Through wind, rain, sleet or snow, people experiencing homelessness face the elements every day. Local individuals and families can get a sense of that experience 鈥� and give back to initiatives working to make a difference 鈥� during the Coldest Night of the Year.

Hosted locally by The Salvation Army , the Saturday, Feb. 24 includes 2km, 5km or 10km routes, with walkers heading out at 5 p.m.

The 鈥渟uper-fun, family-friendly fundraiser鈥� raises money for those who are hungry, homeless and hurting in 91原创 and Aldergrove. Since 2014, Gateway of Hope鈥檚 Coldest Night of the Year event has raised more than $78,000!

鈥淟ast year, 10 minutes into the walk it poured with rain,鈥� recalls Krista Hannan, Gateway for Hope fundraising coordinator. 鈥淲hile many people chose the shorter distances due to the weather, everyone had smiles on their faces then warmed up with chili and hot chocolate when they got back.鈥�

The weather-hampered walk offered a glimpse of what鈥檚 experienced regularly by those on the streets, and on their return, participants also saw the room where they kicked off the event turned over to the cold-weather protocol. Mats, pillows and blankets were set out on the floor to provide a warm, dry place to sleep for 30 homeless individuals that night, Hannan recalls.

Start the conversation

鈥淭he Coldest Night of the Year is a real family-friendly event, with lots of children,鈥� Hannan says.

It鈥檚 also a great way to start a conversation with children about homelessness. Parents can say, 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be cold for a while when we have our walk but then we鈥檒l have a hot meal and go home to our warm beds. Not everyone gets to do that.鈥�

The need for the event is impossible to ignore. In fact, last year鈥檚 numbers showed a 124 per cent increase in homelessness in 91原创 and Aldergrove.

Support your community

Despite cold temperatures and blowing rain, Hannan was pleased to see increased numbers last year, and they鈥檙e hoping to welcome more than 200 this year.

鈥淚t really builds the profile of what we鈥檙e trying to do,鈥� she says.

Proceeds support a variety of Gateway of Hope programs for 91原创 and Aldergrove, including seniors鈥� initiatives, sending children in need to the Salvation Army鈥檚 Camp Sunrise in Gibsons, filling backpacks with school supplies, regular community dinners to provide connections and a hearty meal, and Skillet 101, a free, six-week community kitchen program open to all.

To join the Coldest Night of the Year Walk for Homelessness:

• Register at
• Participants can choose from 2km, 5km or 10km routes.
• Encourage friends, families and others to join you or !

Learn more about the Gateway of Hope at or visit in .