Stratford succeeds fundraising goal for Coldest Night of the Year, top-second fundraising municipality in 2026

Coldest Night of the Year 2026 smashed its fundraising goal of $200,000 this past Saturday — cementing Stratford as the second highest fundraising location in the nation.

Stratford’s Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) walk once again surpassed its fundraising goal.

The annual fundraiser was held near Lower Queen’s Park on Feb. 28 with 474 walkers, 69 teams, and 13 volunteers participating. As of March 1, more than $220,136 has been raised for the Stratford Connection Centre and Shelterlink Youth Services.

"I'm just really proud of Stratford that they've turned their compassion into action. It's one thing to believe in the cause but it's even better to action and fundraise for the cause so that change can be made and the important services can be sustained,” said Sonya Heyen, United Way Perth-Huron’s manager of resource development and communications.

CNOY walks are held all across Canada on the last Saturday of February to raise money for local shelters for those facing homelessness. Stratford is the top-second fundraising municipality in all of Canada for CNOY, with Kitchener taking the top spot raising funds for the Ray of Hope Community Centre. In 2011, Kitchener was one of the first-ever charity partners for CNOY, along with Toronto’s Sanctuary Ministries and Yonge Street Mission.

The fundraising walk has had more and more participants over the years across Canada. Stratford has participated for 12 years.

"It grows every year and we're just really proud that the people come back and they invite their friends and it's a great cause too,” Heyen said.

Donations will still be accepted throughout the month of March. To make a financial donation online, visit https://cnoy.org/location/stratford.