Close to 400 walkers on more than 60 teams walked through downtown Edmonton on February 28th, 2026, for Bissell Centre’s ninth annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser. More than $161,000 was raised to go towards Bissell Centre’s programs in housing, financial empowerment, eviction prevention, family supports, and Indigenous cultural supports. 

Temperatures hit as low as –24 degrees that night with wind chill, but it didn’t deter any walkers from showing up and walking alongside people in need to help strengthen the community. The walk kicked off at YMCA Boyle Street Plaza at 4 p.m., starting with an opening reception where walkers picked up their matching colourful toques before taking to their routes. 

Walkers could choose either a two-kilometre route that took them up to 100th Street, or a five-kilometre route which saw walkers traverse all the way to 109th Street. Once walkers completed their routes, they headed back to Boyle Street Plaza for a complimentary pasta buffet from Bissell Harvest Catering. 

Money raised at Coldest Night of the Year makes a real impact on people in the community. In 2024, Bissell Centre helped house more than 500 people, prevented more than 600 evictions, returned more than $7.6 million through more than 4,000 personal tax filings, and connected hundreds more people to resources to help them live with a better quality of life. 

Next year’s Coldest Night of the Year walk will take place on February 27th, 2027. 

Information submitted by Bissell Centre.