Welcoming newcomers to Cape Breton Island

The New Dawn Newcomer Centre is dedicated to welcoming international students to Cape Breton Island. We work to orient, support, connect, advocate on behalf of, and otherwise meet the needs of international students in service of their successful settlement in Cape Breton.

The Newcomer Centre can offer many supports and services to students and graduates in an effort to help them settle and/or stay on the Island. These include (but are not limited to):

• Making social and cultural connections between students and graduates and long-time Cape Bretoners
• Helping students connect to social and cultural groups and networks across the Island including events, volunteer opportunities, and services
• Connecting students with employment and entrepreneurship resources, opportunities and networks across the Island
• Organizing tours of the Island’s five municipalities and Mi’kmaq communities to aid students in connecting with employment and business opportunities in these jurisdictions
• One-on-one case work/support
• Other services as requested

These offerings will change over time with the needs and aspirations of students and graduates.

The International Student and Graduate surveys provide a comprehensive, ongoing look at the experiences, challenges, and aspirations of international students and graduates living in Cape Breton. Conducted by the New Dawn Newcomer Centre, these surveys gather direct feedback from students at different stages of their journey — from current learners to those transitioning into the workforce — to better understand what supports successful settlement and long-term retention in the region.

These surveys are an essential tool for community planning and policy development. International students play a vital role in the local economy and workforce, contributing through tuition, employment, and long-term immigration pathways. At the same time, their experiences highlight where systems are working and where improvements are needed. By tracking trends over time, the surveys enables community partners, institutions, and governments to better respond to the evolving needs of international students and graduates, ultimately supporting long-term settlement and success and strengthening Cape Breton’s ability to attract and retain newcomers.

Across recent reports, several key themes have emerged. Many students describe Cape Breton as a welcoming, safe, and beautiful place to live, with strong community connections and quality of life as major strengths. At the same time, persistent challenges — particularly around employment opportunities and access to affordable, suitable housing — continue to shape students’ experiences and influence their decisions to stay after graduation. In the 2024 survey, for example, while over half of respondents were employed, many were not working in their field, and a large majority reported housing costs that exceeded affordability benchmarks.

Earlier research reinforces these findings, showing that while a high proportion of students express a desire to remain in Cape Breton after graduation, barriers such as limited job opportunities, housing availability, and access to services can impact long-term retention.

Taken together, this collection of survey reports provides a thorough and evolving portrait of the international student and graduate experience in Cape Breton. As a body of research, they establish a critical foundation for understanding trends over time and for informing strategic, evidence-based approaches to supporting international students and graduates within the community.