Raising the Bar for High-Rise Safety: How a Toronto Condominium is Leading the Way with Quarterly Fire Drills and Supervisory Training

As Ontario prepares for strengthened fire-safety requirements coming into effect on January 1st, one Toronto condominium has already moved ahead of the curve—choosing to invest early in supervisory staff training, Fire Safety Plan readiness, and enhanced emergency preparedness for its community.

Under the leadership of Senior Manager Jeffrey Oulette, the corporation has implemented a Quarterly High-Rise Fire Drill Program supported by National Life Safety Group (NLSG). The initiative reflects a forward-thinking and proactive approach to both legislated compliance and community protection, and serves as a model for what responsible high-rise governance should look like.

A Commitment to Compliance—Before Compliance is Required

While many condominium boards and property managers are still interpreting what the new Fire Code requirements will mean for their operations, this corporation has already acted. Establishing quarterly fire drills for supervisory staff—including security, building operations, the superintendent, assistant management, and even cleaning staff—shows a clear understanding of the Fire Code’s intent:
to ensure that those charged with emergency duties are properly trained, confident, and competent.

For a high-rise building, particularly in a dense urban environment like Toronto, this proactive stance is not just responsible—it’s essential. High-Rise residential buildings are “Higher Risk”, and the enhanced preparedness and response levels of front line “supervisory” staff are one of the best ways to reduce that risk.

Going Beyond Minimum Standards

The recent drill conducted by NLSG was delivered as a live educational session and site specific tabletop exercise, ensuring staff learned not only the “what” but the “why” behind their responsibilities. The session included:

• Review of the unique life safety systems installed at the building

• Walkthrough of the building’s Fire Safety Plan’s numerous chapters outlining Supervisory Staff responsibilities

• Hands-on practice with operations and reset procedures for fire alarm systems and Manual Pull Stations

• Verbal scenario testing for emergency calls received at the concierge desk

• Emergency Voice Communication (EVC) training and approved messaging

• Roles and expectations for greeting the arriving Fire Service

• Location and purpose of life-safety infrastructure (fire pump room, smoke control systems, sprinkler controls, CACF)

• Included nightshift, afternoon and weekend staff (Required Jan 2026)

The result?
Staff demonstrated strong engagement, steady improvement, and displayed a clear commitment to protecting their building community.

Board and Management Leadership Makes the Difference

Credit must be given where it is due.
The condominium’s Board of Directors and management team made an investment in both their staff and community safety, creating;

• A safer building for residents

• A more confident supervisory team

• A documented due-diligence record for the corporation

• Consistent emergency readiness across all shifts

• Compliance with both current and upcoming Fire Code expectations

Why Other Boards and Property Managers Are Paying Attention

With Fire Code expectations increasing, condominium communities will soon carry heightened responsibilities for supervisory staff competency, Fire Safety Plan implementation, and documented quarterly drills.

Forward-thinking Boards understand that they cannot wait for an emergency—or an order from the AHJ—to build these capabilities.

Programs like NLSG’s Quarterly High-Rise Fire Drill & Supervisory Training Program offer:

• Expert-led education tailored to Ontario’s regulatory framework

• Fire-prevention-division style evaluation and documentation

• A structured program that satisfies AHJ, insurer, and board expectations

• A consistent learning pathway for security, operations, and management

• True emergency readiness—not box-checking

For buildings that want to strengthen their safety culture while meeting and exceeding code requirements, this is a proven, trusted path forward.

Setting a New Standard in High-Rise Toronto

What this condominium community has accomplished—months ahead of legislated requirements—should be recognized and celebrated. Their Board, management team, and supervisory staff have demonstrated that fire safety is not simply a compliance exercise; it is part of the building’s identity and responsibility to its residents.

Their example reinforces a fundamental truth in our industry:
preparedness is not accidental—it is built through leadership, training, and commitment.