HALIFAX: Nova Scotia is providing more than $800,000 to regional emergency management organizations to help communities better prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.
Funding for 12 organizations across Nova Scotia from the Regional Emergency Management Organization (REMO) Capacity Grant Programwill support projects such as:
– improving emergency communications systems
– hiring emergency management staff
– renting office spaces
– emergency preparedness training
– developing emergency management plans
“Funding emergency response is an investment in safety, resilience and lives,” said Kim Masland, Minister of Emergency Management. “Every dollar spent through this grant strengthens the capacity of an entire region in Nova Scotia.
“It means building relationships, joint planning, supporting our neighbours during emergencies, sharing knowledge and resources – all things that ensure we are better prepared and can respond the most effectively.”
A regional emergency management organization brings neighbouring municipalities together to co-ordinate emergency planning, preparedness, response and recovery across a region. This means 37 municipalities in Nova Scotia will benefit from the projects receiving funding.
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The funding is for projects spanning one to four years.
The organizations receiving funding in 2026-27 are in: Cape Breton Regional Municipality and Halifax Regional Municipality, and Digby, Queens, Antigonish, Colchester, Guysborough, Lunenburg, Pictou, Shelburne, Yarmouth, Victoria, Inverness and Richmond counties.
Regional emergency management organizations play a crucial role in emergency planning and providing prompt, co-ordinated responses in their area.
They are activated to provide centralized co-ordination when emergencies become too large for local agencies to handle alone.
Quotes:
“The Pictou County Regional Emergency Management Organization, which consists of all six municipalities in Pictou County, welcomes the Province of Nova Scotia’s investment through the REMO Capacity Grant Program. This grant represents the Province’s continued commitment to strengthening emergency management in municipalities across Nova Scotia.
“The funding has enabled the municipalities to hire a full-time emergency management co-ordinator who provides dedicated support to the six municipal units within Pictou County.
“By providing long-term, sustainable funding, the Province is helping us build emergency management capacity today while ensuring our communities are better prepared, more resilient, and ready to respond to emergencies in the future.”
— Brian Cullen, CAO, Municipality of Pictou County
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“As we continue to see more frequent and complex emergencies, investing in preparedness has never been more important. This funding helps strengthen emergency management capacity across Lunenburg County through enhanced training, equipment and regional co-ordination.
“We’re grateful for the Province’s support and for the strong partnerships that help keep our communities safe.”
— Elspeth McLean-Wile, Mayor, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg
“We appreciate the support provided through the Department of Emergency Management. As a recipient of this grant, our region has established a regional emergency management organization framework that will support comprehensive risk and hazard identification, as well as the development of a regional emergency management plan.
“Collaboration with our regional partners, which include the Town of Port Hawkesbury, Richmond County and Victoria County, combined with the ongoing support of the Department of Emergency Management, is essential to strengthening our preparedness and ensuring that when an emergency happens, we are ready.”
— Bonny MacIsaac, Warden, Municipality of Inverness County
Quick Facts:
– the Department of Emergency Management sets the standards these organizations must achieve; this funding will help them meet and surpass these standards
– In 2025, the Department of Emergency Management awarded about $1 million in grants to seven regional emergency management organizations across Nova Scotia
– the Department also administers the Emergency Services Provider Fund, which provides grants for equipment to first responder organizations, hazardous materials units and ground search and rescue crews; it has individual organization and regional streams of funding
