Coldest Night of the Year funds can be donated through March 5 to support ICCS programming in Nanaimo. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

impressive showing

Coldest Night of the Year event shatters fundraising record in Nanaimo

Feb 27, 2022 | 9:23 AM

NANAIMO — A symbolic downpour drenched hundreds of participants doing their small part to advocate for people in the Nanaimo regularly impacted by inclement weather.

More than 430 registrants for the the annual Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) event in Nanaimo helped raise a new high of nearly $100,000 to support the Island Crisis Care Society’s work of improving the lives of people experiencing homelessness.

Event coordinator Elspeth Erickson told NanaimoNewsNOW the Saturday, Feb. 26 event is an important community based conversation starter.

“It gives the opportunity for people to have a little taste of the cold weather and to really think a lot about the issues people might face who have experienced homelessness.”

Some of the funds generated from this year’s event will support an employment initiative for existing ICCS clients who are facing barriers in obtaining more independent lives.

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Erickson said a soon-to-launch program called Project Rise involves a month of customized pre-employment training for 10 participants readying for imminent employment opportunities.

Following the pre-employment support period, several local businesses then host a two-month job placement period.

Erickson said the employment experience is designed to potentially lead to permanent work for their clients, or perhaps offer the skills and confidence for jobs elsewhere.

“We’re looking to give additional support and energy for clients to move forward with their lives. One of those program areas is Project Rise,” Errickson said.

Maffeo Sutton Park was a sea of rain gear as hundreds of people took part in the annual Coldest Night of the Year event in Nanaimo on Saturday, Feb. 26 (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Breaking down stigmas was a theme focused on by ICCS assistant executive director Corrie Corfield as the crowd prepared for Saturday night’s walk in downtown Nanaimo.

She emphasized marginalized people suffer profoundly from a lack of connections, which in some cases lasts many years.

“There’s trauma, pain, illness,” an impassioned Corfield told the crowd at Maffeo Sutton Park. “The stigmas of homelessness, poverty, mental health challenges and addictions are all barriers for people to find meaningful connections in their life.”

Raising about $100,000 via CNOY is a huge breakthrough for ICCS, which has coordinated the event in Nanaimo for more than a decade.

The event typically generated $30,000 to $35,000 in Nanaimo in years past from significantly fewer donors and walk participants.

The CNOY walk in Parksville hit its fundraising goal of $45,000, which will also support the ICCS.

Nationally, CNOY events were held in 165 communities, surpassing the national goal of $10 million raised from more than 100,000 donors to support various homeless related initiatives.

Donating money to a local CNOY walk of your choice can be made here.

Join the conversation. Submit your letter to NanaimoNewsNOW and be included on The Water Cooler, our letters to the editor feature.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes