Tejal Somvanshi
The annual Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) winter fundraising walks have brought communities together across Canada, with Ottawa, Sault Ste. Marie, and Orillia raising significant funds to combat homelessness and food insecurity.
In Sault Ste. Marie, approximately 270 participants helped St. Vincent Place exceed its ambitious $100,000 target, raising $125,000 before the walk began. St. Vincent Place operates without government funding, relying entirely on community support for its soup kitchen, food bank, men’s transitional housing, and thrift store operations.
Shauna DiGasparro, St. Vincent Place board chair, noted a significant shift in who needs help: “We see people who are working but the cost of food and housing are so high that their cupboards are dry before next payday. We have seniors, teens who are on their own, people who are struggling with health issues, physical and mental.”
In Orillia, over 500 people participated in the event’s 12th year, raising $162,506 toward their $200,000 goal. The Lighthouse, which served 100,000 meals last year, saw 84 teams, 545 walkers, and 69 volunteers come together despite temperatures dropping to -13 degrees Celsius.
The Ottawa Mission’s walk drew about 250 participants through the downtown core. Peter Tilley, the Ottawa Mission’s CEO, highlighted the urgent need: “We’re still in the midst of an affordable housing crisis here in the city of Ottawa, and we still don’t have enough rooms or beds for people to sleep in right now. There’s always a waitlist of people who are lining up to come under our roof.”
Local businesses in Orillia supported the event independently. Brewery Bay provided vegan wraps, Chick-fil-A offered sandwiches, and Tim Hortons supplied hot beverages, while Creative Nomad Studio served as a warming station for participants.
The impact of these walks is significant. Since 2011, CNOY events have raised over $75 million across 190 Canadian communities. In Sault Ste. Marie alone, the annual walks have generated $965,000 over the past 12 years, not including this year’s contributions.
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Young participants like 12-year-old Charlotte Holloway in Orillia showcase community involvement across age groups. “I just love how all the people are engaged. And I know that if I was ever without a home then the Lighthouse would help me,” said Holloway, who has participated since age four.
The walks offer two distance options – two kilometers or five kilometers – making it accessible for different walking abilities. Local churches, businesses, student groups, workplace teams, families, and friends form teams to participate in the event.
For some volunteers, the cause hits close to home. Jessie Miron, who recently moved to Orillia and has experienced homelessness, spent the day helping direct traffic and assist with event setup.
The strong turnout at these walks reflects the community’s response to homelessness and food insecurity in Canadian communities. As Rhys Weeden, an Ottawa participant who raised $4,600 with his group, observed: “In a few of the major parts of the city, you’re seeing a lot more homelessness and drug use in some parts of the city that you didn’t see before and that’s pretty heartbreaking.”
