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Welcoming newcomers to Cape Breton Island

The New Dawn Newcomer Centre (formerly the Cape Breton Island Centre for Immigration) is a settlement services provider located in downtown Sydney, Cape Breton-Unama’ki, dedicated to welcoming and supporting all newcomers to the region. Its core mission is to help orient, connect, and advocate for immigrants, refugees, and international students to ensure their successful settlement and integration into the community.

Services

Our organization provides a comprehensive range of settlement and integration services designed to support all newcomers in establishing a successful life in their new community. These services address essential needs, from formal requirements to social integration are available free of service to permanent residents, temporary residents or protected persons.



Government Applications

We help you understand a variety of government processes, including support with applications, and other essential documentation.

Healthcare Referrals

Clients receive referrals to necessary healthcare services and programs, ensuring access to medical support.

Events, Tours and Workshops

We organize specific events, tours, and educational workshops to provide important information and opportunities to newcomers.

Professional Connections

Services are available to help clients develop employment-related skills, build professional networks, and prepare to successfully enter the Canadian labour market.

Financial Literacy/Income Taxes

We help newcomers understand the Canadian tax system by offering workshops on financial matters and assisting with the filing of income taxes.

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

We provide navigation support for the Atlantic Immigration Program, which facilitates a pathway to permanent residence.

Learn English

Eligible newcomers can access government-funded language training, including a mix of formal and informal sessions, to build confidence for daily life and professional settings.

Printing Services

Basic support services such as printing and photocopying are available.

Volunteer Opportunities

We connect individuals with volunteer roles that foster a sense of community pride and provide valuable Canadian experience and social interaction.

Community Engagement

Our programs facilitate connections between clients and the broader community through various initiatives by promoting social participation.

English Language Lab

At its core, the English Language Program provides clients here on Cape Breton Island-Unama’ki with language supports that will improve their English through flexible EAL ("English as an Additional Language") programming. Whilst not solely curriculum focused, rather client focused, the program addresses client needs in a functional way.

The Language Lab adopts an adult-education model and as such takes a participatory and experiential approach to learning. The classes are based on a blend of academics and community building and attend to the four main pillars of language (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) while placing emphasis on life skills, integrative language, situational application, and practise learning.

To find out more about the English Language Lab, contact Stephanie Edwards, the English Language Coordinator, at sedwards@newdawn.ca.

International Students

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.

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Newcomer's
General Mailing List

Not a student? Register for the Newcomer Centre's General Mailing List to get all the latest updates on programs, workshops, events, and resources designed to support newcomers. Be the first to hear about new opportunities, important announcements, and ways to get involved in our community!

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Resources

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Open

IRCC is the national department responsible for immigration and citizenship in Canada. IRCC process applications for study permits, work permits, visitors record, visa renewal and Permanent residence. It also grants citizenship, issues travel documents (such as passports) to Canadians and promotes multiculturalism. If you need to get in touch with IRCC, you can start with their Help Centre.


https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html


Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration (LSI)

Open

The Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration offers information and support to newcomers related to provincial immigration streams, as well as settlement and employer support. Provincial immigration streams are different than Federal streams, and we encourage you to visit the Nova Scotia immigration webpage for additional information on provincial streams currently available for application under the Nova Scotia Nominee Program to determine if any suit your experience and qualifications. Guides and outlines are provided and include details on each process.


https://novascotiaimmigration.com


Cape Breton Job Board

Open

The Cape Breton Job Board is Cape Breton-Unama’ki’s online platform to unite employers from across the Island to candidates domestically and internationally.


https://jobs.capebretonpartnership.com


Cape Breton Welcome Network

Open

The Cape Breton Welcome Network is a constellation of local, volunteer-led Welcome Groups made up of enthusiastic people eager to share their passion for Cape Breton – Unama’ki with newcomers. If you are new to Cape Breton – or if you’d like to help welcome those who are – the Welcome Network is a great place to start.


https://welcometocapebreton.ca/live/settling-into-cape-breton/welcome-network


Multicultural Calendar

Open

Learn about and celebrate important dates for different cultural groups in Unama’ki-Cape Breton.


https://welcometocapebreton.ca/multicultural-calendar


Newcomer Service Map

Open

 

https://welcometocapebreton.ca/newcomer-service-map


Staff

Nadine Paruch
Manager, Newcomer Centre 902-270-5772 ext.234
Rebecca MacDonald
Team Lead, Retention 902-270-5772 ext.235
Navy Nguyen
Retention Coordinator 902-270-5772 ext.238
Lydia Barikdar
Employment Support Worker 902-270-5772
Soniari Opusunju
Retention Coordinator 902-270-5772 ext.236
Stephanie Edwards
English Language Coordinator 902-270-5772 ext.239
Shenny Daskeo
Administrative Assistant 902-270-5772 ext.237
Latasha Fenech
Administrative Assistant 902-270-5772 ext.246

Contact

37 Nepean St, Sydney NS
902-539-9560
newdawn@newdawn.ca

Job Postings

Title Schedule Wage/Salary Status

No current job postings in Newcomer Centre

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Get in touch

New Dawn Enterprises
37 Nepean St, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6A7
newdawn@newdawn.ca
902-539-9560

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Eymu’ti’k Unama’ki

Eymu’ti’k Unama’ki, newte’jk l’uiknek te’sikl Mi’kmawe’l maqamikall mna’q iknmuetumittl. Ula maqamikew wiaqi-wikasik Wantaqo’tie’l aqq I’lamatultimkewe’l Ankukamkewe’l Mi’kmaq aqq Eleke’wuti kisa’matultisnik 1726ek.

We are in Unama’ki, one of the seven traditional and unceded ancestral territories of the people of Mi’kma’ki. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship which the Mi’kmaq first signed with the British Crown in 1726.

Ketu’-keknuite’tmek aqq kepmite’tmek ula tela’matultimkip wjit maqamikew ta’n etekl mtmo’taqne’l. Ula tett, ula maqamikek, etl-lukutiek l’tunen aqq apoqntmnen apoqnmasimk aqq weliknamk Unama’ki.

We wish to recognize and honour this understanding of the lands on which we reside. It is from here, on these lands, that we work to create and support a culture of self-reliance and vibrancy.