Multiple Halifax Schools Trigger Emergency Protocols Following Threats and Hoax Call
Several Halifax Regional Centre for Education schools implemented lockdown or hold-and-secure orders last week due to threats, including a hoax swatting call from Florida and reports of individuals with items resembling weapons.
Several schools within the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE) activated emergency protocols last week in response to various threats across Nova Scotia.
Halifax West High School was placed under lockdown after receiving a hoax threat. The incident, described as a "swatting" call, originated from Florida. Students and staff followed safety procedures, securing themselves in classrooms during the lockdown. Marla MacInnis, public relations manager for Halifax Regional Police (HRP), stated that swatting diverts first responders and creates fear among students and staff.
Three other HRCE schools — Dartmouth High, Sackville High School, and Leslie Thomas Junior High — were placed on hold-and-secure orders last week. Dartmouth High initiated its order after a report that an individual connected to the school may have been in possession of an item resembling a weapon. Sackville High School and Leslie Thomas Junior High entered hold-and-secure status after a man with a knife was spotted on school property.
Lindsey Bunin, a communications officer for HRCE, explained the distinction between the two protocols. According to Bunin, lockdowns are used for immediate or suspected threats inside a school or in the immediate vicinity, whereas hold-and-secure orders are used for potential threats outside a school or when student and staff movements need to be controlled.
Cpl. Mandy Edwards, spokesperson for the RCMP’s Halifax regional detachment, confirmed the RCMP responded to the hold-and-secure orders at Leslie Thomas Junior High and Sackville High School. Police agencies emphasized taking all reports seriously despite the hoax nature of the incident at Halifax West High School. The events created fear and anxiety among students, staff, and the broader community.