About FIRST UNITED
FIRST UNITED is a registered charity that has been serving low-income, underhoused and homeless individuals in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside for 140 years. On the frontlines every day, FIRST UNITED’s low-barrier essential services include shelter to 51 residents, legal advocacy, tax filing, spiritual care, mail and phone services, overdose response, provision of essential items like clothing and toiletries, and over 1,000 free meals each week to DTES community members. FIRST UNITED also engages in systems change work to reduce homelessness, break the cycle of poverty, and address the racialization of poverty. FIRST UNITED's vision is a neighborhood where every person’s worth is celebrated and all people can thrive.
Vancouver DTES 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 >
Teams
Walkers
Challenge Teams
# | Team Name | Captain | Members | Raised | |
|---|
1 | Friends Forever | Bruce Frankard | 1 | 3,947.00 | |
2 | Universal Gospel Choir | Inge Siemens | 8 | 2,710.00 | |
3 | SHUC WALKERS | Deb Walker | 3 | 2,460.00 | |
4 | University Hill United Church & Friends | Sandra Willing | 6 | 925.00 | |
5 | Starbucks One Downtown Vancouver | Ann-Marie Lee-Teahen | 4 | 300.00 | |
6 | Canadian Memorial United Walkers | Karen Vanderheyden | 1 | 250.00 | |
7 | West Van United Walkers | ALF Filbert | 1 | 250.00 | |
8 | FIRST Things First! | Amanda Burrows | 4 | 200.00 | |
9 | Pacific Mountaineers | Alexandra Barr | 2 | 40.00 | |
10 | The Mittens | Lauren Telford | 1 | | |
11 | Lynn Valley Amblers | Judith Clark | 2 | | |
12 | Will of the People! | Will Goldbeck | 1 | | |
13 | Oakridge United Church | Heather Joy James | 2 | | |
14 | HOUSing 4 All | Vanessa LeBlanc | 4 | | |
15 | GoTeamGo | Mandy Shintani | 1 | | |
16 | Canadian Memorial United Walkers | Karen Vanderheyden | 1 | | |
17 | TBD | Amber Tugwood | 1 | | |
# | Name | Team Name | Donors | Raised | |
|---|
1 | Bruce Frankard | Friends Forever | 29 | 3,947.00 | |
2 | Heather Clarke | SHUC WALKERS | 18 | 1,920.00 | |
3 | Inge Siemens | Universal Gospel Choir | 21 | 1,470.00 | |
4 | Christine Gordon | Universal Gospel Choir | 2 | 600.00 | |
5 | Dorothy Cumming | SHUC WALKERS | 5 | 440.00 | |
6 | Pat Willing | University Hill United Church & Friends | 5 | 325.00 | |
7 | Karen Truscott | University Hill United Church & Friends | 1 | 300.00 | |
8 | Charles Friesen | Universal Gospel Choir | 5 | 300.00 | |
9 | Sandra Willing | University Hill United Church & Friends | 5 | 300.00 | |
10 | Cristina Ciccone | Universal Gospel Choir | 2 | 250.00 | |
11 | Karen Vanderheyden | Canadian Memorial United Walkers | 3 | 250.00 | |
12 | Bentall Four | Starbucks One Downtown Vancouver | 1 | 250.00 | |
13 | ALF Filbert | West Van United Walkers | 1 | 150.00 | |
14 | Ann-Marie Lee-Teahen | Starbucks One Downtown Vancouver | 1 | 50.00 | |
15 | Deb Walker | SHUC WALKERS | 1 | 50.00 | |
16 | Ashley Burton | Universal Gospel Choir | 1 | 30.00 | |
17 | Rosemary Burd | Universal Gospel Choir | 1 | 30.00 | |
18 | Claudia MacDonald | Universal Gospel Choir | 1 | 30.00 | |
19 | Karen Vanderheyden | Canadian Memorial United Walkers | | | |
20 | Will Goldbeck | Will of the People! | | | |
21 | Kelly Jenner | Lynn Valley Amblers | | | |
22 | Jenny Kwan | | | | |
23 | Christina Zaenker | University Hill United Church & Friends | | | |
24 | Lauren Telford | The Mittens | | | |
25 | Alexandra Barr | Pacific Mountaineers | | | |
26 | Amber Tugwood | TBD | | | |
27 | Amanda Burrows | FIRST Things First! | | | |
28 | Andrea Smith | HOUSing 4 All | | | |
29 | Leon Magee-Teitelbaum | HOUSing 4 All | | | |
30 | Judith Clark | Lynn Valley Amblers | | | |
31 | Vanessa LeBlanc | HOUSing 4 All | | | |
32 | Blair Galston | Pacific Mountaineers | | | |
33 | Josh Andallo | Universal Gospel Choir | | | |
34 | Jacob Black-Lock | Oakridge United Church | | | |
35 | Amber-Lea Newman | FIRST Things First! | | | |
36 | Taylor Sowery | Starbucks One Downtown Vancouver | | | |
37 | Katie Koncan | FIRST Things First! | | | |
38 | Heather Joy James | Oakridge United Church | | | |
39 | Nathan Allen | HOUSing 4 All | | | |
40 | Mandy Shintani | GoTeamGo | | | |
41 | Juan Villela | Starbucks One Downtown Vancouver | | | |
42 | Carellin Brooks | University Hill United Church & Friends | | | |
43 | Paul Willing | University Hill United Church & Friends | | | |
# | Organization | Team Name | Members | Raised | |
|---|
1 | University Hill United Church & Friends | University Hill United Church & Friends | 6 | 925.00 | |
2 | Starbucks | Starbucks One Downtown Vancouver | 4 | 300.00 | |
3 | West Van United Walkers | West Van United Walkers | 1 | 250.00 | |
4 | Canadian Memorial United Walkers | Canadian Memorial United Walkers | 1 | 250.00 | |
5 | Pacific Mountain Regional Staff & Friends | Pacific Mountaineers | 2 | 40.00 | |
6 | Oakridge United Church | Oakridge United Church | 2 | | |
7 | Canadian Memorial United Walkers | Canadian Memorial United Walkers | 1 | | |
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 22, 2025!
312 Main St.
Entrance via Cordova st.
Schedule
- 4:45 pm: Muster Gather for Opening Remarks
- 6:00 pm: Munch Light meal served
- 7:00 pm: Mosey Goodbye + see you in 2026!
Not able to join us in person at the Main Event? We hope you'll register, fundraise and walk offsite with friends and family.
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 22, 2025 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.
- 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
- A passion for the charity you're walking and fundraising for!
Show More
Vancouver DTES Maps
Check out this year's CNOY route maps below: