'Coldest Night of the Year' events raise thousands for those in need in the north

Tens of thousands of Canadians took to the streets Saturday for Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) events in more than 150 communities across the country to raise money for local charities serving people experiencing hunger, hurt and homelessness. Here is a look at what happened in some northern Ontario communities.

North Bay

North Bay Police Service community engagement officers Moyer and Sproule joined other community members on the Coldest Night of the Year walk in North Bay on Feb. 24, 2024. (Facebook/North Bay Police Service)

In North Bay, the annual CNOY walk raised money for the Gathering Place soup kitchen.

More than 175 walkers on more than 25 teams raised almost $45,000 walking from Algonquin Secondary School on Algonquin Avenue to the Gathering Place itself on Cassells Street.

Visit the North Bay CNOY webpage for more details of the event and its fundraising results.

Sudbury

The Walden Lions Club walked in the Coldest Night of the Year in support of the Samaritan Center Sudbury on Feb. 24, 2024. (Facebook/Walden Lions Club)

In Sudbury, CNOY participants walked along two or five-kilometre routes along Ramsey Lake starting at the Northern Water Sports Centre to raise money for the Samaritan Centre.

More than 40 teams and a total of 270 walkers took part in the event which raised more than $115,000 -- surpassing the event’s $110,000 goal.

Visit the Sudbury CNOY webpage for more details of the event and its fundraising results.

Sudbury MPP Jamie West was among those who participated in Sudbury's Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk on Feb. 24, 2024. He is pictured here with Samaritan Centre volunteer Patricia Striewe at the event. (Supplied/Facebook/Charles Tossell)

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Sault Ste. Marie

More than 300 walkers participated in the Coldest Night of the Year event in Sault Ste. Marie raising more than $135,000. (Facebook/St. Vincent Place Sault Ste. Marie)

In the Sault, CNOY walkers also had the option of two or five-kilometre routes starting and ending at St. Vincent Place’s hall. St. Vincent Place operates a men’s transitional residence, food bank, soup kitchen and thrift store and is the beneficiary of Sault Ste. Marie’s CNOY event.

The non-profit shared thanks to local businesses that were helping to keep walkers fed on Saturday.

Inspector Ben Bolduc along with Special Constable Austin Monk and four newly sworn in auxiliary constables from the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service participated in Coldest Night of the Year event in the Sault in support of St. Vincent Place on Feb. 24, 2024. (Facebook/Sault Ste. Marie Police Service)

"Starbucks will be keeping our walkers warm with hot chocolate as they prepare to head out on their walk, Soapy'z (sic) is providing the chili walkers will warm up with post-walk and Northwood is providing post-walk cookies to give our walkers a quick sugar kick before they head home," said St. Vincent Place in a social media post.

Organizers of the Sault CNOY walk hoped to raise $100,000 – that goal was shattered by the more than 300 walkers who raised more than $135,000.

Visit the Sault Ste. Marie CNOY webpage for more details of the event and its fundraising results.

Timmins

With flurries and a temperature of -20 C more than 80 people participated in the Cold Night of the Year walks in Timmins on Feb. 24, 2024. (Facebook/Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins)

In Timmins, residents had the option to participate virtually for the first time this year.

Those who chose to attend the in-person event Saturday could walk a two or five-kilometre route that began and ended at the Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins (ACT) office on Cedar Street South.

"By walking together in the chill of the night, participants will better understand the experience of being on the streets during a cold Canadian winter," said Kelsey MacDonnell ACT's executive director, in a press release last month.

"While raising funds to aid the work of Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins in providing much-needed support."

More than 80 people braved the -20 C temperatures to raise more than $38,000 for the coalition, which works to foster a food-secure community where all area residents have the resources to access and prepare healthy food.

Visit the Timmins CNOY webpage for more details of the event and its fundraising results.

Tens of thousands of Canadians took to the streets Saturday for Coldest Night of the Year events in more than 150 communities across the country -- including northern Ontario -- to raise money for local charities serving people experiencing hunger, hurt and homelessness. (Facebook/St. Vincent Place Sault Ste. Marie)