The Cowichan Valley's first Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) was held on February 26th, 2022. Almost 500 people in Duncan joined thousands of others in 150+ cities across Canada for a family friendly, winter walk in support of youth experiencing hunger, hurt, and homelessness in the Cowichan Valley. 

CNOY is something special - it’s fun, meaningful, and a little challenging. CMHA Cowichan Valley Branch is also something special, and our work and service in the community are essential. Our CNOY 2022 goal was to raise $50,000 and we were extremely pleased to raise over $90,000 to create a safe space and programs for homeless youth in the Cowichan Valley. Fundraising for this project is ongoing.

Equally valuable was the energy of the event and witnessing the community coming together to show at risk youth that they are not forgotten. It was incredibly heartwarming to see individuals, businesses and community groups come together in kindness to make a positive impact.

We were pleased to work with Fish On Productions to create three videos to support this event:

Message from Cowichan Leaders #CNOY22:

Quw’utsun Tzinquaw Drummers & Singers #CNOY22

Spoken Word: Let's Go For a Walk performed by Switch

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this happen!

This phenomenal first year success would not have been possible without the support of our 42 volunteers, 67 team captains and 494 walkers. We are already looking forward to next year - mark your calendars for Saturday, February 25, 2023.

CNOY run in partnership with the Blue Sea Foundation (another charity). For more information about Coldest Night of the Year, please visit www.cnoy.org/

CMHA Cowichan Valley Branch respectfully acknowledges that we carry out our work on the unceded territory of the Quw'utsun Nation, which is comprised of the Cowichan Tribes with villages at Somena', Kwa'mutsun, Hwulqw'selu, Qu'umiqun, Xinupsum, Tl'lulpalus and Lhumlhumuluts'; as well as the Xul'el''t'hu (Halalt), Stz'uminus, Leeyq’sun (Lyackson), Pune’luxutth’ (Penelakut) and Malahat territories.

As one of Canada’s oldest voluntary associations, founded in 1918, CMHA is the only charity dealing with all aspects of mental health and illness. The strength of our organization is in its people. We treat all people with respect, honesty, and trust, and seek every opportunity to preserve human dignity through equality, fairness, and respecting freedom of choice. The primary focus of this organization is the rights and needs of persons involved in the mental health system.

Our Vision: Mentally healthy people in a healthy society.

Our Mission: As a locally-based champion for mental health, CMHA-CVB facilitates access to the resources adults and youth require to maintain and improve mental health and community integration, build resilience, and support recovery from mental illness and addiction.

Our Key Values and Principles:

• Embracing the voice of people with mental health and addiction issues
• Promoting inclusion
• Working collaboratively
• Influencing the social determinants of health (e.g. housing, justice)
• Focusing on the mental health needs of all age groups
• Using evidence to inform our work
• Being transparent and accountable