$30,419121%Goal:
$25,000
Whitecourt
Hosted by Soaring Eagle Support Society
The Coldest Night of the Year is a winterrific family-friendly walk in support of local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness. Join us on February 24, 2024 - team up, fundraise, walk, and take a moment to look closer... because it’s cold out there.
Community Sponsors
Whitecourt (Soaring Eagle Support Society) is super grateful for our fantastic 2024 sponsors! View all sponsors >
2024 CNOY Photos
Here's an early collection of our fave CNOY 2024 pics from across North America - special thanks to our many volunteer photographers! If you've got CNOY Day photos or videos you'd like to share, contact photos@bluesea.org.
Whitecourt 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 >
The Challenge
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!
About Soaring Eagle Support Society
ABOUT SOARING EAGLE SUPPORT SOCIETY (SESS)
Soaring Eagle Support Society (SESS) is a Charitable Society passionate about reducing risk to those who are homeless, underhoused and hard-to-house. Using a “Housing First” focus, SESS provides supported Transitional Housing and Outreach supports at the Eagle’s Nest Motel in Whitecourt Alberta - with the purpose to assist individuals to obtain and retain safe appropriate housing while addressing their many challenges.
Assisting individuals who are homeless is very costly to the community at large. On average, it costs $15,000 per month to house and help a homeless person. The SESS transitional housing program provides housing and supports to an individual for approximately $15,000 per YEAR. We see a marked reduction in the overuse of the Health, Criminal Justice and other systems; and an increase in positive and appropriate use of services, such as, the transit, parks, medical facilities, addictions and mental health, peer support groups and educational opportunities. The end results are folks who are positively active in the community, appropriately using services, and better citizens; and a community that embraces all its citizens.
Supported Transitional Housing is not readily available in rural Alberta; and Whitecourt and area does not have a homelessness/affordable housing strategy, nor provision for emergency homeless shelters. One of our goals is to work with our municipal governments and community to find a solution to homelessness in our area.
Funding for Rural Alberta for homelessness initiatives is limited, as most provincial funding is assigned to the urban centres. Rural Alberta, including Whitecourt, has a substantial lack of services, shelters, daytime drop-in centres, soup kitchens, mental health, addictions, health care, and affordable housing.
Our goal as a Society is to become self-sustainable to provide access to needed services for those who are most vulnerable in our community. We need YOUR help to make this a reality. Your donations will provide the housing and assistance that are not available to vulnerable folks in Whitecourt and area.
We welcome any discussion, questions or clarification.
Coldest Night of the Year
It is our goal to work together with our local municipalities, agencies and businesses to provide a solution to homelessness and the lack of appropriate housing in our communities - especially for those who are hard-to-house.
The funds raised from CNOY will go a long way to supporting these vulnerable individuals
Homelessness impacts everyone.
From the costs of emergency shelters, to institutional health and psychiatric services and the criminal justice system, to the individual physical and mental health impact on every homeless person, the causes and effects of homelessness cost all Canadians dearly.
Solving homelessness makes sense. Not only are we saving money, we are also doing the right thing.
Event Day Details
Save the date - CNOY Day is February 24, 2024!
Local Details
Parking
Please Park on the "Shed" side of Home Hardware - or across the street at Canadian Tire.
Rest Stop
We have an outdoor rest stop at St. Joseph Parish
parking lot with a fire pit, music, and more! There will be an indoor Rest Stop at the Whitecourt Library - water, snacks, and washrooms will be available at both.
Post-Event Meal
Please join us for a celebration Pizza Party at the end of the walk - starting at 6:00 at the FirePit at Home Hardware. Bring a lawn chair if you want - you've been on your feet for a while!
Schedule
- 4:00 pm: Meet Check-in + Welcome
- 5:00 pm: Move Send-off
- 6:00 pm: Munch Light meal served
- 7:00 pm: Mosey Goodbye + see you in 2025!
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 24, 2024 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 18 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!
Whitecourt Maps
Check out this year's CNOY route maps below:
Start and end in the Home Hardware parking lot
We will start and finish at the Home Hardware Parking Lot. Route Markers and Cross walk Guards will be at all intersections.
Contact Us
CNOY Whitecourt 2024
The CNOY Team Participant & Donor Services
Toll Free 1.877.743.3413 / Phone 519.603.2250
Email whitecourt@cnoy.org