Coordinated by The Client Action Committee (CAC), The Longest Night of the Year is an annual city-wide memorial to commemorate Calgarians who have lost their lives to homelessness.
The CAC is a volunteer committee of individuals who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness in Calgary. They serve as a consultant to Calgary Homeless Foundation and the homeless-serving system of care, providing the voice and perspective of lived experience. Each year, members of the CAC read out the names of individuals who have passed away from homelessness during the year. The CAC collects these names throughout the year during meetings and from various homeless serving agencies in Calgary.
We recognize that despite our best efforts, there may be more individuals who did not have their names submitted. All are encouraged to submit names after the event to ensure each person will be remembered and honoured.
Nigel Kirk, CAC Member:
"In the 1980s, the UN condemned Canada's record on how it treated people experiencing homelessness and declared a state of emergency as 100 people were losing their lives annually in the country. In 2017, we gathered to remember over 137 people, in 2018, 133 people, and in 2020, 196 people – all lost while experiencing homelessness in Calgary, alone. We can't afford to ignore those experiencing homeless anymore and remembering them might be the only dignity they've experienced since becoming homeless. Dignity should not be tied to a set of apartment keys."