Dalhousie has partnered with the Province of Nova Scotia to launch a new certificate designed to help current and aspiring fire service leaders build the skills they need to lead departments and serve communities across the province.
The new Nova Scotia Fire Service Leadership Certificate will offer practical, accessible training tailored to the realities of working in Nova Scotia’s fire service. Developed by Dalhousie’s Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development in partnership with the province’s Department of Emergency Management, the pilot program will welcome its first participants in 2027.
“Strong fire service leadership is essential to the safety and resilience of communities across Nova Scotia,” says Jennifer Hann, acting dean of the Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development.
This certificate brings together Dalhousie’s expertise in leadership development with the lived experience of fire service professionals.
“This certificate brings together Dalhousie’s expertise in leadership development with the lived experience of fire service professionals to provide practical, accessible learning that reflects the realities of their work. We’re proud to partner with the province to create a learning opportunity that will help current and future fire service leaders build the skills and confidence they need to lead effectively.”
The province announced an investment of more than $209,000 in the program during an event at Dalhousie on Friday (Aug. 28).
Jennifer Hann.
Learning built for the fire service
The certificate consists of six customized courses covering station operations, fire prevention and suppression, municipal administration, finance, human resources and organizational leadership.
Participants will be able to complete the program online in about 18 months, with approximately three hours of study each week in addition to scheduled virtual sessions.
Those sessions will draw on case studies and examples from Nova Scotia, giving participants an opportunity to develop leadership skills and learn from other firefighters and officers working in communities across the province.
Kim Masland.
The approach is intended to help build connections among fire service leaders who may be facing similar challenges in different municipalities.
“Our firefighters step up when their communities need them most. They deserve the training, tools and support they need to lead with confidence,” says Kim Masland, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Emergency Management. “This partnership with Dalhousie is about investing in the people who lead our fire departments and strengthening fire services in communities across Nova Scotia.”
Building on decades of experience
The new certificate builds on Dalhousie’s long history of fire service leadership education.
Dalhousie has offered fire leadership training since the mid-1980s and updated its programs in 2025 to better reflect the skills required of today’s fire service leaders. The six courses included in the new certificate are also fully transferable and can count toward Dalhousie’s existing fire service leadership programs.
The new offering comes amid broader efforts to modernize firefighter training and strengthen the fire service in Nova Scotia. The Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia conducted a broad review of fire services governance, including operations, training, communications and funding, which was released in September 2025.
Rod Nielsen, president of the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia, says continued learning is particularly important for people taking on the diverse and challenging responsibilities that come with fire service leadership.
Rod Nielsen, president of the Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia.
The program is intended both for firefighters preparing to move into leadership positions and for current officers looking to strengthen their skills.
Applications are open. The first cohort is expected to begin in January 2027, followed by a second in April.