Federal government backs Glace Bay youth and family centre through program
Natural Resources Canada’s Green Construction program was created to promote the use of innovative wood-based building technologies and systems in Canada.
The federal government has provided $600,000 in funding to the New Dawn Youth and Family Centre in Glace Bay through Natural Resources Canada’s Green Construction through Wood program.
According to a news release, the funding “will help advance the design and construction of a new community hub that reflects Glace Bay’s energy, creativity, and commitment to sustainability. The project will use Canadian wood products to create a welcoming, modern, and environmentally responsible space for children, youth, and families – bringing new opportunities and services right to the heart of the community.”
“This project is about building more than a facility – it’s about building community,” said Sydney-Glace Bay MP Mike Kelloway, who announced the funding. “The New Dawn Youth and Family Centre will bring people together, create opportunities for young people and showcase what’s possible when innovation and sustainability meet.”
The New Dawn Youth and Family Centre is a 25,000-square-foot hybrid wood and steel community hub that will bring together programs and services for children, youth, and families in Glace Bay. It is expected to be completed by March of 2026.
Supported by the $600,000 investment through the Green Construction through Wood program, New Dawn Enterprises will lead research, design, and construction work that explores how renewable materials and advanced fabrication technologies can enhance both community infrastructure and environmental performance.
“The New Dawn Youth and Family Centre will bring together community vision and innovative design,” said Alyce MacLean, Director of Properties and Development with New Dawn Enterprises. “With support from (the Green Construction through Wood program), we’re using wood products in new and ambitious ways to build a space that supports children, youth, and families while demonstrating how sustainable construction can strengthen communities like Glace Bay.”
The Green Construction through Wood program will support three areas of innovation:
- Design innovation and research, including digital fabrication of trusses, wall cutouts, and curved wood to precisely control geometry, and exploring new connection methods between wood trusses and fire-rated walls.
- Hybrid construction and testing, integrating automated fabrication tools to achieve complex roof geometry and testing fastening systems connecting wood trusses to steel beams and concrete structures.
- Knowledge-sharing and communication, through 3D modeling, photography, time-lapse documentation, and a final report summarizing embodied carbon outcomes and lessons learned in sustainable design and construction.
The project is designed to not only deliver a beautiful and functional community space for Glace Bay, but will also generate research for architects, engineers, and builders across Canada, supporting the expansion of innovative, wood-based construction practices.
Natural Resources Canada’s Green Construction program was created to promote the use of innovative wood-based building technologies and systems in Canada. The program aims to advance climate goals while encouraging the use of renewable, low-carbon materials in mid-rise, tall, and non-residential buildings.
