Share the Warmth Days Bring Communities Together Across Saskatchewan
At the end of January, on a cold and windy winter day, SaskEnergy kicked off this year’s Share the Warmth Days in Regina. The chilly weather made it the perfect time to offer warm drinks, essential winter items, and friendly smiles to people passing by.
“Being able to offer a warm cup of coffee, along with essential items, while wishing someone a great day was incredibly powerful,” says Zahra Hosseinmardi, a SaskEnergy employee who volunteered at the Regina event.
This is the second year of Share the Warmth Days, an initiative that highlights the important work of local organizations that support people in need during the winter months. The events are part SaskEnergy’s Share the Warmth grant program, which has contributed more than $630,000 to over 650 community projects since 2013. This year alone, SaskEnergy invested $100,000 to support 115 organizations in 104 communities.
The first event took place on January 28 at the Cornwall Centre in Regina, in partnership with Eagle Heart Centre. The organization offers trauma-aware, culturally-informed programs for individuals and families.
“Starting Share the Warmth Days in Regina set the tone for everything that followed,” says Shanessa Toniello with SaskEnergy’s Community Engagement team. “You could feel the impact right away through the smiles, conversations and sense of community.”
Eagle Heart Centre used its Share the Warmth grant to support its Holiday Hampers of Hope program, which provides food, gifts and essential items to more than 100 adults living with cognitive impairments and their families.
Throughout the day, hundreds of people in need visited SaskEnergy’s booth for coffee, essential items, and a chance to enter a raffle. Many community members also stopped by the Eagle Heart Centre table to learn more or make a donation.
“My biggest takeaway from the day was the pride I felt in working for a company that genuinely cares about its community,” Zahra says.
The next Share the Warmth Day took place in North Battleford on February 10 with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Battlefords Branch. SaskEnergy volunteers helped serve lunch, hand out coffee and share essential items with community members.
“It was a good reminder of how far a simple handshake and saying good morning can go,” says SaskEnergy employee volunteer Matthew Bourassa.
CMHA Battlefords used its Share the Warmth grant to provide warm meals to its members.
“Support from SaskEnergy helps us provide meaningful connection for people accessing our services,” says Executive Director Michele Winterholt.
In Moose Jaw on February 17, SaskEnergy partnered with Moose Jaw Family Services (MJFS) to host a fun, high energy afternoon focused on families. Students from the A.E. Peacock Collegiate basketball teams worked with MJFS participants, helping kids build confidence, practice teamwork and enjoy time together.
“Watching everyone come together to create a fun experience for kids who may not otherwise have opportunities like this was very meaningful,” says SaskEnergy employee volunteer Autumn Zimmer.
MJFS used its Share the Warmth grant to purchase 60 chickens for Christmas hampers, ensuring families had the food they needed during the holidays.
The final Share the Warmth Day took place in Tisdale, where the Tisdale and Area Early Years Family Resource Centre hosted a community lunch during the February school break. The Centre provides year-round support and programming for families with young children, helping build connection and confidence within the community.
This year, rising requests for groceries made Share the Warmth support especially important.
“Receiving support from SaskEnergy allows us to add nutritious essentials like fresh produce and meat selections to supplement the items donated by our community,” says Leora Bergen, Program Coordinator with the Tisdale and Area Early Years Family Resource Centre.
Whether it was sharing a warm meal, learning new skills, or offering a moment of kindness, every Share the Warmth Day showed what the program is truly about: meeting people where they are and offering care when it’s needed most.
