Coldest Night of the Year taking steps to help people in need

By Alexandra Noad - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on February 20, 2025.

Herald file photo - Coldest Night of the Year participants walk from the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden Bunka Centre during a past year's event.

Two local organizations will be participating in the nationwide Coldest Night of the Year event on Saturday to raise funds to help the unhoused population in Lethbridge.

Streets Alive and Wood’s Homes will be hosting a two-kilometre and a five-kilometre walk/run event to raise money for various programing.

Streets Alive will begin their walk at Festival Square with registration beginning at 4 p.m.

Jennifer Lepko, chief development officer of Streets Alive Mission, says they have been participating in the Coldest Night of the Year for 14 years with funds helping support their outreach programs.

“The dollars that are raised from this event go towards helping those that don’t have anywhere to go or are spending a good part of their day on the street,” says Lepko. “So, you’re getting gloves and winter gear and providing them a warm place to be.”

Wood’s home’s Coldest Night of the Year event will take place at Henderson with registration also beginning at 4 p.m.

Participants attending the Wood’s Homes event will be able to participate in a batting station with the Lethbridge Bulls and also enjoy free admission to the Japanese Gardens’ Winter Light Festival.

Carrie Dahl, fund development coordinator for Wood’s Homes, says the funds will be in support of their youth shelter.

The Wood’s Homes event will be raising funds for their Emergency Youth Shelter as well as the Lethbridge Opportunity Hub.

With the recent cold snap and frigid temperatures all across the province, both organizations have seen first-hand how the cold affects the vulnerable population.

Lepko says the outreach team sees how the cold can cause permanent damage to those who don’t have a warm roof over their heads.

“We see a lot of permanent damage to people, and increased number of hospitalizations for complications due to frostbite and then what happens is you see infections and they lose their lives or they end up with all sorts of health complications.”

She adds that these complications and deaths effect everyone because it impacts the healthcare system and the solution is easy as providing a roof over their head and warm clothing.

With many schools being out for reading week, Dahl says she has seen an increase in services for youth who are at risk.

“I know the social recreation programs for young people in town see an increase attendance on days where it’s a lot colder where you can’t be outside playing basketball or skateboarding and seeking that warm place, just to stay safe.”

Wood’s Homes help vulnerable youth get in touch with services and also provide emergency overnight shelters, but Dahl says it is a community effort to keep these children safe.

“We have a lot of good organizations throughout the city that all work together to make sure that young people in our city have a place to go between our emergency shelter for overnight stays and it can be difficult, especially on weeks like this where there is no school and their structure and routine is disrupted.”

Dahl adds that organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and the YMCA help provide these kids with programs, but in order to access them youth need to be introduced to them and Wood’s Homes helps fill in those gaps.

Both Dahl and Lepko hope the event sparks kindness and compassion for the venerable populations in the city while bonding together and enjoying the sights of either downtown or Henderson Lake.

If anyone comes across someone who is struggling in the cold residents are encouraged to call emergency services, Wood’s Homes or Streets Alive.