students and staff. It stemmed from the death of Blackie, a full-time firefighter with the Truro Fire Service who died in 2019 after an expired fire extinguisher he was using exploded during a certification exam. A court case following Blackie’s death resulted in the school admitting that it failed to perform routine inspections on its fire extinguishers and keep adequate records.The school’s restructuring announcement comes just one day after the province introduced the Fire Safety and Services Act — a bill meant to address what the government referred to as long-standing issues in fire services in Nova Scotia.More transparency, representationAccording to the news release, the school’s new board of directors is also taking steps to increase transparency and representation, and is looking at ways to include representation from International Association of Firefighters locals at the board level. “This is an opportunity to reset and to show the fire service in Nova Scotia that the school is committed to meaningful progress,” said board chair Mark Pound.The school says it’s also pursuing partnerships to expand its access to equipment and training opportunities, in hopes of becoming a “world-class institution.” MORE TOP STORIES ABOUT THE AUTHORCelina is a TV, radio and web reporter with CBC Nova Scotia. She holds a master’s degree in journalism and communication. Story ideas are always welcomed at celina.aalders@cbc.ca
Head of N.S. Firefighters School to retire, facility restructures with goal of ‘meaningful change’
