On Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 St. Michaels University School will once again take to the streets of downtown Victoria for the Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) event, a national fundraising walk in support of those facing hunger and homelessness.
While the event takes place nationally, funds raised locally support Victoria’s Our Place Society. SMUS has engaged with Our Place Society for nearly two decades, building a strong relationship grounded in consistency and care. In recent years, students have contributed approximately 350 hours of service, volunteering during Saturday lunch shifts and supporting Coldest Night of the Year, the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. In 2023, SMUS students also designed the event’s start and finish line banner, which continues to be used each year as a visible reminder of the school’s involvement.
This year, SMUS is nearing its fundraising goal of $2,500, with strong support from students, staff and families. On campus, the second annual Bundle UP Festival raised nearly $1,300, with a Senior School Staff Cookie Challenge and live student and staff performances drawing strong support.
A Longstanding Commitment to Our Place Society
For Elisha Gardiner, SMUS’s Service-Learning and Community Engagement Lead, participation in Coldest Night of the Year represents something deeper than fundraising alone.
“For students who have volunteered with meal service at Our Place Society, participating in CNOY elevates their volunteer work closer to advocacy and allyship,” Gardiner said. “Raising funds and walking alongside others in our community who care for those experiencing hurt, homelessness and hunger gives students a broader understanding of the realities many people face.”
This year, a Grade 11 homeroom raised $336 through a student-led bake sale in support of the walk. Top fundraiser, Kara Coelho, raised $500 independently and is offering handmade crocheted coasters to sponsors as a thank you for their support.
Finding Warmth in the Cold
For Head of Personal Counselling Carol McMillan, who has participated in the walk over the past three years, the experience leaves a lasting impression. Each February, participants walk several kilometres through downtown Victoria after dark, often in temperatures that dip below five degrees.
“There is something profoundly impactful about walking those streets together in the cold,” McMillan said. “Crossing the finish line, greeted by the smell of hot chili and the sound of a local choir, you feel tired in body but warm at heart. It is a reminder that when a community comes together with compassion and purpose, hope follows.”
As the SMUSWalks team prepares for this year’s event, the message remains clear: meaningful partnership is built not only through words, but through steady, collective action.
