Longest Night of the Year
Longest Night of the Year is an annual city-wide memorial service to honour those who have lost their lives while experiencing homelessness. The names of individuals who have passed away throughout the year are read aloud to commemorate their memory.
Longest Night of the Year provides the community an opportunity to commemorate those who have passed on but are not forgotten.
“This memorial is about sharing our humanity, about grieving, compassion, and honoring the lives of those who mattered deeply to us. The list of names that are read speaks to the urgency to address the needs of those experiencing homelessness. One name is one too many. We continue to strive to know a future in our community where homelessness doesn’t exist. It must be our collective resolve to ensure all Calgarians have access to a home with supports for their individual needs and to move them to a place of wellness and stability.”
– Patricia Jones, President & CEO of Calgary Homeless Foundation
2024 Longest Night of the Year
Date: December 21, 2024
Time: 2:30- 4:30 p.m.
3:00 p.m. service
Location: Platform Calgary
407 9 Ave. SE Calgary, AB
(across from the Central Library)
Open to all, the service features live music, a reading of names and a moment of silence to commemorate those who have passed on but are not forgotten. Light snacks and beverages will be provided, and an optional visit to the Homeless Memorial will commence after the service for those who wish to pay their respects.
Longest Night of the Year
Live streaming here at 3 p.m.
Saturday, December 21, 2024
Homeless Memorial
The memorial is a permanent place for Calgarians to remember loved ones who’ve lost their lives while experiencing homelessness. Located at 107 13 Ave SE.
Installed in October of 2021, it was designed and constructed by artists who have lived or living experiences of homelessness or poverty. It is the culmination of a three-year collaboration between the Client Action Committee, Calgary Homeless Foundation, University of Calgary, and the City of Calgary, with the support of Canadian Artists Against Poverty, and homeless-serving agencies in the city.
The memorial features a bench without barriers to lay down on, two pillars embedded with phone chargers and painted with murals, and a bronze backpack statue etched with:
“In this space, we remember and honour our neighbours, family, and friends—known and unknown—who have lived and died because of the traumas of homelessness. In past, present, and future—may they rest in power.
Their Names
Aimee
Alfred
Allan
Andrzej
Antonio
Benjamin
Bernard
Bob
Brad
Brock
Bryant
Calvin
Cameron
Carl
Chad
Charitie
Christ
Christopher
Corwin
Curtis
Daniel
Daryl
David
Davis
Delores
Devon
Diane
Dominique
Don
Donald
Donovan ‘Donny’
Dragan
Dugan
Dustin
Esther
Evan
Francis
Francois
Franklin
Fred
Frederick
Gary
Georgina
Gerald
Gerard
Gordon
Gulain
Harry
Helen
Jacqueline
Janelle
Janna
Jasmine
Jason
Jaz
Jean
Jeff
Jelisa
Jerry
Jesse
Joanna
Jocelyn
Joedy
John
Jonathan
Justin
K.K. (Keisha)
Kagiso
Karen
Kashtin
Keafer
Kelly
Kelvin
Khalil
Kyle
Lancy
Leigh
Linda
Lino
Lorenzo
Lukasz
Malcolm
Mark
Marlene
Martin
Matthew
Maureen
Michael
Mike
Miranda
Monica
Morley
Nathaniel
Nissa
Osman
Patrick
Paulie
Paulos
Petra
Rajveer ‘Raj’
Raylene
Raymond
Reid
Remus
Rhoda
Riajuddin
Richard
Robert
Rodney
Rossano
Rudy
Sarah
Scott
Sharla
Stephen
Terrell
Timothy
Tony
Trent
Trevor
Wesley
William
Zahoor
