In January 2020, a stray, distressed cat was spotted trying to warm up on a sewer grate in west Edmonton during -28° weather. The rescue took two days, but the cat was finally caught and taken to the Edmonton Animal Care and Control Centre.  It was cared for and found to be lost.  After being on the street for three months, it was reunited with its owner.

Our group formed after this incident, and a Facebook page was created to organize a response to similar incidents. We wanted to reduce the time it takes to respond to distressed animals and, where possible, prevent cats and other domestic animals from being placed in precarious, life-threatening situations.

We are proud to say that since our inception to July 2026, we have helped over 2,265 cats, provided veterinary care to all, and helped over 1,866 find a furever home. We estimate that more than 95% of these cats were abandoned because they lacked identification and were not spayed or neutered.

Our members have been involved in searches/rescues of not only cats but also dogs, birds and rabbits.

Our members on Facebook have grown to over 24,100,  with a very active core of dedicated and wonderful volunteers who have been involved in building feral cat houses for the winter, taking in distressed animals, raising money and getting them veterinary care, attempting to find their owners and reuniting them, and for some finding forever homes since they were abandoned or never had an owner.

In July 2024, we became incorporated as the Edmonton Cold Weather Animal Rescue Society, an Alberta not-for-profit society, with a board of directors and membership. All of our Facebook group members are honorary members of the Society.

As of January 1, 2026, ECWAR is registered as a charitable organization with the CRA.  Our charity number is 780249827 RR 0001.