As a cold temperature snap prepares to catch Newmarket in its icy grip this week, Newmarket council learned on Monday that seasonal homeless shelter Inn from the Cold has had to turn people away five nights out of seven.
The Inn’s executive director Ann Watson attended the committee of the whole meeting Monday afternoon to update council on key programs running at Newmarket’s largest shelter for singles with 36 beds, as well as ask the town for support on its most important annual fundraising walk for the homeless, known nationally as the Coldest Night of the Year.
“The shelter is almost full every night of the week, and five out of seven nights we’re turning people away right now,” Watson said, adding the number of clients it serves continues to rise.
Where the shelter’s three-day-a-week drop-in program once used to serve between six to eight people, staff now see up to 47 vulnerable individuals turning up at their door.
Watson succeeded in firing up council members’ competitive spirit to put a team together for the Coldest Night of the Year event, which takes place on Saturday, Feb. 23 from Riverwalk Commons.
“Teams love to compete against each other and I know you’d love to compete against your fellow councillors,” Watson said, adding that participants can follow fundraising efforts on the Coldest Night of the Year website.
Mayor John Taylor has already registered Team Tom Taylor, in honour of his father who was instrumental in establishing the Inn in Newmarket. And, Councillor Grace Simon is on the books with her Ward 1 Community Team.
Councillor Jane Twinney has registered her Ward 3 Warriors, and Councillor Christina Bisanz will team up with her constituents to get their soon-to-be-named team on the go.
So far, more than 50 individual walkers and 19 teams have registered in Newmarket, including Juliana Playter’s Team Playter, which has raised more than $1,900 and Richard MacLeod’s The History Hounders, not far behind at $1,450.
This is the Inn’s seventh year participating in the national fundraising walk. Last year, more than 200 walkers raised $40,000 for the shelter. Inn from the Cold currently ranks ninth overall in fundraising efforts among the 132 communities across the country that are participating.
Watson also said that the Inn relies heavily on sponsorships to make the walk a success, and asked if council would consider waiving town fees associated with the event’s use of Riverwalk Commons.
Council directed staff to review the fees and recommend what it could do to help.
Here's what you need to know about the Coldest Night of the Year
The Newmarket Coldest Night of the Year begins and ends at Riverwalk Commons, 200 Doug Duncan Dr. on Saturday, Feb. 23 beginning at 4 p.m. with registration.
The two, five and 10-kilometre walks start at 5:15 p.m.
All participants receive the now-iconic blue toque. Warm drinks will also help keep participants going on what’s likely to be a cold night.
The York Regional Police Services Board is the 2019 walk's lead sponsor.
To register yourself or a team, and for more information on the Coldest Night of the Year walk in Newmarket, visit here.
For more information, to donate or volunteer with the Inn from the Cold, visit here.