Salmon Arm
Shuswap Food Action Society
321 Walkers|56 Teams|49 Volunteers
Join us on February 28, 2026 and help us take ACTION to nourish our community now and in the future! Coldest Night of the Year is a fun, family-friendly, community-building walking fundraiser.
About Shuswap Food Action Society
Shuswap Food Action turns ideas into ACTION to address food insecurity, to increase food & nutrition literacy & to grow our local food economy. Everybody has the right to affordable, safe & nutritious food & we are determined to leave no one behind!
We work cooperatively with other non-profit groups, local farmers & food producers to create increased access to healthy, fresh foods.
School Meals: healthy, affordable meals for students, made on-site with local ingredients. We're in Jackson Highschool and Shuswap Middle School 4 days per week and at South Canoe, South Broadview and Ranchero Elementary too!
Souper Meals providing fresh-made, locally-sourced hot soup, local organic buns & seasonal fruit to over 18 Shuswap Schools —92,000 meals made in 2024/25.
Shuswap Family Boxes provides FREE local food to families in need while purchasing directly from our farmers. Over $200,000 kept in our food economy since its inception.
Shuswap Community Teaching Garden grows produce collectively to GIVE to our community while teaching participants the art of growing their own food! 5500lb grown and given in 2025.
John McLeod Community Garden Offers 25 garden beds for residents to grow their own food, increasing household resiliency.
Youth Garden Contest Engages Shuswap Youth to grow gardens at home to learn how to plan, nurture, harvest and cook from veggies they've grown themselves.
By joining with & supporting us, you become a part of the solutions that create healthier & more resilient communities.
We invite you to join us on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 for the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk to help us raise vital support for those most vulnerable right here in our community.
CNOY supports the work of Shuswap Food Action Society with funds raised staying right here at home. We LOVE hosting this fun, family-friendly event bringing Shuswap Food Action supporters and CNOY participants together for a meaningful community experience that supports Shuswap Food Action in nourishing our community (children, seniors, the unhoused and newcomers) all year long.
Salmon Arm Scoreboard
Are you thrashing the competition (for a good cause)? Find out here! Stats are updated every 15 minutes. See how you stack up on the national scoreboard >
Community Sponsors
Salmon Arm (Shuswap Food Action Society) is super grateful for our fantastic 2026 sponsors! View all sponsors >
Top Challengers
Got a big-hearted business, workplace, group, church, or community? Step up and join the Challenge to compete for your local pride in support of CNOY. Check the National Challengeboard to see more!
Event Day Details
Save the date - CNOY Day is February 28, 2026!
Start/Finish Google Map
370 Lakeshore Dr NE, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N9
Walk Party in the Downtown SASCU parking lot, with Check in starting at 4pm and the Official CNOY Walk starting at 5pm!
Walk concludes at Downtown Askew's on Lakeshore Ave for our CNOY Hot Meal and Finale.
Schedule
- 4:00 pm: Meet Check-in
- 4:45 pm: Muster Gather for Opening Remarks
- 5:00 pm: Move Send-off
- 6:00 pm: Munch Light meal served
- 7:00 pm: Mosey Thank You! See you in 2027!
Not able to join us in person at the Main Event? We hope you'll register, fundraise and walk offsite with friends and family.
Local Details
Parking
Parking is available at Ross St. Plaza, downtown Salmon Arm and Askew's Parking lot. There will be plenty of spaces available and our event takes place within walking distance of Ross St. and Alexander St.
Rest Stop
For our 5KM Walkers who might need a break, the Rest Stop will be hosted at the Shuswap Agricultural Association's Log Building on the corner of 5th Ave and 5St SW (490 5th Ave SW). Our rest stop sponsors, Browning Electric will be on-site outside to serve you refreshments and for you to have a chance to use a restroom if needed.
Post-Event Meal
Our locally sourced CNOY meal takes place at our Finish Line Party on Lakeshore Ave. OUTSIDE of downtown Askew's. We will serve our SFAS Stone Soup (Lentil Veggie) along with local organic buns, with additional snacks and treats from amazing Salmon Arm cafes and restaurants. Beverages will be available post walk as well! Stay and enjoy this light dinner which celebrates local farmers and food and beverage producers!
Route Details
- Route Distances: Check out the maps below to see where we will be walking.
- Rest stop: Keep an eye out for opportunities to rest and refresh with yummy snacks along the route.
- Signage: Routes will be well-signed with our bold blue CNOY signs.
- Route Support: Route marshals, rest stop hosts, and support vehicle drivers provide support along the route.
- Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
- No Pets: We love our little furballs like you do, but pets are not permitted at the Coldest Night of the Year except for approved and trained service animals. Read more about our pet policy >
Check-In
- All walkers participating at the Main Event on Saturday, February 28, 2026 must check-in upon arrival.
- Toques! Fundraising walkers who raise $150+ (or $75+ for those under 18) will receive a CNOY toque as a thank you on event day, while supplies last.
- Offsite fundraising walkers can contact their local event director to arrange toque pickup the week of the event.
Have questions? Visit the FAQ section!
Handling Money
- Credit Card: The Best Option! Simple, secure, automatically tax receipted for gifts of $20+. Visit the Donate page, share your personal page link, or have your donor call the CNOY Head Office.
- Cheques: The Old Faithful - made out to Coldest Night of the Year with your name on the Memo line. Mail them to CNOY Head Office along with your completed pledge form.
- Cash: You have 2 options:
- 1. Login to FundHub, click “Enter $$ and Cheques,” create pledges for your cash donations, pay them off with your personal credit card, and keep the cash. OR...
- 2. Write a cheque (made out to “Coldest Night of the Year”) for the total amount of cash you’ve collected. Mail it to the CNOY Head Office with your completed pledge sheet.
Waivers
All participants must register online and accept the electronic waiver.
- Adults accept the waiver automatically when they register online.
- Youth/Children under the age of majority need a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.
- An online form will be emailed to all parents/guardians before CNOY Day.
- You may also bring a filled-out printed waiver.
- Waivers will also be available at check-in on CNOY Day.
What to Bring
A few common sense suggestions:
- A cell phone for emergencies (recommended but not required)
- Good waterproof shoes/boots for walking
- Warm coat and mitts/gloves
- Extra snacks if you have allergies or food sensitivities
- Your own water bottle
- A passion for the charity you're walking and fundraising for!
Salmon Arm Maps
Check out this year's CNOY route maps below:
Start location at Downtown SASCU. End location at Downtown Askew's with a cup of soup offered from 5:30-6:30
Check in: 4pm Downtown SASCU Opening Ceremonies: 4:45 Walk Starts at 5pm : Rest Stop: Shuswap Agricultural Association's Log Building - 490 5th Av Cup of soup at Downtown Askew's 5:30-6:30
2025 CNOY Photos
Photo Credit: Viktoria Haack Photography
Special thanks to our many amazing volunteer photographers!
Contact Us
CNOY Salmon Arm 2026
The CNOY Team Participant & Donor Services
Toll Free 1.877.743.3413 / Phone 519.603.2250
Email salmonarm@cnoy.org