Meet the CEO/Deputy Head

Craig MacLaughlan, CEO / Deputy Head

Craig MacLaughlan joined the Emergency Management Office (EMO) as CEO/Deputy Head in February 2005. Since that time, EMO has established itself as a leader in emergency management across Canada and strengthened Nova Scotia’s emergency management system.

Mr. MacLaughlan has co-chaired the International Emergency Management Group, and the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Deputy Ministers’ Committee. In 2008, he was recognized by the Deputy Ministers’ Emergency Management Forum for his dedicated service to the national emergency management program.

Mr. MacLaughlan currently chairs or participates on the Emergency Management Coordinators Executive Committee, Association of Municipal Administrators / Emergency Management Committee, 911 Cost Recovery Fund Committee, and the Public Safety & Anti-Terrorism Committee.

Born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Mr. MacLaughlan is a graduate of Dalhousie University’s Police Leadership Program and the Banff School of Management. He also holds a Diploma in Management from Saint Mary’s University.

Mr. MacLaughlan was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) for 30 years, serving in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nunavut and Manitoba.

His final position was the Superintendent of Support Services in Nova Scotia’s Criminal Operations Branch. In this role, he acted as RCMP's critical incident officer and was in charge of all major events, disasters and major investigations in the province. He spearheaded the RCMP's response to Hurricane Juan, the blizzard of February 2004 and other large-scale events. In 2003, Mr. MacLaughlan was awarded the Nova Scotia Premier's Award for his leadership during Hurricane Juan.

Mr. MacLaughlan was awarded the Queen's Commission in 1998. He has also received the Canada 125 medal for his work with First Nations communities in Manitoba and the Queen's Jubilee medal for devoted police service to Canadians. He was also awarded the RCMP Long Service medal, and silver bar and clasp, and a Commanding Officer's clasp for bravery.

Mr. MacLaughlan and his wife, Dorothea (nee Bassett of St. John’s, NL), currently reside in Stewiacke East in Nova Scotia.