All are Welcome to Join the Vigil on Thursday, January 29th, at 5:45 pm.
A News Release from Niagara Advocates With Lived/Living Experience (NALE)
Posted January 23rd, 2026 on Niagara At Large
THOROLD, ON – The Niagara Advocates With Lived/Living Experience (NALE) will hold a “Vigil For Those We’ve Lost To The Cold” outside Niagara Regional Headquarters on Thursday, January 29, at 5:45 pm.
There are two reasons for the date of the vigil. January 26th will be the first anniversary of Bob Allen dying from exposure and hypothermia on James Street in downtown St. Catharines after being turned away from a shelter.
Also, at its Jan. 29th meeting beginning at 6:30 pm, Niagara Regional Council will be considering a motion by Councillor Haley Bateman to reduce the temperature threshold for opening up emergency shelters from -15C (current) to 0C (proposed). When Bob died it was only -8C.
“My brother didn’t need to die, there needs to be a backup plan for people turned away from shelters,” said Elizabeth Allen, sister of Bob Allen. Elizabeth will be speaking at the vigil and also plans to delegate to regional council on Jan. 29 to speak to regional councillors about her support for Bateman’s motion.
“People have died because of the Niagara Region’s policy failures. People turned away from shelters in deadly cold weather have no option, they don’t just disappear,” said Emily Spanton, co-chair of NALE and a certified addictions counselor.
“Niagara Region’s government needs to be accountable for the consequences of its decisions. Inadequate supports for our neighbors and friends in the region who are experiencing homelessness and at risk of injury or death from cold weather are deadly policy decisions. These deaths should not happen. We need to match policies to actual needs of marginalized community members” said Dr. Scott Neufeld, an Assistant Professor of Community Psychology at Brock University and co-chair of NALE.
About NALE – The Niagara Advocates With Lived/Living Experience (NALE) started in 2023 with a group of advocates, allies, and people with lived/living experience from several different Niagara organizations. NALE’s vision is to uphold the safety, dignity, respect, and rights of individuals with personal experience of substance use in the Niagara Region, as well as those experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges.
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