On the coldest night of the year, a somber gathering in Calgary paid tribute to hundreds of community members who died while experiencing homelessness. The 11th annual Longest Night of the Year memorial was held on Friday, December 19, 2025, as frigid winds pushed temperatures well below -20 C with wind chill.
A Chilling Reminder of Winter's Deadly Toll
The ceremony took place at the city's permanent Homeless Memorial in the Beltline, located at 107 13 Ave SE. This year, the names of at least 284 individuals were read aloud, though organizers from the Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) acknowledged the actual number of lives lost is even higher.
"Each person we remember today, each name we read out loud or write down, is a person who mattered and who had a story," said Patricia Jones, president and CEO of the Calgary Homeless Foundation. She emphasized that the memorial, now in its second decade, exists to ensure everyone has a place to grieve.
Affirming Dignity and Humanity
For many of those remembered, this public ceremony represents the only commemoration of their life. "That is why we gather, to acknowledge the loss and to affirm that every life has dignity and worth," Jones stated.
Ward 8 Councillor Nathaniel Schmidt addressed attendees, urging them to see beyond circumstances. "These are human beings with families, with friends, with relationships that go beyond where they find themselves in their experience of homelessness," Schmidt said. "We must remember that these are human lives that we're dealing with."
A National Day of Remembrance
The event coincided with the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, which is also recognized across Canada as National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day. The memorial serves as a stark, annual reminder of the heightened dangers faced by unhoused people during the winter months.
Bo Masterson, vice-president of stakeholder engagement for CHF, noted the emotional weight of planning the event. "A day like today, although we wish it to be warmer, is actually a very good reminder for us as Calgarians to take care of each other," Masterson reflected. She described the gathering as a vital community act of solidarity and remembrance.
The list of names was compiled through CHF's partner agencies across the city. Attendees were also invited to write down additional names of loved ones they had lost, ensuring no one was forgotten. As flowers were placed and the wind howled, the ceremony stood as a powerful testament to the stories, struggles, and inherent value of every Calgarian lost.
