Navigating healthy relationships and self-compassion during National Kindness Week 2026.
We need to clear something up right now: kindness is not the same thing as being a doormat. In fact, if you’re being nice just because you’re afraid of conflict, that isn’t kindness—it’s people-pleasing. And people-pleasing is actually a form of dishonesty. You’re not being your real self, which means you’re not giving others the chance to know the real you. As we celebrate National Kindness Week, let’s talk about why the kindest thing you can do is often setting a firm boundary.
National Kindness Week 2026 is about fostering acts of kindness for the benefit of all Canadians. But that includes you. You are a Canadian, too, right? If you are burnt out, resentful, and bitter because you never say no, you aren’t exactly a fountain of kindness for your community. You’re a ticking time bomb. Real kindness requires a foundation of self-respect. You have to be kind to your future self by protecting your peace in the present. That is how you stay sustainable.
Think about Bill S-223. It’s a law that provides a framework for how we celebrate kindness. Similarly, your boundaries provide a framework for how people can love and support you. When you tell a friend that you can’t take their call because you need to sleep, or when you tell a colleague that you won’t be checking emails after 6 PM, you are modeling healthy behavior. You are showing them that it is okay to have needs. That is a gift to everyone around you.
So, this week, while you’re out there volunteering and being a legend in your community, don’t forget to check in with yourself. Kindness is a sustainable resource only if you’re refilling the well. Be honest with people. Say what you mean. Don’t over-promise and under-deliver. Integrity is a form of kindness that we often overlook because it doesn’t always feel warm and fuzzy. But in the long run, it is the most compassionate way to live.
Celebrating National Kindness Week 2026
National Kindness Week in Canada was established through Bill S-223, the Kindness Week Act, a private member’s bill introduced by Senator Jim Munson. The bill received Royal Assent on June 3, 2021, officially designating the third week of February as National Kindness Week across Canada. Inspired by the late Rabbi Reuven Bulka—founder of Kind Canada and a lifelong advocate for compassion and civic responsibility—the first Kindness Week began in Ottawa 18 years earlier. With the passage of this legislation, Canada became the first country in the world to formally recognize a National Kindness Week in law.
National Kindness Week is a coast-to-coast-to-coast celebration of kindness, volunteerism, generosity, mental health awareness, and community leadership. The week encourages individuals, schools, workplaces, nonprofits, and businesses to practice intentional acts of kindness, support charitable initiatives, and strengthen community well-being. It also serves as a national platform to share resources, stories, and tools that promote empathy, inclusion, dignity, and positive social impact.
Each February, Canadians are invited to recognize and amplify everyday acts of compassion—whether through volunteering, supporting local organizations, mentoring youth, helping neighbours, or launching workplace kindness initiatives. By fostering a culture of kindness, we help build stronger communities and reinforce values that define the Canadian spirit.
Join the movement this February and share how your organization, school, or community is celebrating National Kindness Week in Canada. Discover more motivational short stories and community reflections from Art Borups Corners.
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