Nova Scotia joins Canada for “Coldest Night of the Year” charity walk

We chat with Souls Harbour Rescue Mission about the Coldest Night of the Year event.

Saturday is the “Coldest Night of the Year” across Canada.

That’s the name of a charity walk taking place nationwide to raise funds and awareness for more than 200 Canadian charities that provide housing, meals and food security.

Soul’s Harbour Rescue Mission has seven locations across Nova Scotia. They will be among the beneficiaries of the event. The mission’s special project manager Tim Richardson said they love participating in the event.

“We have three walks going actually,” Richardson said. “So we’re in Bridgewater, Lower Sackville and Sydney.”

They will be joined by participants from locations throughout the Maritimes and across the country who will walk either two kilometre or five kilometre routes in support of charities focused on social issues like housing, food and addiction.

The walk includes a rest stop that gives Soul’s Harbour a chance to show the community their “Soulsmobile.”

“We were very kindly donated a retired ambulance which actually goes out in communities and actually is in encampments and on the street,” Richardson said. He said the Soulsmobile connects with people that are not coming in and delivers food and clothing.

It will be serving hot drinks and cookies on Saturday for walkers willing to brave the cold for a good cause.

Three hours have been allotted for the event which begins at 4 p.m. local time and includes a light meal.

Richardson said Souls Harbour served more than 160,000 meals in 2024 – almost 500 meals a day across Nova Scotia - made possible through charity events and donations.

“We really focus on respect and dignity for the people that we serve,” Richardson said. “We’re really proud of being able to do that.”

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