The Town of Antigonish and the Municipality of the County of Antigonish have an intermunicipal agreement to deliver coordinated emergency management services across the region. This partnership enables the sharing of personnel, equipment, facilities, and resources to ensure an effective and unified response when emergencies occur.
Most day-to-day emergencies are managed by local first responders, including police, fire services, and Emergency Health Services (EHS). When an incident exceeds the community’s normal response capacity, the Antigonish Regional Emergency Management Organization (Antigonish REMO/AREMO) is activated. Antigonish REMO coordinates the broader emergency response by supporting communication, resource management, emergency shelters, and recovery efforts, working closely with municipal, provincial, and partner organizations to help protect residents and restore community services.
Regional Emergency Planning Team
The Regional Emergency Management Planning Team includes Town and County staff with defined emergency preparedness and response roles. The team meets regularly to review hazards, practise response scenarios, and confirm responsibilities for a coordinated emergency response.
Members include Chief Administrative Officers (CAO), municipal staff, and partner agencies that may support emergency operations, such as:
- Canadian Red Cross
- Nova Scotia Department of Community Services
- Nova Scotia HealthEmergency Health Services
- RCMPMunicipal police services (where applicable)
- Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office
- Nova Scotia Department of Public Works
- Department of Natural Resources and Renewables
- Ground Search and Rescue
- Fire services
- Nova Scotia Power
- Salvation Army
- Regional education partners
- Other relevant emergency response organizations
Emergency Roles and Coordination
During large-scale emergencies, Antigonish REMO activates the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), located in both the Town and County municipal buildings. The EOC brings together municipal staff and partner agencies to coordinate response efforts.
The CAO of the affected municipality typically serves as EOC Director, overseeing response decisions. In regional emergencies, this role may be shared, with staff from all municipal units working together to support response, coordination, and recovery.
The REMO Coordinator is responsible for developing, maintaining, and updating the Emergency Management Plan to ensure it remains effective and responsive to community needs. The Coordinator also leads training and exercises, chairs the Emergency Management Planning Committee during non-emergency periods, and acts as a key liaison during emergencies—supporting coordination and collaboration among partners.
REMO Coordinator
Blaise MacDonald
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902-867-7152
AREMO Emergency Management Team (EMT)
This graphic is a schematic highlighting the chain of contact for the EMT for Antigonish REMO. From councillors, safety and information officers, to the operations and planning support, and more, the Municipality of the County of Antigonish and the Town of Antigonish are here to support you during an emergency.
Antigonish Regional Emergency Plan
The Town and County of Antigonish are committed to working together to keep our communities safe and prepared for emergencies. The Antigonish Regional Emergency Management Plan, developed under the Nova Scotia Emergency Management Act (PDF), provides a coordinated framework for responding to emergencies of any size.
The plan outlines the roles and responsibilities of municipal staff, emergency services, and community partners, ensuring a coordinated and effective response. Developed in collaboration with the AREMO and regional stakeholders, it reflects our shared commitment to emergency preparedness.
As a living document, the plan will be regularly reviewed and updated to address emerging risks, strengthen coordination, and support community resilience.Together, we are building a safer and more resilient Antigonish. The view the plan, here: pdf AREMO Emergency Management Plan (2.38 MB)
In Case of an Emergency or Evacuation
During an emergency, rely on official sources for accurate information, instructions, and updates. Misinformation shared through social media can create confusion and lead to unsafe decisions.
For emergencies in the Town or County of Antigonish, residents should use official municipal websites and verified social media pages (Town of Antigonish and The Municipality of the County of Antigonish) as their primary information sources. On social media, look for official posts and updates from AREMO.