School Smoke Detector Program

It all started in 2012 when Tilda Raney, a broker at our New Glasgow location, spoke with New Glasgow Fire Chief Doug Dort and Fireman John Desmond. The topic on her mind? Providing smoke detectors for Grade 2 students.

Why Grade 2 students, you might ask? A smoke detector has a 10 year life span, so when the kids reach grade 12 they would need to replace the smoke detector as it would reach its life expectancy.

The New Glasgow Fire Department and AA Munro Insurance partnered together to provide the Grade 2 Students of Acadia Street School and A G Baillie School with a smoke detector for their bedrooms.

Tilda Raney with students at the first School Smoke Detector Program in 2012.

The goal at first was to give each grade 2 student a smoke detector for their own bedroom to test and use. The hope was to instill the importance of fire safety at a young age, to carry with them as they get older. We often hear of fires starting in a child’s bedroom—giving a a detector could save a life.

In 2013, the initiative was covered in the Superintendent’s Report to the Chignecto-Central Regional School Board. It has since expanded past New Glasgow and across Nova Scotia with other AA Munro locations taking part.

Positive Community Impact

“It is great to see the little faces.” says Tilda. “They are so excited to get there smoke detectors and you never now what stories the kids may tell you or questions they will ask the fireman. It has put us out in our community in a positive way. We also form a closer relationship with our schools and local fireman.”

Both our insurance brokers and local firefighters enjoy the program. It continues to be a fun and effective way to promote fire safety in our communities!