Helping Hands Society of Cochrane & Area is celebrating another successful Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY), as the community came together on February 28, 2026, to support neighbours experiencing hunger, hurt, and homelessness.
Hundreds of residents bundled up and took to local pathways for this inclusive, family-friendly winter fundraising walk, joining tens of thousands of Canadians participating in CNOY events across more than 200 communities nationwide.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Cochrane community, we not only met our fundraising goal of $75,000, it surpassed it, raising nearly $80,000 in support of food security and volunteer-driven community programs.
More than 220 walkers across 45 teams participated in the event, supported by over 45 dedicated volunteers who contributed dozens of hours before and during the event. The 2 km and 5 km routes began and ended at the Riverside entrance of the Spray Lakes Sawmills Family Sports Centre, with a warm rest stop along the way and a shared celebration at the finish, a true reflection of the community spirit that defines CNOY.
Funds raised through the 2026 event will directly support Helping Hands programs, including food security initiatives, transportation services, and neighbour-to-neighbour supports that help individuals and families remain connected, supported, and cared for throughout the year.
“This event is a powerful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together,” said Alex Montiel, Executive Director of Helping Hands. “We are incredibly grateful to everyone who walked, donated, volunteered, and supported CNOY this year. The impact of this generosity will be felt by many in our community.”
This year’s success was also made possible through the support of our valued sponsors. Lead Sponsor: Two Pharmacy; Route Sponsors: West Fraser Cochrane, Fireside Dental, Bow River Chiropractic Clinic, EPCOR, and Mila Dental; Supporting Sponsor: Martens Bow River Ranch Fund; Location Sponsor: SLS Centre; Media Sponsors: Cochrane Now and Urban Casual; Video and Photography Sponsors: Tim Hall Photography and Bellwood Creative Studios; Entertainment Sponsor: Mountain View Dance Academy; Food and Beverage Sponsors: Guy’s Café and Bakery, Starbucks, and Tim Hortons Cochrane; Goods and Services Sponsors: Mr. P. Potty, Foxy Box Cochrane, Found Books & Shop, and Garmin.
Helping Hands extends a heartfelt thank you to all participants, volunteers, sponsors, and community partners who made this year’s event such a success.
