Mr. Speaker, every night an estimated 30,000 Canadians are without a place to sleep, facing not only hunger, loneliness, and the cold but also a loss of hope, the oxygen of the human spirit. It is for this reason that on February 22, Darlene and I will be participating in a 10 kilometre Coldest Night of the Year walk.
Walks in 64 cities across Canada give us the opportunity to experience a hint of the challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness. Since 2011, $2.4 million has been raised to help some of Canada's most vulnerable citizens. In Kitchener-Waterloo, donations go to Ray of Hope, an organization that works with at-risk youth, equipping them to make responsible decisions and enabling them to make a positive contribution to their communities.
Providing hope to vulnerable Canadians does make a difference. I invite and encourage every Canadian to be part of this event. Visit www.coldestnightoftheyear.org to join or support a local walk.