Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser in Goderich tops in Canada after mayor agrees to sleep outside

Goderich team first in Canada for upcoming fundraiser thanks to two local politicians living rough for a night, CTV London’s Scott Miller has the details.

Goderich Mayor Trevor Bazinet is preparing to be “homeless” for a night.

“We’ve been offered some stuff like tents or heaters, and I said no thank you. We’re doing this for a reason. We don’t want to be sheltered. The people that are struggling right now are not sheltered,” said Bazinet.

The number of those living “unhoused” in Huron County has reached 200. Per capita, the rural county is on par with cities like London and Kitchener.

020625_CNOY fundraiser goderich London Trevor Bazinet and Michaela Johnston discuss Bazinet’s plan to sleep outside on the night of February 21, to raise money for homelessness initiatives in Huron County, Feb. 6, 2025 (Scott Miller/CTV News London)

“It’s distressing because we have a lot of unseen homelessness where people are living in their cars or living with family and friends. We have a significant homeless youth population as well,” said Accessibility, Health, and Safety Manager Micheala Johnston.

Bazinet and fellow Goderich councillor Randy Carroll will be spending the night of February 21 outside to support homelessness programs in the community - and their decision has struck a chord with their supporters for the upcoming Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) fundraiser.

Team “OH MY GODERICH” sits atop the CNOY fundraising board for all of Canada, with $28,746, raised to date.

020625_CNOY fundraiser goderich London Team from Goderich sitting atop fundraising leaderboard for Canada wide homelessness event, Coldest Night of the Year

“It’s about building trust, and that’s something that is difficult for people that are struggling. They’ve been promised things over the course of their life, I’m sure, and nothing has really panned out for them for whatever reason... We have a great community here in the town of Goderich that is willing to step up to the plate, so to speak, and help these people,” said Bazinet.

Funds raised stay in Huron County to support homelessness and affordable housing programs, like the 40 unit housing complex being built in Goderich right now.

“It’s really important to raise awareness about those rural issues and help raise money that goes back into the initiatives that directly affect our community,” said Johnston, who is also a member of team “OH MY GODERICH.”

020625_CNOY fundraiser goderich London Team from Goderich sitting atop fundraising leaderboard for Canada wide homelessness event, Coldest Night of the Year

Bazinet and Carroll will spend the night before Goderich’s Coldest Night of Year out in the Huron County cold before taking part in the event on February 22.

“What we hope is we have people that are willing to join us, but also people that are struggling willing to come and have conversations with us and educate us even more to the process of what they’re dealing with,” said Bazinet.

To learn more about Team ‘OH MY GODERICH’ or a Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser in your community, you can visit Home - Coldest Night of the Year 2025 Canada or PLEASE SPONSOR OH MY GODERICH.