Latest news with #ColdestNightoftheYear
Hamilton Spectator
11-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Leadership with Heart: Four Pillars Awards Spotlight Changemakers in Halton
Outstanding Leaders The Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH) hosted their annual Spring Soirée on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the OE Banquet and Conference Centre in Oakville, where they celebrated the recipients of the prestigious 2025 Four Pillars Awards. These awards recognize community members who embody the organization's core values of Education, Community, Culture, and Harmony. This year's honourees include Eileen Gallagher (Education), Curtis Ennis (Community), Dennis Scott (Culture), and Sergeant Keith Nakahara (Harmony). Introduced eighteen years ago during CCAH's 30th anniversary celebration, the Four Pillars Awards have since honoured individuals whose work and presence have positively shaped Halton's social and cultural landscape. Curtis Ennis, director of education for the Halton District School Board (HDSB), received the Community Pillar Award for his contributions beyond the scope of his role — a recognition he described as deeply meaningful. 'I won the Community Award from the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton. And it exemplifies those who have made a contribution to the Halton community beyond the scope of their work,' he shared. Ennis was joined at the celebration by a group of students, organized by Superintendent Aiman Flahat, from schools including M.M. Robinson and Dr. Frank J. Hayden. 'That was fantastic, to have students celebrating with me,' Ennis said. 'Also, to have some staff members and the vice-chair of the board there cheering — it meant a lot.' Reflecting on his philosophy of educational leadership, Ennis emphasized the importance of schools engaging with the broader community. 'I've always believed that schools and school boards should not be limited to the walls of the school or the school board. We are integral to the community at large, and we need to go beyond our borders to serve,' he said. Ennis's community involvement is far-reaching. 'I've contributed to fundraising for the United Way for a number of years. I've also done work for the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser for the Oakville-based organization Home Suite Hope. I did the walk — it was a very cold night — and our team raised quite a few thousand dollars.' He also supports the Halton Learning Foundation and hosts an annual Director's Fundraiser, now in its second year. Beyond fundraising, Ennis actively supports organizations such as Halton Black Voices and the African Caribbean Council of Halton. His leadership, he says, is guided by a vision of kindness, connection, and community. 'One of the things I'm proud of is the 2024–2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan that the Board of Trustees passed. Included in that is a commitment to kindness, connection, and community,' he explained. 'I would like every student, every staff member, every member of the Halton community to think about how we can be ambassadors for kindness, how we can connect with and serve our communities. That's something I try to model.' Dionne Downer, newly appointed executive director of the CCAH, spoke about the significance of the awards and the community-driven selection process. 'A selection committee comprised of our Board of Directors reviews nominations put forward from the community. The Four Pillars are represented by our core values — it's what guides our work at CCAH,' said Downer. 'These awards highlight exceptional contributions in the areas of education, culture, community, and harmony.' Downer also noted the power of representation and civic engagement exemplified by this year's recipients. 'Seeing Director Ennis receive this award, presented by the superintendent, models civic engagement. It shows our youth what's possible when leaders reflect and serve their communities with intention,' says Downer. The 2025 CCAH Four Pillars Awards not only honour individual achievements but also underscore the strength of a community united by values, service, and vision. Congratulations to all the recipients for their outstanding contributions to Halton.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alectra Inc. employees surpass fundraising goal, raising more than $27,000 for Coldest Night of the Year
Coldest Night of the Year MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Feb. 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alectra employees once again stepped up to support their communities, raising $27,278 for Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY), a national initiative aimed at helping people experiencing homelessness, hunger and hardship. More than 100 Alectra employees braved the winter temperatures, joining thousands of Canadians in walking to raise funds for local organizations that provide vital services to those in need. This year, Alectra employees joined 10 teams across Alectra's service territory including St. Catharines, Brampton, Guelph, Hamilton, Markham, Mississauga, Richmond Hill and Vaughan. 'Alectra employees continue to embody the spirit of community and their dedication to supporting Coldest Night of the Year annually is commendable,' said Brian Bentz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Alectra Inc. 'By coming together to walk and raise funds, through our AlectraCARES Community Support Program, we are increasing awareness for individuals facing homelessness by supporting grassroots organizations in our communities.' Since 2018, Alectra has been supporting the Coldest Night of the Year and has donated over $55,000 through employee participation. To learn more about Alectra's community support, visit: About Alectra Inc. Family of Companies Serving more than one million homes and businesses in Ontario's Greater Golden Horseshoe area, Alectra Utilities is now the largest municipally-owned electric utility in Canada, based on the total number of customers served. We contribute to the economic growth and vibrancy of the 17 communities we serve by investing in essential energy infrastructure, delivering a safe and reliable supply of electricity, and providing innovative energy solutions. Twitter: Media Contact: Ashley Trgachef, Media | Telephone: 416.402.5469 | 24/7 Media Line: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in to access your portfolio
CBC
23-02-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Hundreds rally for Downtown Eastside as leaked memo adds detail to mayor's controversial revitalization plan
Social Sharing Hundreds gathered in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES) on Saturday evening to support people experiencing homelessness, as Mayor Ken Sim's motion to freeze new supportive housing heads to city council next week. The rally was part of the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY), a nationwide event that raises funds for local charities supporting those facing extreme poverty, homelessness, and hunger. Participants braved the cold and relentless rain as they walked from 312 Main Street through the DTES, Chinatown and Downtown Vancouver. "The purpose of this event is for people to experience a bit of discomfort, much like our unhoused neighbours do every single night," said Amanda Burrows, executive director of the Vancouver charity First United. "This fundraiser is an opportunity to keep raising awareness that we must be doing more, not less, for our unhoused neighbors," she said. In recognition of the event, the City of Vancouver lit up City Hall, the Vancouver Convention Centre, and the Burrard Street Bridge in CNOY's blue and yellow colors. But in a statement, First United called the move "social washing," and accused the city of trying to appear supportive while advancing policies that would "harm the same charities and the people they serve." "[Sim's] motion is suggesting a halt to supportive housing when homelessness has increased 30 percent in [Metro Vancouver] over the last few years," Burrows said. Leaked memo reveals broader plan Sim, who first announced his new plan for the DTES in January, has defended the proposed freeze, arguing that Vancouver carries a disproportionate share of the region's supportive housing. He says the city has 77 percent of Metro Vancouver's supportive housing units despite making up only 25 percent of the region's population. However, a leaked draft memo first reported by The Globe and Mail reveals a broader plan laid out last October by Sim's chief of staff, Trevor Ford, to "improve conditions in the DTES." The City of Vancouver has since provided the memo to CBC News. The document, marked "Confidential" throughout, provides new details on the mayor's strategy for the neighborhood, once described as Canada's poorest postal code. The plan calls for fast-tracking private development approvals in the DTES, including using "spot rezoning" when necessary—a process allowing individual properties to be rezoned outside the city's broader planning strategy. "This is a tool that we would typically not use," the memo states. "However, to be smart about how we bring this about, we will have to make hard decisions quickly to get the outcome we desire." WATCH | How the public can weigh in on new Downtown Eastside plan: Plan to freeze Downtown Eastside supportive housing seeks public input 30 days ago Duration 2:15 People will soon get a chance to weigh in on Vancouver mayor Ken Sim's controversial proposal to put a freeze on net new supportive housing. He wants other cities to step up to build supportive homes before more are built here. As Meera Bains reports, the public will get to weigh in on this decision next month. The draft also proposes a "comprehensive review" of non-profits operating in the DTES and suggests shifting responsibility for homelessness services to other Metro Vancouver municipalities. A section in the original memo outlines a "re-unification roundtable" to explore ways to help Indigenous residents return to their home Nations, stating that "many members of the Indigenous community have expressed a desire to live in their home Nations." The City of Vancouver also provided CBC News with an updated version of the memo, dated January, which emphasizes collaboration with senior governments and community service agencies. The reference to Indigenous residents returning home is absent from the revised document. 'Freeze sends wrong message' At the time of the draft memo's circulation, it was shared exclusively with councillors from Sim's ABC Party. ABC currently holds a super-majority on council, with six councillors plus the mayor. Two seats sit empty until the city's byelection, and the remaining seats belong to Fry and Coun. Rebecca Bligh, who was recently ejected from ABC after the party claimed she is "not a core value fit." Bligh has publicly opposed Sim's proposed freeze on new supportive housing. "A freeze sends absolutely the wrong message," Bligh told CBC News. "It means there are no new units coming for the hundreds of people currently sleeping on the street." Bligh, who attended the CNOY event, also criticized the lack of transparency, arguing that major policy shifts should be publicly debated rather than quietly circulated among select councillors. "Having any plan happen behind closed doors … is not the best way to address the challenges in the DTES," she said. Sim's chief of staff, Trevor Ford, said the memo was an "internal working document meant to inform discussions and explore ideas." "It has not been presented publicly because it is not a finalized strategy," Ford said in a statement. "Any actions taken from this document would be presented publicly as a motion through the standard processes." Sim's motion to pause net-new supportive housing
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Coldest Night of the Year walk raises money for families in need in Reading
The third annual Coldest Night of the Year 5K Walk was held Saturday to raise funds for New Journey Community Outreach programs. The event at the Penn State Berks campus shines a light on those who are hurt, hungry and homeless in the community while raising critical funds for the Reading nonprofit's food programs, officials said. Christie Botterbusch, executive director, speaks to the walkers in the Coldest Night of the Year 5K Walk on Saturday at the Penn State Berks Campus. Nearly 300 walkers participated to benefit New Journey Community Outreach. Over $49,700 has been raised so far to benefit the homeless outreach. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) New Journey Community Outreach Inc. was established in 2014 in response to the closing of New Journey United Methodist Church, which merged with West Lawn United Methodist Church. The nonprofit has assumed responsibility for continuing the essential food and clothing services through a food pantry, lunch program and clothing center provided for low-income people by 'the yellow church' at 138 S. Sixth St., which served as a leader for social outreach programs in southwest Reading for the past five decades, officials said. Walkers step off in the Coldest Night of the Year 5K Walk on Saturday at the Penn State Berks Campus. Nearly 300 walkers participated to benefit New Journey Community Outreach. Over $49,700 has been raised so far to benefit the homeless outreach. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)The Nittany Lion high-fives walkers in the Coldest Night of the Year 5K Walk on Saturday at the Penn State Berks Campus. Nearly 300 walkers participated to benefit New Journey Community Outreach. Over $49,700 has been raised so far to benefit the homeless outreach. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE)
CBC
21-02-2025
- General
- CBC
Sussex Coldest Night of the Year surpasses goal in face of growing food insecurity
Social Sharing When the Sussex Sharing Club agreed to host a Coldest Night of the Year event, organizers never imagined the event would wildly exceed the fundraising goal. "I actually get a little emotional when I think of how this community comes together with this event," said Kathy Manklow, the volunteer director for the event. The Coldest Night of the Year is a two or five kilometre fundraising walk held each February across the country in support of local charities. Along with the Sussex event, five other New Brunswick municipalities have Coldest Night of the Year events planned — Fredericton, Miramichi, Moncton, Saint John and St. Stephen — with each event benefiting a different local charity. On Friday morning, the Sussex Sharing Club fundraising total surpassed $34,000 — more than $14,000 above the event's goal. The Fredericton and St. Stephen events also surpassed their fundraising goals as of Friday, with Fredericton raising roughly $132,800 for the John Howard Society of Fredericton and St. Stephen raising around $54,700 for Neighbourhood Works. Sussex's event will support the Sussex Sharing Club food bank, which provides food hampers to people in need. Manklow, who volunteers at the organization's food bank and thrift store, said as amazing as the total is, "it's never enough" because the needs of the food bank have increased over the last few years. "The demand on the food bank … has just grown beyond what we ever thought we would need in Sussex," she said. According to Statistics Canada data released in April 2024 on food insecurity, 27 per cent of people in the Atlantic provinces were food insecure in 2022, compared to 23 per cent the year prior. That is significantly greater than the Canada-wide percentage of 23 per cent in 2022 and 18 per cent in 2021. And according to data from Food Banks Canada, there were more than two million visits to Canadian food banks in March 2024 — the highest number in history. Of those, 32,167 visits were in New Brunswick. With the cost of food, Manklow said some people have had to choose between paying rent and buying groceries, so being able to get a food hamper catered to their family's needs can relieve one of those stressors. After food insecurity, Manklow said, comes homelessness. And she said that if someone does end up having to couch surf or stay with family for a while, at least they know they can have food on the table. She said the hampers can help provide people with a sense of dignity as well. With only one day left until the walk, a total of 110 walkers have signed up for the Sussex event. Manklow said she's most excited to see everyone descend on Main Street on Saturday evening. "We have 17 teams and the teams range from, you know, four, eight, 12 people," she said. "And that they all came together for the same cause is what's really amazing."
