Campaign by 
Story
🌙 Light the Night: Y Ride for Youth
When a ride becomes a signal of hope
As the sun begins to set over Centretown, hundreds of bike lights will flicker on and move together along the Rideau Canal.
Not to race.
Not to compete.
But to show up — visibly — for youth who need our community most.
Light the Night: Y Ride for Youth is a community-powered sunset ride in support of youth facing homelessness, instability, and barriers to belonging.
Hosted by the YMCA of the National Capital Region, Light the Night is free, family-friendly, and open to all ages and abilities. Everyone is welcome — whether you ride, donate, or cheer from the sidelines.
👉 Register to ride or donate today
🚲 Why We Ride
For many young people, the hardest part of homelessness isn’t just the lack of housing — it’s the feeling of being unseen.
At the YMCA, youth experiencing homelessness find more than a bed. They find stability. Support. A caring adult who believes in them. A place to begin again.
“Sometimes all it takes is knowing someone is in your corner.”— YMCA Youth Housing participant
✨ A Ride with Purpose
Light the Night is designed to be welcoming and joyful — a shared moment of connection in the heart of our city.
As bike lights glow along the canal, they send a simple but powerful message to youth:
You are seen. You matter. You belong here.
“This ride is about showing youth they’re not alone — and that their community is riding with them.”
💛 How You Can Be Part of It
There are many ways to take part in Light the Night:
🚲 Ride with us along the canal
💛 Donate to support YMCA youth programs
📣 Fundraise and invite your network to ride with purpose
✨ Share the story and help light up the city
Together, we can turn one evening into lasting impact.
Together, we ride. Together, we shine.
👉 Join Light the Night: Y Ride for Youth