Dawn Arnold is an accomplished public servant with over 30 years of experience in municipal government, community development, and publishing.
Elected as Mayor of Moncton in 2016, Ms. Arnold made history as the first woman to hold this position. As Mayor, she championed public engagement and environmental sustainability, guiding Moncton toward rapid growth while fostering a vibrant, inclusive community.
Prior to her election as Mayor, Ms. Arnold served as Councillor-at-Large with the City of Moncton from 2012 to 2016, earning a reputation for transparency and leadership in sustainable city-building. She also held key roles on several boards, including as Vice-Chair of the Union of Municipalities of New Brunswick (Urban Caucus), Vice-Chair of Cities of New Brunswick, and Chair of Moncton’s Downtown Revitalization Committee. She also worked as the Head of Trade Publishing at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, Ontario, where she published educational books and magazines.
A passionate advocate for arts and culture, Ms. Arnold served as President of the Frye Festival for 15 years, celebrating French and English authors from Canada and around the world. She was also a board member of French for the Future, an organization that engages with youth across Canada to inspire confidence, leadership, and passion for the French language and Francophone cultures.
Ms. Arnold is the recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including the Order of New Brunswick, the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, and the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters from the French government. She also earned accolades such as the Phenomenal Woman Award from Business & Professional Women of Greater Moncton, the Women of Influence in Local Government Award from Municipal World Magazine, and the YWCA Women of Distinction Award.
Ms. Arnold holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Toronto and an ICD.D Designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors.