Red Deer
Red Deer Food Bank & The Mustard Seed Red Deer
271 Walkers|54 Teams|49 Volunteers
The Coldest Night of the Year is a winterrific family-friendly fundraising walk in support of local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness... because it’s cold out there. Join us on February 28, 2026 - across the country, close to home!
About The Mustard Seed Red Deer
The Mustard Seed is a Christian non-profit organization that has been caring for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty since 1984. The organization operates in multiple cities – Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Medicine Hat, and Grande Prairie in Alberta, Kamloops in British Columbia, and Saskatoon in Saskatchewan. All locations offer a different range of programs and services to serve our most vulnerable community members
The Mustard Seed is a supportive haven where people can have their physical, mental, and spiritual needs met and grow toward greater health and independence. We recognize that the root causes of poverty and homelessness are complex and diverse, so we continue to grow and evolve with the needs of those we serve.
Coldest Night of the Year is an incredibly valuable way for the community of Red Deer to partner with The Mustard Seed and experience a small part of what our guests endure. We would love to have you, your family, and your friends walk alongside The Mustard Seed at this incredibly important event.
About Red Deer Food Bank
In recent years, many residents of Alberta have faced challenging times, a fact not hidden from public awareness. Statistics indicate that one out of every five individuals have encountered difficulties in putting food on their tables. A staggering 27,700 people sought emergency food assistance from the Red Deer Food Bank in the past year alone, with 40% of those served being children. Additionally, 42,500 individuals accessed the food bank's pantry to supplement their dietary needs.
While a substantial portion of the donated food aids the local community in Red Deer, the food bank also plays a crucial role in supplying provisions to other food banks across Central Alberta. Furthermore, the food bank collaborates with over thirty regional agencies, contributing to various initiatives such as providing hot meals, shelter, youth programs, school lunches, as well as mental health and addiction services.
The existence of the Red Deer Food Bank Society owes much to the community's benevolence. The organization acknowledges and honors this support, recognizing that the food bank would not be operational without it. The food bank actively assists clients in completing income tax returns and accessing government programs. Financial literacy is promoted, and training opportunities are provided to enhance cooking skills, health, and nutrition awareness.
Notably, the Red Deer Food Bank's impact extends beyond preventing food wastage by collecting and distributing surplus food; it now cultivates and produces fresh food to address the community's and region's prevailing needs. This transformative work has reduced millions of pounds of consumable products that would otherwise end up in landfills. The community's care and support play a vital role in enabling the food bank to fulfill its mission of nourishing those in need during their most challenging times. This year, we celebrate 40 years of service in this caring community.
We invite you to join us on Saturday, February 28th, 2026 for the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk to help us raise vital support for those most vulnerable right here in our community.
Red Deer Scoreboard
Are you thrashing the competition (for a good cause)? Find out here! Stats are updated every 15 minutes. See how you stack up on the national scoreboard >
Community Sponsors
Red Deer (Red Deer Food Bank & The Mustard Seed Red Deer) is super grateful for our fantastic 2026 sponsors! View all sponsors >
Top Challengers
Got a big-hearted business, workplace, group, church, or community? Step up and join the Challenge to compete for your local pride in support of CNOY. Check the National Challengeboard to see more!
Event Day Details
Save the date - CNOY Day is February 28, 2026!
Start/Finish Google Map
5121 48 Ave, Red Deer, AB T4N 6X3
Starting at Central Middle School, Red Deer.
Schedule
- 4:00 pm: Meet Check-in
- 4:45 pm: Muster Gather for Opening Remarks
- 5:00 pm: Move Send-off
- 6:00 pm: Munch Light meal served
- 7:00 pm: Mosey Thank You! See you in 2027!
Not able to join us in person at the Main Event? We hope you'll register, fundraise and walk offsite with friends and family.
Route Details
- Route Distances: Check out the maps below to see where we will be walking.
- Rest stop: Keep an eye out for opportunities to rest and refresh with yummy snacks along the route.
- Signage: Routes will be well-signed with our bold blue CNOY signs.
- Route Support: Route marshals, rest stop hosts, and support vehicle drivers provide support along the route.
- Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
- No Pets: We love our little furballs like you do, but pets are not permitted at the Coldest Night of the Year except for approved and trained service animals. Read more about our pet policy >
Check-In
- All walkers participating at the Main Event on Saturday, February 28, 2026 must check-in upon arrival.
- Toques! Fundraising walkers who raise $150+ (or $75+ for those under 18) will receive a CNOY toque as a thank you on event day, while supplies last.
- Offsite fundraising walkers can contact their local event director to arrange toque pickup the week of the event.
Have questions? Visit the FAQ section!
Handling Money
- Credit Card: The Best Option! Simple, secure, automatically tax receipted for gifts of $20+. Visit the Donate page, share your personal page link, or have your donor call the CNOY Head Office.
- Cheques: The Old Faithful - made out to Coldest Night of the Year with your name on the Memo line. Mail them to CNOY Head Office along with your completed pledge form.
- Cash: You have 2 options:
- 1. Login to FundHub, click “Enter $$ and Cheques,” create pledges for your cash donations, pay them off with your personal credit card, and keep the cash. OR...
- 2. Write a cheque (made out to “Coldest Night of the Year”) for the total amount of cash you’ve collected. Mail it to the CNOY Head Office with your completed pledge sheet.
Waivers
All participants must register online and accept the electronic waiver.
- Adults accept the waiver automatically when they register online.
- Youth/Children under the age of majority need a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.
- An online form will be emailed to all parents/guardians before CNOY Day.
- You may also bring a filled-out printed waiver.
- Waivers will also be available at check-in on CNOY Day.
What to Bring
A few common sense suggestions:
- A cell phone for emergencies (recommended but not required)
- Good waterproof shoes/boots for walking
- Warm coat and mitts/gloves
- Extra snacks if you have allergies or food sensitivities
- Your own water bottle
- A passion for the charity you're walking and fundraising for!
2025 CNOY Photos
Here's a collection of our favorite photos from CNOY 2025. Special thanks to our many amazing volunteer photographers!
Contact Us
CNOY Red Deer 2026
The CNOY Team Participant & Donor Services
Toll Free 1.877.743.3413 / Phone 519.603.2250
Email reddeer@cnoy.org