Special Charity Page - What's Up Calendar

February 2026

February 1-28, 2026

2026 YYC Hot Chocolate Fest

Various locations

A list of over 160 vendors is available here.
Choose a hot chocolate from the list of contestants, head over during their business hours to try it, and then rate it to help decide who will be crowned YYC’s Best Hot Chocolate! There are both traditional and spirited versions of hot chocolate.

$1-$3 from every cup sold supports Calgary Meals on Wheels, thereby directly providing nutritious meals to Calgarians.

The sweetest festival of the year is here! Every February, participating cafés, restaurants, and chocolatiers compete for the coveted titles of YYC’s Best Hot Chocolate, Best Spirited Hot Chocolate, Most Creative Hot Chocolate, Worth the Drive, and special Cup That Runneth Over Award. Calgarians can sip a variety of hot cocoas and determine the blend that roasts them all!A portion from every cup sold supports Calgary Meals on Wheels, thereby directly providing nutritious meals to Calgarians. To build a stronger, caring community, Calgary Meals on Wheels promotes Health and Independence by providing quality, nutritious and affordable meals to people in need of their services.

YYC Hot Chocolate Fest is a delicious and friendly competition to find Calgary’s Best Hot Chocolate. What makes the fest even sweeter? All of the yummy goodness supports a wonderful cause, with a portion of the proceeds from each purchase being donated to support Calgary Meals on Wheels. The YYC Hot Chocolate Fest began in 2011 and has evolved into a city wide festival of hot chocolate. 2025 was an exciting year! Not only was it the biggest YYC Hot Chocolate Fest ever, with more than 102,800 cups of Hot Chocolate sold, but it also raised more than $145,000 dollars for Calgary Meals on Wheels. The fest aims to promote and encourage support of local business and Calgary Meals on Wheels by rallying the city to participate in drinking hot chocolate that builds community.

Throughout the month of February, participating cafes, restaurants, and chocolatiers feature signature hot chocolate drinks created especially for this competition. Customer online ratings decide which business will win the coveted title of Calgary’s Best Hot Chocolate and Calgary’s Best Spirited Hot Chocolate! Also one special business gets the Cup That Runneth Over Award for the location that sold the most Hot Chocolate. The Most Creative Hot Chocolate is for the most mindblowing beverage based on votes. Also, Worth the Drive is the highest rated beverage from a vendor outside of city of Calgary limits. Calgarians are encouraged to check out the participating locations and try the hot chocolates available that appeal to them! With dairy free, gluten free, vegan, and fair trade options listed – there is hot chocolate suited for every palate!

Calgary Meals on Wheels

Since 1965 Calgary Meals on Wheels has been providing healthy, quality, and accessible food improving the food security and well-being of our community.

Access to quality, healthy, and affordable meals is a physical necessity and basic human right. One in ten Calgarians are living below the poverty line, and one in five Alberta households experience food insecurity and struggle to put healthy meals on the table.

Meals on Wheels is in a unique position to address food insecurity. Each day the Production team, which includes Red Seal Chefs, a Registered Dietician, and a Dietary Technician, produces approximately 5,500 meals in their 16,000 square-foot custom commercial kitchen, strictly adhering to food safety best practices to ensure quality and safe meals for clients. Demand for services has increased by 10% each year for the last 15 years, highlighting the need for their service in the community.

They believe everyone deserves to be well-fed there is no waitlist to receive meals.

February 1-28, 2026

Burger It Forward

Various locations

For a list of participating restaurants in Alberta, click here.

For a map of participating restaurants in Alberta, click here.

For a list of all 8 regions, click here.

Enjoy signature Canadian beef burgers at one of these participating restaurants to help Canada's beef farmers and ranchers raise funds for food banks.

Support food banks locally and across the country while you savour Canadian beef burgers this February!

It's time to BURGER IT FORWARD!

In 8 regions across Canada, participating restaurants are grillin' up delicious beef burgers in support of food banks from February 1st to 28th. Beef farmers and ranchers across the country are helping to 'beef up' food banks:

- As part of the national campaign, for every campaign featured burger purchased, Canada Beef will donate the equivalent of 1 meal to Food Banks Canada*.

- Participating restaurants will be encouraged to pay what they can to community food banks.

- Alberta Beef Producers are helping to 'beef up' regional food banks by donating $1000 to EACH, Calgary Food Bank and Edmonton's Food Bank.

*up to a maximum of 20,000 meals (based on Food Banks Canada’s meal metric: $1 = 2 meals).

From February 1 to 28, more than 200 restaurants across the country are participating in the Canada Beef Burger It Forward campaign aimed at relieving the growing food insecurity in Canada. Now in its second year, this national campaign seeks to support local restaurants under inflationary pressures while also raising funds for food banks regionally and nationally.

Each participating restaurant will feature a select burger for the campaign. For every campaign-featured burger purchase, Canada Beef will donate the equivalent of one meal to Food Banks Canada, up to a maximum of 20,000 meals (based on Food Banks Canada’s meal metric: $1 = two meals). As well, provincial cattle associations and/or partners such as Atlantic Beef Products Inc. and Dairy Farmers of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have made commitments to regional food banks with either ground beef donations or cash contributions.

Food banks across the country are experiencing huge surges in demand, Food Banks Canada reported that food bank use rose to the highest levels in Canadian history – up by over 78% since 2019, with one third of food bank clients being children. On a mission to “beef up” the protein portion of food bank offerings, Canada Beef is running a national campaign called Burger It Forward. Throughout February, more than 200 participating restaurants across Canada will feature burgers that when purchased will activate a donation to support food bank efforts across the country from Canada Beef.

In Alberta, more than 70 restaurants and eateries are participating across the province including Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Canmore, Banff, Jasper, Cochrane, Medicine Hat, and more. The Alberta Beef Producers organization is donating $2,500 to both the Calgary Food Bank and Edmonton’s Food Bank.

Burger It Forward is a national celebration of Canadian beef burgers with community heart! The goals of Burger It Forward:

- To help relieve food insecurity regionally and across the country

- To 'beef up' the protein portion of food bank offerings

- To support local/community level restaurants across the region

- To grill up some of the tastiest beef burgers across the province!

About Canada Beef

Canada Beef is a not-for-profit organization that represents the 60,000 beef cattle farming and ranching families across the country, providing promotion, information and advocacy for beef that’s raised right here – Canadian Beef.

February 22, 2026

Hypothermic Half Marathon 2026

McKenzie Meadows Golf Club, 17215 McKenzie Meadows Drive S.E.

Race Start Times:

10:00 a.m. - Half Marathon Run

VIRTUAL Event: February 1–April 1st

Registration Fees: $104.41

Select to participate in a Half Marathon or 10K distance.

Brunch is included with your registration

VIRTUAL Event Registration Fees: $87.17

Select to participate in a Half Marathon, 10K, or 5K distance.

The Hypothermic Half Marathon is a winter half marathon and 10K event held in January and February in beautiful winter cities across Canada.

All Participants Receive A Hypo Half Blanket, Tote Bag, & Finishers Medal.

February 28, 2026

Coldest Night of the Year

Calgary Bowness: Bowness Community Hall - Main Gym, 7904 43 Ave. N.W.

Calgary Inglewood: Wood's Homes Calgary, 1008 14 Street S.E.

Calgary Ogden: The Mustard Seed: Ogden Hub, 2385 74 Ave. S.E.

Calgary Chinook: Oxford House Office, 220-221 62 Ave. S.E.

Calgary Stanley Park: Calgary Dream Centre, 4510 Macleod Trail S.W.

Route Options include:

2 km. walk

5 km. walk

Times:

4:00 p.m.: Meet Check-in

4:45 p.m.: Muster Gather for Opening Remarks

5:00 p.m.: Move Send-off

6:00 p.m.: Munch Light meal served

7:00 p.m.: Mosey Goodbye + see you in 2027!

Registration:

No registration fee: CNOY is 100% free to join! Everyone is welcome to fundraise for their local CNOY charity.

Fundraising walkers who raise $150+ (or $75+ for those under 18) will receive a CNOY toque as a thank you on event day, while supplies last.

The Coldest Night of the Year is a winterrific family-friendly fundraising walk in support of local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness.

Each year in February, tens of thousands of Canadians step outside the warmth and comfort of home to shine a light of welcome and compassion in their communities. Since 2011, the Coldest Night of the Year has raised over $75,000,000 across Canada in 190 Canadian communities – 100% of net proceeds stay local to support CNOY charity partners. Let’s change the tune for people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness... because it’s cold out there.

Programs that serve our homeless will be walking in solidarity with them on Saturday, February 28 by hosting and participating in Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY). Join in and experience a few hours of what it is like to be homeless on the streets of Calgary on a winter evening. By walking at dusk during a cold winter's night you'll feel a hint of the challenge faced by those experiencing homelessness during winter. And, by fundraising, you'll be contributing much-needed money to a charity in your town bringing hope and help to people in your community who need support.

About CUPS Calgary

Since 1989, CUPS’ non-profit Community Health Centre has been supporting Calgarians facing poverty, trauma and homelessness through various programs and services in the areas of health, basic needs and housing, and family and child development.

About Wood's Homes

Calgary Wood’s Homes is a mental health centre. They provide mental health supports to children, young people, individuals and families with mental health needs. They are a non-profit organization and have been serving families since 1914.

Wood’s Homes works with over 20,000 individuals and families annually giving them mental health support at a time when they need it most.

Last year Wood’s Homes helped over 2,200 individuals at the Wood’s Homes Inglewood Opportunity Hub seek food, shelter and safety from the winter elements.

By providing these services under one roof, they can best support struggling young people, who often find it challenging to access mainstream services, travelling to and keeping appointments, and retelling their story to a different person every time. At the Hub, over 400 youth find supportive, barrier-free, easy to access, wrap around support and hope for a brighter future every year.

Their mission is to build good mental health and well-being in our community so everyone can thrive.

About The Mustard Seed Calgary

The Mustard Seed is a Christian non-profit organization that has been caring for individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty since 1984. Operating in six cities across Alberta and British Columbia, The Mustard Seed is a supportive haven where people can have their physical, mental, and spiritual needs met and grow toward greater health and independence.

At The Mustard Seed, they recognize that the root causes of poverty and homelessness are complex and diverse, so continue to grow and evolve with the needs of those served.

Coldest Night of the Year is an incredibly valuable way for the community of Calgary to partner with The Mustard Seed and experience a small part of what our guests endure.

About Oxford House

In Oxford House's Transitional homes, peer support is the key to success. Peer-supported recovery harnesses the strength of communal support and shared experiences to aid residents on their journey to recovery. This is accomplished through shared understanding and empathy, hope and inspiration, guidance and role modeling, accountability and support, community and belonging, and long-term maintenance.

Through the provision of a home and support offered by experienced staff, Oxford residents are empowered to take responsibility for their own recovery and make valuable contributions in their community.

Recovery without relapse is possible in an Oxford home. Each home forms its own family and is situated in a suburban neighbourhood away from danger areas.

About Calgary Dream Centre

The Calgary Dream Centre stands as a beacon of hope in the city of Calgary, providing life-changing addiction recovery programs and housing solutions that transform lives. For over 20 years, they've helped thousands of men and women journey from homelessness and addiction to stability and purpose through comprehensive recovery programs, transitional housing, and essential support services.

March 2026

March 15, 2026

The Original St. Patrick's Day Road Race 2026

Central Memorial High School, 5111 21 Street S.W.

9:00 a.m. 10 km. start

9:20 a.m. 5 km. start

Registration: $71.86

A 10 KM Run or 5 KM Run/Walk

With your race entry, the following items are included:

- Long-sleeve athletic shirt

- Hot meal – Meat or Vegetarian Pizza Panini

- Finisher medal (if you choose one during the registration)

- Chance to Win Your Weight in Beer

Like the leaves of an Irish Shamrock – Running, Pizza, and Beer – with a bit of luck on your side, make this race one to remember.

Please join in on March 15, St. Patrick's Day for the 39th annual St. Patrick's Day Road Race. Join in for the best early season race in Calgary!

Join over 1000 of your best running friends for Calgary's first big race of the year! The Calgary Roadrunners started this race 39 years ago and it quickly became a favourite among local runners, as it gave them an opportunity to test their post-winter fitness level. Supporting the Calgary Roadrunners and and Diabetes Canada, the race course starts and finishes at Central Memorial High School in SW Calgary and loops through the communities of North Glenmore and Lakeview.

Stay for the awards and enjoy a post race meal, and your chance to win your weight in Village Beer!

In support of Diabetes Canada and the Calgary Road Runners.

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