It's cold out there. And this February, our team is going to do something about it.

Here is an update on what we have achieved together. Last year, we were able to put a down payment on a house on Hemlock Street in Duncan and began transforming the home into our Youth Emergency Shelter (YES). These funds were a direct result of our Coldest Night of the Year fundraising efforts. The Cowichan YES is the second program of its kind in BC. We also received a generous donation from the Mischa Weiss Foundation and were able to pay off the remaining mortgage. AMAZING!

Recognizing with respect that YES Cowichan is located on Quw'utsun lands, and for the generous donation by the Mischa Weisz Foundation, the name Mischa Lelum has been chosen to recognize both the legacy of Mischa Weisz and because “Lelum” is a fitting Hulqiminum word meaning home. 

Mischa Lelum consists of three essential elements in its service continuum:

* overnight shelter;

* drop-in day programming; and

* outreach services.

So what’s next? Why continue fundraising? What happens to youth once they are 19? That’s where the next few years of Coldest Night fundraising comes in. We invite you to help us as we work to develop transitional housing for youth. Our goal will be to find and purchase a suitable building in the Cowichan Valley that will house both our Youth Drop-In Centre downstairs (presently located on Festubert St and not in an ideal space) and provide transitional housing for 19 youth upstairs.

With your support again, we can build on our success and make #CNOY26 even bigger and better!