Welcoming Spirit Awards

About the Welcoming Spirit Awards

Launched in 2024 by the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership (CBLIP), the annual Welcoming Spirit Awards were developed to celebrate individuals and organizations in Unama’ki – Cape Breton and their contributions to fostering welcoming and inclusive communities for newcomers across our Island.

A selection committee made up of people with lived experience of immigration will review all submissions anonymously and consider how the nominee shows respect and support for immigrants, the impact they’ve had on the person who nominated them, and their welcoming actions, activities, and attitudes. This might include things like helping newcomers adjust to cultural differences, inviting them to community events, or connecting them with local information and support.

Award recipients are not be chosen based on how many nominations are made in their name, but rather on the impact of the nomination. Spelling, language, and submission type are not considered during the selection process.

Stay tuned for details on how to make a nomination for the 2026 Welcoming Spirit Awards in summer/fall 2026!

2025 Welcoming Spirit Awards

The Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership (CBLIP), administered by the Cape Breton Partnership, was thrilled to present the 2025 Welcoming Spirit Awards at the annual Partner Update Event: Elisk+Nweyek – Weaving Together – Tisser Ensemble on Friday, December 12, 2025, at the Membertou Trade & Convention Centre.

The recipients of the 2025 Welcoming Spirit Awards are:

  • Individual: Shane Condon
  • Organization: Multicultural Association of Cape Breton
L-R: Erin Gallagher-Lynk, nominator Ana Gutierrez, recipient Kalie Wang of the Multicultural Association of Cape Breton, and Rickey Lanting, presenting the 2025 Welcoming Spirit Award Recipient (Organization)
L-R: Erin Gallagher-Lynk, Kamran Mumtaz, recipient Shane Condon, and Rickey Lanting, presenting the 2025 Welcoming Spirit Award Recipient (Individual)

Previous Welcoming Spirit Awards

The Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership (CBLIP), administered by the Cape Breton Partnership, was thrilled to present the 2024 Welcoming Spirit Awards at the annual Partner Update Event: New Beginnings – Shared Futures on Friday, November 8, 2024, at the Sarah Denny Cultural Centre in Eskasoni.

The recipients of the 2024 Welcoming Spirit Awards were:

    • Award for an Individual: Rickey Lanting

    • Award for an Organization: L’Arche Cape Breton

Click here to read the news release for further details and photos!

About the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership

The Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership (CBLIP) is a collaborative initiative designed to foster welcoming communities that support the full participation of newcomers in the social, economic, political and cultural life of Unama’ki – Cape Breton. 

The Welcoming Spirit Awards are a project of the CBLIP Community Belonging Working Group, with support from the CBLIP Immigrant Advisory Table. 
To learn more, visit capebretonpartnership.com/cblip.