The Sackville Fire Department should have a new fire chief by the end of the fall, says Dan Dupuis, director of protective services for Tantramar.
The municipality is currently screening applications to the job posting, which closed on August 28.
While Dupuis didn’t disclose how many had applied, he said he’s expecting about half a dozen candidates to sit down for interviews over the coming months.
“ We’re going to be very careful on our selection to make the right decision for the community. We want to make sure that there’s transparency into the hiring and to the process, and basically get the right fit for the position so we can build from here and move into the future in a positive way.”
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This news comes nearly eight months after 12 volunteer firefighters turned in their pagers on January 5, 2026.
Since then, the municipality has slowly righted the course of the service. Part of that included hiring Dupuis to manage fire, police and bylaw services for Tantramar in May. The fire service also later hired Becky Goodwin as manager of people and culture to help develop a path forward.
It also included missteps in management, accountability, communication, and transparency that Dupuis is confident the department is moving past.
“ It’s been a long road. I started May 11th, and, you know, it’s been a battle. But ever since I’ve started and things have come around, the attendance to calls and trainings have been exceptionally good. Morale and positive feedback has grown tremendously.”
A further sign is that all 12 firefighters have returned to service and recruitment has yielded the first new recruits in almost three years, with 11 new volunteer applicants. They have to get through orientation before being selected for training, but Dupuis said new members are a very welcome sight.
Looking ahead, Dupuis said all of Tantramar’s fire services, which include Dorchester and Point de Bute, will undergo a comprehensive review to identify risks and recommend improvements for all three services. As Tantramar continues to grow, its needs will change, and a review will help keep the municipality prepared, he said.
“ I’ve always been heavy on training and being prepared . . . and it’s just looking into the future—what are you going to need, how are you going to fund it, and how are you going to get there. So, very important aspects of making sure we’re safe into the future.”
Dupuis expects to have a request for proposals for the review ready for council to vote on at the next regular council meeting on September 8.
