Head of N.S. firefighters' school says he won't step down amid calls for resignation

The executive director of the embattled Nova Scotia Firefighters School is rejecting calls for his resignation, both from his peers and the family of a firefighter who died at the training facility in Waverley five years ago.

Those calling for John Cunningham to step down say he should do so as a show of the school's accountability in the death of Skyler Blackie, a Truro, N.S., firefighter killed when the expired fire extinguisher he was using exploded during a certification exam in March 2019.

"I understand the concerns that have been expressed, and I take them very seriously," Cunningham said Monday in a statement to CBC News. "However, I have no plans to resign."

Members of Blackie's family and the union representing firefighters in Halifax and Truro attended the school's annual general meeting over the weekend.

Speaking after the meeting, Blackie's sister said she remains dissatisfied with the school's response to her brother's death.

"They're continuing to do what they've done this entire time — pass the blame, blame the province," said Jessica Gillis. "They're not holding any accountability for the part that they played in this."

In 2022, a court case resulted in the school admitting that it failed to perform routine inspections and keep adequate records. The school was sentenced to pay $102,000 in fines.

In March 2024, Safety Services Nova Scotia visited the school and wrote a report based on what it saw, detailing numerous safety problems and making 41 recommendations for change.

Blackie's family has said the school only started addressing safety concerns when the province imposed a stop-work order in August. 

That order was lifted in September and the school was allowed to reopen under certain conditions and restrictions.

Cunningham said in his statement that there have been significant changes at the school over the last five years and the work continues.

"Restoring confidence in the school requires a steadfast commitment to transparency, accountability, and meaningful action," he said. "While we have already implemented significant improvements over the past five years, we recognize that there is still more work to be done."

But skepticism remains.

Joe Triff, the Nova Scotia vice-president of the Atlantic Provinces Professional Fire Fighters Association, said the organization is not willing to partner with the school's current leadership team.

"They've demonstrated a lack of accountability, a lack of transparency and a lack of doing the right thing when it matters, and we wanted to make sure it was clear: without change, you won't have partnership," said Triff outside the meeting.

He went further, calling for the province to step in and take over training for firefighters.

Gillis said because of her brother's death, their family will never be the same.

"We have a tradition in our household now that we write messages and burn them up to heaven on all big holidays, on his birthday, and it's really sad that that is the way that my kids get to know their uncle," Gillis said.

When asked how he would respond to Blackie's family, Cunningham reiterated the school's commitment to strengthening its training programs and safety standards "in honour of Skyler's memory."

"We extend our deepest and most heartfelt apologies for this unimaginable loss," he said. 

"Words cannot capture the profound sorrow we feel, but we want you to know that we are fully committed to ensuring that such a tragedy never happens again."