Building a Region That Welcomes and Connects Newcomers in Western Nova Scotia

By Sara Bateman, Local Immigration Partnership Lead

Western Nova Scotia has a reputation for being welcoming. But a warm reputation alone doesn’t always convince a newcomer to settle here for the long haul.

So how can we create communities where newcomers put down roots and build their new lives? How do we nurture a sense of belonging and purpose? Those questions guide the new Strategic Community Plan from the Western Nova Scotia Local Immigration Partnership (LIP), a plan for helping newcomers in Western Nova Scotia stay and thrive.

What We Heard From Newcomers in Western Nova Scotia

In late 2025, the LIP surveyed newcomers, employers, and community members. The results were both encouraging and honest.

The data showed real progress. The share of newcomers who feel welcomed rose from 50% in 2021 to 83% today. Employers hiring immigrants nearly doubled, from 31% to 63%, and 96% of community members surveyed say diversity benefits our region.

Still, the same settlement barriers persist: transportation, housing, language access, health care, and underemployment. Read the full Impact Report 2021-2025 for a deeper look at the survey results and the LIP’s contribution over the past several years.

Collaboration Is the Plan

Deep, systemic issues like these are more than any one organization can solve alone. That is why the LIP’s 2026-2028 plan centres on working together. It gives us a road map that builds on the past five years of work and focuses on three areas where we can contribute to positive outcomes.

We will start with willing partners, including settlement agencies, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, employers, and other community groups that work with newcomers and immigrants. The LIP’s role is to connect and amplify their work, not to duplicate it.

Three Strategic Focus Areas

Accessing

Transportation is a barrier for 79% of newcomers, and 60% report difficulty with housing. The LIP will build on existing capacity, explore ways to reduce these barriers, and develop clear pathways so every newcomer, regardless of immigration program, knows where to turn for support. Success looks like newcomers settling in the region easily and feeling supported.

Belonging

While 88% of community members have personal connections with newcomers, only 45% feel immigrants are connecting with existing residents. Most survey respondents name community events as key connection points, so the LIP will amplify events, cultural exchanges, and volunteer opportunities. The hope is to see stronger relationships and understanding as a result.

Connecting

With 71% of employers struggling to recruit or retain workers and 77% finding the immigration process too complex, there is a clear opportunity to match talent with opportunity. The LIP will amplify tools like the Employer Toolkit and other initiatives that connect newcomer talent with employers in the region. The vision is that employers can hire and retain with confidence, and newcomers can grow their careers.

How We Will Build a Welcoming Region Together

The plan rests on two guiding principles: diversity and inclusion, and cooperation and communication. With these values as a foundation, the LIP will form working groups and an Immigrant Advisory Committee to share opportunities, explore collaborations, and identify gaps. Together, we will pinpoint where coordinated effort makes the biggest difference.

We will also track and share progress on newcomer retention, employment, sense of belonging, and community inclusion.

Join Us

If your organization, business, or community group already supports newcomers in Western Nova Scotia through access, belonging, or connection, we’d love to hear from you. Read the full Strategic Community Plan 2026-2028 at westernren.ca or contact sbateman@westernren.ca.