CNOY exceeds fundraising goal for Streets Alive Mission

By Lethbridge Herald on March 3, 2026.

Herald photo by JOE MANIO Walkers and one faithful dog depart Festival Square for the 2026 Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) Saturday in support of Streets Alive Mission.

By Joe Manio

Lethbridge Herald

With temperatures hovering between -2°C and -3°C under passing clouds, and a steady 19 km/h wind pushing the wind chill closer to -7°C or -8°C, nearly 200 people and one family dog gathered at Festival Square in downtown Lethbridge Saturday and chose to step into the cold.

Walkers of all ages — from children to seniors and plenty in between — laced up their boots on a winter evening when most residents were settling into warm living rooms. They walked not for fitness, not for fresh air, but in solidarity. Participants had the choice of 2- or 5-kilometre routes through the downtown core.

The annual Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) fundraiser in support of Streets Alive Mission drew 199 walkers, organized into 30 teams and supported by 22 volunteers. Together they raised $73,239 — surpassing this year’s $70,000 goal and landing at 104 per cent of target.

The evening was part of the national Coldest Night of the Year campaign which sees tens of thousands of Canadians step outside the warmth and comfort of home to shine a light on poverty, homelessness and hunger in their communities.

In Lethbridge, a concurrent Coldest Night of the Year walk was also held Saturday at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden in support of Wood’s Homes. That event raises funds and awareness for youth experiencing homelessness, hunger and crisis through the Wood’s Homes Lethbridge Opportunity Hub and Emergency Youth Shelter.

The funds raised at Festival Square stay local, helping Streets Alive Mission continue its work serving those who live on the margins.

While some reports suggested temperatures would rise slightly later in the evening, the early hours offered a sharp reminder of why the event bears its name.

This year’s walk was as much about community spirit as it was about fundraising totals. Teams came out in force, friendly competition fuelling generosity.

According to results posted on the Streets Alive website, leading the way was St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, raising $11,107.25. Close behind were Walkers and Talkers with $8,635 — far exceeding their stated goal of $1,500. Heart & Sole raised $8,235, also well above their $1,500 target, while Good Shepherd Striders rounded out the top four at $7,945, again topping a $1,500 goal.

The numbers tell one story — of targets surpassed and community buy-in — but the deeper story lies in what the walk represents.

For a few hours, participants experienced a fraction of the discomfort that many in Lethbridge endure daily. February cold bites quickly. Sidewalks harden. Darkness lingers. For those without stable housing, those conditions are not symbolic — they are reality.

Events like CNOY aim to bridge that empathy gap. By walking together, residents acknowledge that poverty is not an abstract issue but a lived experience unfolding in their own neighbourhoods.

Founded in 1990, Streets Alive has long been a frontline presence in the city’s battle against poverty. The Christian organization provides clothing, daily meals, an emergency food pantry and trusteeship services, while also addressing emotional, social and spiritual needs.

Its stated mission is to empower people to change their lives through the Gospel of Jesus Christ — but on the ground, that mission often looks like a hot meal, a winter coat or someone willing to listen.

And while one evening cannot solve homelessness or food insecurity, it can send a message: you are seen, and you are not alone.

As the final tallies were counted and walkers — two-legged and four-legged alike — drifted home to warm kitchens and dry socks, the impact of their steps remained. More than $73,000 will now flow directly into programs that offer practical relief and long-term support.

In a season defined by cold, Lethbridge once again proved that compassion can run warmer still.