The Porch Light Mental Wellness Society holds its third Night Out in November gala on November 21, 2026, at the Cow Palace on the Olds Regional Exhibition grounds. Money raised that night stays with rural mental health support in Alberta.
The society’s event page lists a cocktail hour from 4 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m., followed by a panel speaker, live and silent auctions and a dance. Dress is cowboy black tie. The organizers compare it to the outfits worn at a rodeo back-number ceremony, and they picked the date for a reason: harvest and fall work are done, so people who farm and ranch can finally take a night off.
One detail is still open. The ticket page on Zeffy lists the evening as 5 p.m. to midnight, an hour later than the society’s own page. Guests who want the full cocktail hour should confirm the start time with the organizers.
Key facts
- The Porch Light Mental Wellness Society’s third gala takes place on November 21, 2026, at the Olds Regional Exhibition Cow Palace, 5116 54 Street, Olds, according to the society’s event page.
- Individual gala tickets cost $85 and a full table of eight costs $680 on the Porch Light Society’s Zeffy ticketing page.
- The Porch Light Society reports that its first gala, held November 2, 2024, at Olds College, raised $20,000 for AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network.
- The Porch Light Society reports that its second gala raised $15,000 for the Do More Agriculture Foundation and $10,000 for AgKnow.
- Proceeds from the 2026 gala go to the Porch Light Rural Resilience Fund, which the society’s event page says is connected with the National Farmer Mental Health Alliance.
This year the money builds a fund of the society’s own
The first two galas handed their proceeds to groups already doing the work. AgKnow used the 2024 money to keep its free counselling sessions running for people in agriculture, and the 2025 gala split its total between AgKnow and the Do More Agriculture Foundation. Added together, the society’s reported totals come to $45,000 over two nights. That sum is Alberta Tribune’s arithmetic from the society’s published figures.
The 2026 gala changes the destination. Proceeds go to the Porch Light Rural Resilience Fund, which the society describes as ongoing support for mental health in rural communities.
The society started with a narrower goal. It set out to build a directory that people in agriculture, ranching and rodeo could use to find mental health help, because plenty of programs already exist and too few farm families know how to reach them. Its own description names the problem plainly: a culture that tells producers to keep their heads down and cowboy up. Recent pressure on Alberta producers runs from the wind-down of the FarmCash advance program to a cattle herd that grew while slaughter fell, and the province’s $60 million farm technology fund still leaves repair questions with producers.
Tickets cost $85 and a table of eight runs $680
Tickets include event access, dinner, the speaker program and both auctions. The Zeffy page says 100% of each purchase goes to the society’s mission. Buyers can also add a donation at checkout.
Bring cash. The society’s page says the evening includes a buy-in event, and every drink at the bar costs $6. The organizers accept credit, debit, cash, e-transfer and cheque, and businesses can sign on as Porch Light Partners to be recognized during the gala.
A provincial buckle goes to someone making a difference
Porch Light is also taking nominations for a person who is making a real difference in mental health in rural communities. The society says no act is too small to count. Whoever is selected will be honoured at the 2026 gala and presented with an Alberta Provincial Buckle. The nomination form sits on the society’s home page, and the society has not posted a deadline.
Help is available before the gala and after it
The gala funds support over the long run. Anyone in crisis can call or text 988, or call 911. The Alberta Health Services Mental Health Help Line, at 1-877-303-2642, answers around the clock. The National Farmer Wellness Network crisis line, at 1-866-327-6701, is free and staffed by counsellors trained in agriculture.
Gala tickets are sold through the society’s Zeffy page until the tables fill. Questions about seating, sponsorship or the buckle go to [email protected].
