Elected as Mayor in May 2016, Dawn Arnold brings a vision to move Moncton forward by building a stronger, more transparent and economically sound City. She was first elected in 2012 as councillor-at-large and quickly earned the reputation of being one of Moncton’s most active, involved and accessible councillors. 

In her mandate as Mayor, Dawn, in collaboration with Council, will see through the responsible completion of several key projects. She has also committed to keeping City Hall open for businesses and making it easier for local businesses to grow and thrive.  

A strong advocate of transparency and community engagement, Dawn encourages dialogue with residents on important issues with the goal of building a City where individuals of all backgrounds and income levels can live, work and play. 

In 1999, Dawn became involved with the Frye Festival and served as its Chair for 15 years. A passionate supporter of local arts and culture, she wanted to create a platform that would celebrate the works of New Brunswick’s French and English authors, put Moncton on the world stage and inspire students to read, write and think critically. The Frye Festival is Canada’s only international bilingual literary festival, and has become one of Moncton’s most popular events, attracting international authors and bringing more than $1 million into the community every year. 

Dawn’s passion for her community has also been evident through her leadership in and contribution to numerous events and groups. She was one of the driving forces behind the Hildegard Beautification Project, helped get the new La Fête du Lobster Roll food festival going and has played an instrumental role in a wide variety of fundraising campaigns. 

Dawn is a recipient of the Order of New Brunswick, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal, the YWCA’s Women of Distinction Award and most recently, two Paul Harris Fellowships. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto and has done further education at Harvard, Université Paul-Valéry and Saint Mary's University (ICD.D). 

Dawn is married to Paul Goobie and is mother to Emma and Zack. Her favorite activities include Saturday mornings at the Farmers' Market, cycling the City’s trails, cross-country skiing at Centennial Park and supporting the many great restaurants and businesses across the City. With the energy and passion to grow a better and more dynamic community, Dawn is eager to hear suggestions and ideas from all Monctonians.