Erika Shea announced as finalist for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards

We are thrilled to share that New Dawn President & CEO, Erika Shea, has been announced as a finalist for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Social Change — Regional Impact for the upcoming Top 25 Women of Influence Awards.

A celebration of women driving impact and change, the Awards Gala will be held in Toronto this November and “recognize and celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of self-identified women and gender-diverse role models.”

Erika’s work is guided by the ethos of building communities that uphold the dignity, worth, and well-being of all people. Over the last decade, Erika has led countless projects from a place of love and built meaningful relationships in our community while bringing in over $28 million dollars to Unama’ki, Cape Breton Island.

Through New Dawn, a non-profit social enterprise organization and the oldest community development corporation in the country (celebrating 50 years in 2026), Erika creates opportunity and impact in affordable and supportive housing, health and homecare, food security, energy poverty, arts and culture, youth and seniors support, immigration settlement services, and so much more.

We at New Dawn are so proud that Erika is being recognized on a national stage. We are in awe of her work, her leadership, and her contributions to New Dawn and the wider community everyday and we feel privileged to be surrounded by her passion, strength, and vision for the people and future of Cape Breton Island.

Read her interview with Women of Influence+ here.