Bernice Glenn has watched her son battle homelessness, addiction and mental illness for 16 years in her small rural Ontario community — and it has been a struggle.
“He is on the street, and has been off and on for years,” she said. “It’s so hard to watch somebody struggle when you can’t do anything to help them.”
The Goderich, Ont., mother said although he was a hard worker, he became addicted to drugs, and developed mental health issues which eventually led to homelessness. She still sees him sometimes on the street around their small community, but the interactions aren’t always positive.
“It’s hard to watch. It’s just hard because we face roadblocks all the time,” she said. “It’s the disease [of addiction] that takes their love and their hope away.”
The situation doesn’t just affect their family, including her three daughters, but also anyone who knew him as a “kind and gentle soul,” she said.
People struggling with addiction are somebody’s pride and joy, born into a family and loved, she said.
LISTEN: A mother opens up about her journey supporting her son:
Her son is the reason why Glenn signed up to walk in the annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser when it came to her community, she said.
“I decided I needed to do something,” said Glenn, whose ‘Bernie’s Bunch‘ team is in the top 15 fundraising teams in the country as of Friday.
Coldest Night of the Year is an annual fundraising walk happening on Saturday in support of local charities across the country.
More than 36,500 people in at least 222 communities across Canada will sport matching blue and yellow toques, and make a chilly walk together in support of charities helping those who are hungry or experiencing homelessness. More than $12 million has been raised as of Friday.
In Goderich, the walk is organized by the United Way Perth-Huron and Huron Homelessness Initiative, with funds support organizations like the Artemis Huron Women’s Shelters, Huron Safe Homes for Youth, The Bridge Housing and Stability Program and Huron Turning Point, a transitional housing program. In London, funds are being raised for Mission Services of London.
Kitchener and Stratford, Ont., both rank on near the top for Coldest Night of the Year’s location leaderboard.
John Wolfe, a realtor with RE/MAX A-B Realty Ltd in Stratford, is taking part for a second year. He’s heading up a team called ‘Chill Chasers 2026’, raising money for Stratford Connection Centre and Shelterlink Youth Services.
“At any point in time, somebody’s life could have a turn for the worse,” Wolfe said.
“We stand in the cold for three hours, and it really puts it into perspective that for someone on the street every day, all day. Three hours is nothing. It shines a light on how tough some of these people have it right now,” he said.
About 400 people from soccer teams, service clubs, workplaces, church and more, will be walking this year in Stratford alone, said Sonya Heyen of United Way Perth-Huron.
“It’s a simple, but meaningful way to bring people together for something that makes a difference,” said Heyen.
“It‘s one thing to have compassion and empathy for our cause, but it’s even more powerful that this group of people has chosen to do something about it.”
For Glenn, walking together with others for the event is emotional.
“It makes me cry to see so many people come out and want to help. It makes me proud,” she said. “I do it with my heart because it’s all I can do as a mother watching my son struggle on the street.”
