Samuel Smith struggled for several years with addiction before dying last September from an accidental overdose while receiving support at Shelterlink Youth Services in Stratford.
Samuel Smith was many things.
Advertisement 2
Article content
A remarkable lacrosse player. A great guitar player. A foodie. Someone with a fierce sense of humor.
Article content
The 23-year-old also struggled for several years with addiction before dying last September from an accidental overdose while receiving support at Shelterlink Youth Services in Stratford.
“Samuel was more than a name,” his mother, Jana Bayer-Smith, told the crowd last Saturday at Upper Queen’s Park before the Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk. “He was a vibrant soul with dreams. . . and a journey that unfortunately ended too soon.”
Bayer-Smith walked in memory of her son at the annual event, which raised $204,138 for Shelterlink and United Way’s Stratford Connection Centre. The Sweet Samuels led all teams with $18,365 raised and helped push this year’s total to $50,000 more than in 2023.
Advertisement 3
Article content
“It showed a level of support for myself and Shelterlink, in particular, and far exceeded what my original goals were,” Bayer-Smith said.
Samuel was by his mom’s side at last year’s Coldest Night walk in Goderich, which raised money for the Huron Homeless Initiative. He was there in spirit this time.
“One of the challenges I had when Samuel passed away was our family was in so much grievance, and I really wanted the opportunity to thank the staff and the youth there for giving Samuel friendship and compassion in those few weeks he was there,” Bayer -Smith said. “Unfortunately, they came into my life under not great circumstances.”
Bayer-Smith, in her time as a high school principal, became familiar with Shelterlink, which provides shelter, advocacy services and basic needs to Perth County youth ages 16-24 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Addiction had again taken control of Samuel after two years of sobriety, and he required the kind of support Shelterlink provided, his mom said.
Advertisement 4
Article content
Most of all, she wanted to humanize Samuel and those facing similar struggles.
“The idea of someone staying at Shelterlink comes with preconceived notions and assumptions of who those folks might be,” she said. “My son came from a stable family but still needed support because every other system prior to Shelterlink failed him and us. It’s really important to put a face and some stories to what it means to have to be in those spaces.”
There were 460 participants in this year’s walk, which put Stratford in the top four in the country.
“The community really wrapped around us, the youth and the families we support,” Shelterlink executive director Cate Trudeau said. “The work we do is important, and we know that one caring individual can make all the difference in a young person’s life. Coldest Night of the Year helps ensure services are available for people when they need them most.”
Advertisement 5
Article content
United Way’s Stratford Connection Center provides a safe place for vulnerable people, including access to basic needs, social ties and connections with allies and services.
“The spirit of Stratford was strong on Saturday night,” said Sonya Heyen, United Way’s manager of resource development and communications. “It was beautiful to see 400-plus people embracing compassion and concern, gathering to support people facing difficult challenges including hurt, hunger and homelessness. Every walker, sponsor, donor and volunteer should be proud of their part.”
Donations are still being accepted until March 31 at cnoy.org.
Article content