Rankin MacSween appointed to Order of Nova Scotia
New Dawn’s former President/CEO recognized for visionary leadership and contribution to community economic development
Best known for his long tenure as President and CEO of New Dawn Enterprises, Canada’s oldest community development corporation, Rankin MacSween led the organization for more than four decades before retiring in January 2021.
Under his leadership, New Dawn grew from a small volunteer-run initiative into an internationally recognized social enterprise employing more than 150 people and serving over 600 Cape Bretoners each day. Through ventures in affordable and supportive housing, senior and home care, immigration and newcomer settlement, food security, investments, and the arts, New Dawn became a national model for community economic development — reinvesting revenues from business activities to strengthen community resilience and create new opportunities.
In recognition of his exceptional leadership and lifelong contributions to community development, Rankin MacSween has been appointed to the Order of Nova Scotia, the highest honour in the Province of Nova Scotia.
MacSween’s visionary leadership combined business innovation with a strong social purpose. He championed bold, creative initiatives such as the Eltuek Arts Centre, which transformed a historic convent into a world-class cultural hub, demonstrating how heritage, creativity, and economic opportunity can intersect to revitalize communities. His leadership fostered a culture of risk-taking and adaptability that allowed New Dawn to expand into new sectors and respond to emerging community needs.
“Rankin’s style of leadership — what we might describe as ‘leading from behind’ — spoke not only to his humility but to his deep love for the people of this community, and his infinite faith in their abilities,” Dorothy Payne, a former Chair of the New Dawn Board of Directors, said of his retirement in 2021.
“His commitment to New Dawn, and to the community it serves, has been nothing short of awe-inspiring.”
Beyond his organizational achievements, MacSween has helped shape community development policy and practice across Canada. A founding director of the Canadian Community Economic Development Network, he has long advocated for collaborative approaches to rebuilding communities facing economic decline. During his career he also served as a member of the ONE Nova Scotia Coalition, Chair of Laurentian Energy Corporation, a founding director of Island Community Justice, and Chair of the Cape Breton branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. In 2008 he was inducted into the Cape Breton Business Hall of Fame.
MacSween’s work has been guided by a belief that community challenges are rooted not only in economics, but also in politics, culture, and history — and that lasting solutions must focus on healing, inclusion, and community-building. His commitment to civic life included campaigns for mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality in 2012, 2016, and 2024 where he championed addressing child poverty, improving municipal infrastructure, and attracting newcomers to the region.
An accomplished scholar and lifelong learner, MacSween holds degrees from St. Francis Xavier University, the University of Ottawa, and the Merrill Palmer Institute, as well as a PhD from the University of Toronto and an honorary doctorate from Cape Breton University. In 2022 he authored The Search for a New Way: The Story of New Dawn Enterprises, published by Nimbus Publishing, sharing the lessons and vision that shaped his career.
A community-builder, author, farmer, husband, and father, Rankin MacSween lives with his wife, Marie, in Ironville on land that has been in his family for five generations.
Through his courage to challenge the status quo and his unwavering belief that communities can chart their own future, Rankin MacSween has left an enduring legacy that continues to inspire leaders and organizations across Nova Scotia and Canada. It is in recognition of a lifetime dedicated to strengthening communities that he is appointed to the Order of Nova Scotia.
Lt.-Gov. Mike Savage, Chancellor of the Order of Nova Scotia, released the names of the order’s newest members on December 30, saying, “These Nova Scotians have made outstanding contributions to their professions and communities — their meaningful contributions have directly benefitted Nova Scotians and Canadians.”
The Order of Nova Scotia was established in 2001 and recognizes people in many fields of endeavour who have distinguished themselves and made lasting contributions. The other 2025 recipients are Darryl Dexter, John George (Jack) Flemming, Carolyn G. Thomas, and Joel Plaskett. An investiture ceremony will be held at Government House in Halifax in the spring.
Learn more about the 2025 Order of Nova Scotia recipients here.
