Coldest Night of the Year

—submitted

The Lighthouse invites the Orillia community and surrounding areas to join us for Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) on Saturday, February 22, 2025. This family-friendly winter walk is designed to raise funds and awareness for those experiencing homelessness, hunger, and hurt in Simcoe County.

“Every step taken during Coldest Night of the Year brings hope to our community,”
said Meagan Bianco, Development Director at The Lighthouse.
“We’re inviting the Orillia community to bundle up, walk together,
and show their support for The Lighthouse as we serve people who are experiencing homelessness.”

Coldest Night of the Year is one of the largest winter fundraising events in Canada, with tens of thousands of Canadians walking in over 200 cities and towns across the country. Participants brave the chill of the night, walking either a 2 km or 5 km route through downtown Orillia, to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by those living on the streets during a cold Canadian winter.

The event also helps raise critical funds to support The Lighthouse’s programs, including emergency shelter, outreach services, meal programs, supportive housing, and medical and mental health support.

Event Details:

Date: Saturday, February 22, 2025
Location: eCapital (outside in parking lot), 174 West Street S, Orillia, ON L3V 6L4
Check-in Time: 4:00 PM
Walk Start Time: 5:00 PM
Registration: Visit https://cnoy.org/location/orillia to sign up as an individual or form a team.

Participants will enjoy an atmosphere fuelled with hope, music, hot beverages, snacks, and a meal provided at the finish line. Walkers are encouraged to raise funds by collecting pledges from friends, family, and colleagues.

How You Can Help:

 Sponsor: We offer various sponsorship opportunities for businesses and community organizations. Please refer to our sponsorship package or contact Jen Jermey at 705-329-2265 ext. 116 or jen@orillialighthouse.ca for more information.

Register and Fundraise: Walkers create a team or join a team for the 2 km or 5 km route to help raise funds for The Lighthouse. To register or create a fundraising team, visit https://cnoy.org/orillia.

Volunteer: Volunteers are essential to the success of this event! Whether you’re helping as a route marshal, food server, or assisting with other tasks, we welcome your support.

With a fundraising goal of $200,000, we aim to rally 1,000 walkers across over 100 teams to support The Lighthouse’s vital services. These funds will directly benefit individuals facing homelessness and other hardships, providing the resources they need to rebuild their lives. For more information about how you can participate in CNOY or support The Lighthouse, visit https://cnoy.org/orillia or contact Jen Jermey at jen@orillialighthouse.ca or 705-329-2265 ext. 116.

About The Lighthouse: For over 30 years, The Lighthouse has been a crucial resource for people experiencing homelessness in Orillia and Simcoe County. Our vision is a thriving community where everyone has hope, home and a future. We do this through providing emergency shelter, outreach programs, supportive housing, and a variety of social services to help individuals achieve stability and long-term housing.