“The Coldest Night of the Year provides an opportunity to talk about Jesus’s instructions on serving those in need.”

Janet Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

Looking at our snow-covered city from within our warm homes, with full bellies, and busy, relevant lives, it is difficult to consider that Ottawa has declared an emergency situation regarding our “homeless, hungry and hurting”. The Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) seeks to bridge that gap. CNOY is an annual, national walkathon, of which the Ottawa branch raises money to support the Ottawa Mission, Jericho Road, and other local charities.

“The walk aims to highlight what it is like to be homeless or hungry in a Canadian winter by walking outside and then lining up soup-kitchen style to receive a warm bowl of chili or soup,” says Jonathan Langille, media officer for Jericho Road. “While the walk could never come close to what it is like actually living on the streets, the route does take us through some of the main areas of the downtown core populated by homeless and street-involved individuals.”

This year’s walk takes place February 22 and it is the 8th year that Francis De Souza has joined CNOY. “You can feel the excitement. It is always lots of fun! We all wear the same toque. It gives a real sense of community walking together.”

“At the Mission, we’ve been operating at over 100 percent capacity for over two years, and it’s getting worse.” Photo courtesy of Jericho Road.

De Souza, a volunteer with Jericho Road, brings her children for the walk because she wants them to understand that living on the streets is a hard reality that can happen to anyone. She says taking part in the walk and fundraising keeps them grounded and thankful for all that they have, but also makes them aware of the need of financial support to keep these ministries going.

“I want them to think how would they, in their situation, want people to respond? With disrespect and disgust or with compassion and grace?”

“I have three young kids who I want to teach about compassion and caring for those in need,” says Matt Triemstra, President of the Ottawa Mission. “CNOY provides an opportunity to teach them about why we are walking, to talk about Jesus’s instructions to us on serving those in need, and gives us an opportunity to raise money for an incredible organization.”

“Events such as CNOY allow us to keep up the conversation about the recent declaration by the City of Ottawa, that homelessness is an emergency.”

Triemstra has been supporting the event with his family and his home church (Sequoia Community Church) for the past few years. His position at the Ottawa Mission gives him an inside view of the needs in Ottawa—he says shelters in Ottawa are operating at overcapacity.

“At the Mission, we’ve been operating at over 100 percent capacity for over two years, and it’s getting worse. We lay down 20 mats in our chapel each night to ensure that no one who needs help is turned away, but this is no solution in the longer term.”

As well as being an emergency shelter, the Mission offers food, clothing, access to addiction and trauma services, a health clinic, education, job training, and housing support.

“Events such as CNOY raise significant funds, which are directed to the many programs and services. It also allows us to keep up the conversation about the recent declaration by the City of Ottawa, that homelessness is an emergency,” explains Triemstra. He encourages communication with all elected representatives about this complex and important issue.

“In 2019, we raised $137,000 with a total of 60 teams and 400 walkers,” shares Jennifer Graves, the event officer at the Ottawa Mission. “We anticipate even more involvement in 2020 and we look forward to hosting over 500 participants.”

“I love seeing the community coming together and joining forces,” says Matt Dagenais, a graduate of the Jericho Road program who is now on their staff. He says there is still so much to do and it is great “seeing our society recognizing the need to support our cause.”