Laura promotes and supports the use of NFPA tools and resources, including NFPA codes and standards, training, certification, and public education initiatives such as Fire Prevention Week, the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, and Wildfire Community Preparedness Day. Laura joined NFPA in 2017 as public education representative and has worked with fire departments, associations, and First Nations groups from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland, and in the northern territories, to develop community risk reduction programs, build fire-prevention and life-safety education strategies, and create and disseminate consistent and accurate messaging. Laura was editor of Fire Fighting in Canada and Canadian Firefighter magazines for 10 years before moving to NFPA in 2017; she was a reporter and editor for more than 20 years for newspapers and magazines across Canada and the United States. Laura is a certified fire- and life-safety educator and holds several other certifications; Laura has degrees in journalism, political science, and public administration. Laura is a proud Cape Bretoner, has lived and worked in Halifax, Ottawa, Edmonton and the Greater Toronto Area – and always loves to come back to Nova Scotia!