By Dylana Milobar

8th annual Coldest Night of the Year event working toward outreach funding

Feb 23, 2019 | 4:59 AM

KAMLOOPS — Walking shoes and warm clothing is the uniform this weekend as more than 110 walkers make their way through downtown Kamloops for the Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser.

The event supporting the Mustard Seed New Life Community’s Outreach Centre is part of a nationwide campaign, with Kamloops being one of 136 communities taking part.

Event Director Leigh-Anne Larsen says the money raised goes toward supporting people struggling with hunger, homelessness, and mental illness in Kamloops. 

“We’re going to meet here at the centre. Registration starts at 4:00 p.m. And we’re going to be walking downtown for either two kilometres, five kilometres or 10 kilometres,” Larsen says.

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Rocky Hunter, former owner of Domino’s Pizza in Kamloops, has been donating to the cause for the last three years. Now retired from the business, Hunter says he has more time to keep up with his many commmunity service pursuits. 

“You know, the community coming together, donating different things. This Coldest Night of the Year is one of the events to help raise funds to get the less fortunate people off the streets.”

Between his past experience and seeing the struggles of people on the streets, Hunter has a personal interest in helping the homeless.

“I grew up poor. I grew up in a little log cabin in northern Alberta. We didn’t have much as a kid. Used to be really cold all the time. So I can really feel with the people living in the cold who don’t have a home to go to,” Hunter explains. “Living in a log cabin, yes it was cold and we had to stay up nights keeping the fire warm and stuff like that. But what these guys go through, not even a home to go to… we need to help.”

After raising around $40,000 last year at the Coldest Night of the Year, Larsen says organizers have set a new mark this year, hoping to raise $42,000. 

“So all the money raised (today) will be going to the Mustard Seed in Kamloops,” she explains. “And it will be going towards the guests that use the facility here, and it will be for programming.”

Some of those programs provided by the Mustard Seed make a big difference in the live of less fortunate people who make their way to the outreach centre. 

People such as Parry Dickie, who says he was displaced from his living situation after the Elephant Hill wildfire.

“The food is good, you can stay here 24 hours. The staff is pretty reasonable, they keep a safe environment. It’s a good place to be.”

And while the event’s name certainly implies a frigid evening ahead, Larsen says organizers aren’t worried about the temperature keeping people indoors. 

“It might get a little bit colder, but at least we’re not in the minus 20’s. But it does give us a taste of what it’s like to be a homeless person in the wintertime,” she explains. “So I do expect that we’ll still have a really good turnout because Kamloops cares for people.”

The walk begins at 5:00 p.m. this evening from the Mustard Seed New Life Community, located at 181 Victoria Street West.

Coverage of the 2019 walk:

Registration and donating can be done at the event, or online through the CNOY website, accessed here.