The Coldest Night of the Year on Feb. 28, 2026, has been deemed a success, with one local group receiving its highest-ever donation from the event. (Image Credit: Streets Alive Mission)

By David Opinko

Coldest Night of the Year raises largest-ever amount for Streets Alive

Mar 4, 2026 | 2:12 PM

Southern Albertans came out in a big way on what was billed as the “Coldest Night of the Year” to support local causes.

The nation-wide movement sees people fundraise and walk outdoors on February 28, which, on average, is the coldest night of the year. Money raised goes towards initiatives that support people who are experiencing hurt, hunger and homelessness.

Three walks were held on that night in the Lethbridge area, bringing in a combined $116,491.

The Lethbridge Downtown walk had aimed to collect $70,000 for Streets Alive Mission, but ended up surpassing that with $73,439.

Zandria Logue, Donor Relations Coordinator with Streets Alive, says she is “so happy” with the tremendous level of support shown by the community.

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In previous years, she says they would typically receive around $60,000, and they knew going in that $70,000 was ambitious.

“It was actually classic last-minute Lethbridge,” Logue recounts. “It was on-par or about average, maybe slightly below, and then the last five days, people just did incredible work, and we completely surpassed our $70,000 goal.”

“This year was the most we’ve ever raised with this event.”

The money raised for Streets Alive will go towards its Mission Services, which she says are the programs that people are the most familiar with.

“Those are the things that are serving people who are living on the street and in the most visible areas of poverty in our city. Having $73,000 contributed to that is going to make a huge difference in providing tangible benefits to people who really need it – things like gloves, underwear, and helping support the operation of our new building,” says Logue.

Since moving to their new, larger facility next to the Lethbridge Shelter and Stabilization Unit last year, Logue says demand for their people in need clothing bank tripled.

In 2025, Streets Alive provided more than 16,000 services for over 1,200 unique clients.

The Lethbridge Henderson walk raised $13,723 for Wood’s Homes Lethbridge, while the event in Taber garnered $29,320 for the Taber Food Bank.

Between the three local CNOY events, the biggest donation came from St. Augustine’s Anglican Church, which gave $11,207.25 to Streets Alive.

READ MORE: LDS Church donates $405,000 to Streets Alive in Lethbridge