The temperature dipped to -14 C on Saturday night but that didn’t deter hundreds of people from gathering at the Trinity United Church in Collingwood where they embarked on a special fundraiser for homeless youth in the region. The walking routes through the downtown included warming stations and rest stops but the goal was to get everyone thinking about the prospect of sleeping somewhere on the street that night, like so many homeless youth experience on a daily basis.

Participants could register as teams or individuals, and every person who raised a minimum of $150 received a commemorative toque.
Coldest Night of the Year is a national initiative to raise funds for charities across Canada. It's been an annual in event in Collingwood since 2016, with all proceeds benefitting Home Horizon and its mission to support youth at risk of, or experiencing homelessness.

Home Horizon runs a myriad of programming to support youth, including the Barbara Weider House along with boots on the street resources. Organizers say the this years event was great success as it surpassed its fundraising target. To date, the initiative has raised over 1.2 million dollars for the organization.

To learn more about Home Horizon, visit https://www.homehorizon.ca/