Conservative MP Michael Barrett was one of the special speakers during this year's National Kindness Week news conference on Parliament Hill.
How to build mental resilience during National Kindness Week 2026 by helping others.
Imagine you’re having a day where everything feels like a total glitch. Your alarm didn’t go off, you missed the bus, and your coffee tasted like burnt dirt. It’s easy to be a jerk when the world is being a jerk to you.
But here is the thing: kindness is not a personality trait you’re born with or a mood that strikes when things are going great. It is a muscle. And like any muscle, if you only use it when it’s easy, it’s going to atrophy. Real talk? You have to train for the days when you actually want to scream at the world.
National Kindness Week in Canada isn’t just some fluffy idea that popped out of nowhere. It actually became law because people like the late Rabbi Reuven Bulka understood that a society without intentional kindness eventually crumbles. He started this movement in Ottawa nearly two decades ago, and now it’s a national standard.
It’s about more than just being nice. It’s about the grit it takes to see someone else’s struggle when you’re already drowning in your own. That’s where the discipline comes in. You choose to act differently than you feel.
Today Conservative Member of Parliament Michael Barrett credited the late Rabbi Reuven Bulka, widely known as “Canada’s rabbi,” as the primary inspiration for Canada’s National Kindness Week legislation. Barrett recalled following the Rabbi’s efforts for years, particularly his persistent advocacy on talk radio to establish a kindness week in Ottawa, which launched back in 2011.
When Barrett had the “serendipitous” opportunity to sponsor the federal bill in 2021, he urged his colleagues to pass it quickly, as the Rabbi was seriously unwell at the time. Barrett challenged the House to achieve unanimous consent for the bill, emphasizing that honoring the intentions of such a “great man” was a vital moment of unity for Parliament.
Elizabeth May also joined this morning’s tribute, describing Rabbi Bulka as the “epitome of kindness.”
When we talk about National Kindness Week 2026, I want you to think about it as a mental training camp. You aren’t just doing one nice thing and calling it a day. You are practicing the art of not being a consumer of other people’s energy. You are choosing to be a source. This might look like holding the door when you’re in a rush or actually listening when a friend says they’re fine but their eyes say they’re spiraling.
It’s not about the clout or the aesthetic; it’s about the culture we are building together. We live in an era where everyone is trying to optimize their own life, but we forget that humans are biologically wired for connection.
Our program has fond memories of Rabbi Bulka. He spent time with us when we were just starting. And his advice continues to shape the work we do today.
If you want to feel better, stop looking in the mirror for a second and start looking around you. Kindness releases oxytocin, reduces cortisol, and actually makes your own nervous system feel safer. It is the ultimate life hack that nobody wants to admit requires actual effort.
So, this week, don’t wait for a feeling to be kind. Be kind because it is the standard you set for yourself.
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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