Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation

It’s cold out there.

And sadly, many Edmontonians do not have a warm home to return to, or a hot meal waiting for them.

To raise money for charities serving people experiencing homelessness, hurt, and hunger, the Bissell Centre is again hosting the Coldest Night of the Year event, an annual fundraising walk/run.

This year, like many other events, the walk will be held virtually, making it both family-friendly and COVID-friendly.

Save the date—2021’s Coldest Night of the Year is scheduled for this Saturday, February 20th (though participants are able to raise funds and walk any day in February). 

See here for full event details
(and click here for FAQ)

There’s a place for everyone, and we hope you’ll join us!

The walk began in 2011 and has since raised over $33,500,000 in 149 communities across Canada.

Read more about the history of Coldest Night of the Year 

This overwhelming success is in large part thanks to the event’s wide number of caring community partners—a group that the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation is proud to count itself among.

“The Coldest Night of the Year walk is an event rooted in community and compassion, and represents what the Bissell Center stands for—steady and persistent progress forward for those who may feel a step behind. And above all, it restores hope,” said Sharlene Rutherford, President and CEO of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation.

“We are proud to be a lead sponsor of the event—and the Bissell Center—in our common goal of improving health for all Albertans.”

And the feeling is mutual. Both organizations recognize that they work to improve the lives of the same group of people, many of whom know the Royal Alexandra Hospital well due to its location being so close to what one would call Edmonton’s inner city.

“The Bissell Centre works to better the lives of our participants and move them out of poverty, and as we do so we can help reduce their need to go to the hospital. The Royal Alex Hospital Foundation works to better the health and care of these same participants, and when a participant receives care at the hospital, they’ve put our participant in better health to continue to do the work they need to do,” said Kelly Sysak, Development Officer for the Bissell Centre.

“The continued support by The Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation as the lead sponsor of Bissell Centre’s Coldest Night of the Year fundraising event is so important to us and it’s for a simple and powerful reason: we could not do what we do without the support of the Royal Alexandra Hospital Foundation.” 

Thank you to the Bissell Centre for their continued leadership in championing such a noble cause and rallying amazing community support.

We hope you’ll join us this Saturday, February 20th, in supporting the Coldest Night of the Year 2021!