About
Founded in 1976, New Dawn Enterprises is Cape Breton-Unama’ki’s oldest and largest non-profit community development corporation. We were created to provide a space for critical conversation and organizing, and to serve as a platform from which community members could thoughtfully and sustainably respond to community needs.
Today, New Dawn comprises seventeen incorporated non-profits and charities, each carrying forth our founding spirit and continuing to respond to changing community conditions and opportunities. We are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors whose capacities and perspectives reflect the many sectors in which we work and the ways in which we aspire to be of service.
As a charitable organization, we operate on a social enterprise model – any revenues generated are reinvested back into New Dawn, allowing us to develop new projects and take on new community initiatives in pursuit of our vision for a more vibrant and self-reliant Cape Breton Island.
At the heart of everything we do is our mission: to engage the community to create a culture of self-reliance. This mission is as relevant today as it was when our organization was founded over 45 years ago.
Our Impact
At New Dawn, we believe that a community’s strength lies in its ability to care for all its members. Every day, we witness this strength in action: in the warm smile of a Meals on Wheels volunteer delivering more than just a meal, in the dignity of seniors aging gracefully at home with support from our care teams, in the joy of newcomers finding community and connection through CBICI, and in the creative energy of artists collaborating at Eltuek Arts Centre.
Together with our community, we’re working to ensure everyone has a safe place to call home, access to healthy food, opportunities for meaningful connection, and the support they need to thrive. From our Good Food Bus bringing fresh produce to neighborhoods across CBRM, to our innovative housing solutions supporting youth and vulnerable community members, we’re building a more inclusive and resilient Cape Breton-Unama’ki.
This work is only possible because of the trust our community places in us, and the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and partners who share our vision of a vibrant, self-reliant Island where everyone belongs.
