A helicopter prepares to drop water on the Shelburne County wildfire on May 29, 2023 (Frankie Crowell Photo)
Nova Scotians are being invited to help name the province’s four new helicopters that will support wildfire response and emergency operations.
The Department of Natural Resources launched a public naming campaign, encouraging residents to suggest names that reflect Nova Scotia’s identity.
The helicopters are based out of Shubenacadie, Hants County, and are used for wildfire suppression, search and rescue, emergency transport, and aerial surveillance.
Suggestions can be submitted through a provincial survey site until June 27: surveys.novascotia.ca/NametheChoppers. From those entries, ten names will be selected as finalists, and Nova Scotians will then vote for their four favourites through the government’s Facebook page.
“These helicopters play a critical role in keeping Nova Scotians safe, and we want their names to reflect the pride we take in that work,” said Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton.
The province’s current fleet was purchased in 2016, and replacements were ordered through a procurement process launched in December 2023. The new aircraft, Airbus H-125s, are expected to arrive in 2025 and 2026. The model is the same as the current fleet but with upgraded safety features.
