Stratford Coldest Night of the Year

03/12/2026

03/08/2026

❗️Mark your calendars: ❄️Coldest Night ❄️ returns February 27, 2027❗️

We're still riding high from this year's fantastic CNOY and we're energized to confirm the date for next year's event.

Join us next year as we walk together in support of creating a better future for people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness.

See you then!! 🗓️💙

03/06/2026

Can we take another minute to celebrate our top teams?
An outstanding effort by walkers! What a shiny group of dedicated, caring, and hard working bunch of people! 👏👏👏

On behalf of Shelterlink Youth Services, United Way Perth-Huron & Stratford Connection Centre thank you for helping to sustain vital programs that serve those facing hurt, hunger and homelessness!

03/04/2026

We didn’t just hit our $200,000 goal — we passed it! 🚀 We’re now at $221,306 and still climbing.

👟 474 walkers
💝 2,422 donors
👫 69 teams
📍 222 locations and Stratford is in 2nd!
🤝 13 sponsors

This happened because of YOU. Thank you for making this fantastic! 💙

03/03/2026

A few more spcieal mentions to these important collaborators that helped us have a successful event! A truly Community Event!

🚒Orr Insurance▪️ lending us the retro fire truck as a stage
✊Crunch Fitness▪️leading us in an energiszing pre-walk warm up
🏠 Home & Company▪️volunteering for the fourth year in a row, at our walker check-in
🎭Stratford Festival▪️helped us connect to power and lent us the use the parking lot
🔥Down Town Stratford (BIA)▪️lending us the use of their fire pits and hut, we love the extra warmth
👮Stratford Cadets, Stratford Police & Auxillery Unit▪️helped marshall our route, to keep it safe and smooth
🧊City of Stratford ▪️ specifically Jeremy for dilligently maintaining the side walk around the river, removing ice and snow.
🥣Soup Surreal▪️warming us up with tasty soup post-walk
☕Chris' BBQ & Catering ▪️serving piping hot beverage pre-walk.

03/01/2026

Our hearts are full — and very warm — after an incredible Night of the Year 💙❄️

Because of this amazing community, we raised over $218,000 in support of Shelterlink Youth Services and the Stratford Connection Centre

To everyone who walked in the cold, fundraised with passion, sponsored with generosity, donated with compassion, and volunteered your time and energy, THANK YOU.

Every step taken and every dollar raised helps provide warm beds, nourishing meals, caring staff, and pathways to stability and hope.

This is what community looks like. This is what love in action looks like.

From all of us at Shelterlink and the Connection Centre , thank you for making a life-changing difference. 💙

Photo Credit: Alison Robinson

02/28/2026

Today We Walk!
Event day will be similar to last year. Everything is free.
📍 Gathering starting at 4 pm in the StratFest lakeside parking lot
🚶 Send off walk at 5 pm
💬 Kick off speech at 4:40 pm
☕ Pre-walk hot beverages served by Chris' BBQ & Catering, bring your travelers mug if you can
🥣 Post-walk hot soup served by Soup Surreal
💙 Blue Hair Tinsil clip by enthusiastic volunteers
🧢 Toques at check-in table for those who have raised $150 ($75 for youth)
🏁 Everything will wrap up around 7 pm
See you soon friends!

02/28/2026

On event day we hit 100%!
Such wonderful news, so much to be grateful for!
Thank You Stratford!

02/27/2026

Let's hear it for some hometown Spirit!

Stratford you know where all the worst pot holes are, where to get that special cup of coffee, or the best pavolova, the sound of the Festival Fanfare, how to avoide Lorne Ave at rush hour, where to get free parking down town, where the oldest trees are (Inverness Park), where the best children's play park is...and you know the hard working agencies that help to ensure everyone has the chance to a bright future. This is your home!

Walk for your Stratford!

02/27/2026

📢 24 HOURS TO GO! 📢 …tomorrow, we walk! 🕺

Warmth matters. Every winter, we spend money, energy, and thought just trying to stay warm. Canadians have been helping one another get through the frigid nights and shortened days for centuries. It’s part of who we are.

In 2026, we continue this tradition of kindness and care—because any one of us can lose our footing and find ourselves hurt, hungry, or without a home.

See you at the starting line. 💙