Today, Canada kicked off its third annual National Kindness Week news conference hosted by Global Dignity Canada. The early morning event, held virtually, aimed to celebrate the transformative power of kindness and to highlight the significance of this national initiative.

National Kindness Week, initiated in memory of the late Rabbi Dr. Reuven Bulka, established through the “Kindness Week Act” (Bill S-223), is a testament to Canada’s commitment to fostering a culture of kindness, volunteerism, and charitable giving. This legislative effort, spearheaded by former Senator Jim Munson, received Royal Assent on June 3, 2021.

Global Dignity Canada Vice-Chair Olivia Bechthold emphasized that kindness lies at the heart of dignity, echoing the mission of Global Dignity Canada, a non-profit organization empowering young people worldwide. This was reinforced by Anishinabe Leader from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, Meagan Commonda and youth leader, Odeshkun Thusky, also from Kitigan Zibi, who both emphasized the need to be kind to oneself, others and the planet.

“We should continue to honour and mentor our youth, professionally and personally,” said Commonda from Kitigan Zibi Anishnabeg, who shared the impacts of kindness on her journey to recovery as a breast cancer survivor. “I always say that we cannot pour from an empty cup, and this especially true when practicing kindness. I now try to help and support others who are battling the same disease that I’ve survived.”

Global Dignity Canada Vice-Chair Olivia Bechthold emphasized that kindness lies at the heart of dignity, echoing the mission of Global Dignity Canada, a non-profit organization empowering young people worldwide. Joined by speakers such as Anishinabe youth Odeshkun Thusky, Meagan Commonda, Jamie Bell and Members of Parliament Emmanuella Lambropoulos and Michael Barrett, the event highlighted the importance of inclusivity and collaboration in promoting kindness.

Giovanna Mingarelli, national chair for Global Dignity Canada, underscored the role of partnerships and initiatives such as UNESCO’s #KindnessMatters and the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation in driving kindness campaigns. She urged Canadians to participate in the #UniteKindness campaign, emphasizing the potential to create a kinder world through collective action.

Members of Parliament Emmanuella Lambropoulos and Michael Barrett, co-sponsors of the Kindness Week Act legislation, shared their perspectives on the importance of kindness in policy-making and community development, echoing the sentiment that kindness should be at the forefront of societal progress.

“When we experience kindness, and the more that we experience kindness, the happier we become and and the more likely we are to pass that on to others,” said Liberal Member of Parliament for St-Laurent Emmanuella Lambropoulos. A former arts educator before entering politics, she told the audience “You never know who needs it.”

“It was a wonderful way to have the 338 members of Parliament, as an act of kindness initiate Kindness Week,” said Conservative Member of Parliament for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes Michael Barrett. “As the saying goes, ‘None of us is better than all of us’ and that couldn’t be more true here. We have opportunities at different times in our lives to give back to our communities.” 

The event also included Jamie Bell, Manitoba Chair for Global Dignity Canada, who emphasized the evolution of National Kindness Week and its impact on communities, particularly through arts-oriented projects and youth engagement.

“Through our programming, we’ve witnessed firsthand how kindness, empathy, and collaboration can empower individuals and communities to overcome challenges and thrive. We’re seeing the next generation of young leaders stepping up,” Bell said. “One of the most interesting changes I’ve seen over these last three years is that foundational concepts like kindness and dignity are not just “outcomes or impacts.” We’re starting to see those values woven directly into our planning processes, right from the beginning. We didn’t do that before. But we do now.”

Today’s session and special guest speakers reiterated the call for collaboration and commitment to kindness, urging Canadians to seize opportunities to create a more compassionate and inclusive society.

“It really does make a difference in somebody’s day and that can have a ripple effect,” said MP Lambropoulos. “And maybe inspire them to make a difference in somebody else’s day.”

The press conference concluded with a Q&A session, where participants explored avenues for linking farmers and arts entrepreneurs with youth, as well as strategies for cultivating the next generation of kindness champions in schools and communities.

As National Kindness Week unfolds, Canadians from coast, to coast, to coast are encouraged to embrace kindness as a guiding principle, recognizing its potential to bring about positive change in their communities and beyond. We thank all of today’s special guests, who have all supported Kindness Week for many years now, for coming together once again to mark the occasion. Thank you to CBC Radio and CPAC for also coming and streaming the event.

Established in 2005, by HRH Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant and Professor Pekka Himanen, the mission of Global Dignity is to implement the universal right of every human being to lead a dignified life. We all have the ability to increase the dignity of others and thus we increase our own dignity. The dignity approach works on all levels: it works for children and for adults, it works for men and for women, and it works on the micro and macro level. Global Dignity is an autonomous non-profit, non-criticism and non-partisan initiative. We wish to be inspiration-based: commending and encouraging best practice and dignity-centered leadership.

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We’re really excited to be convening a session for the Arctic Congress 2024 in Bodø, Norway. Our upcoming session with Niriqatiginnga and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design is titled “Niriqatiginnga: Fostering Food Security and Innovation for Northern Supply Chains.”

Join them in Bodø, Norway 29 May – June 3 for Arctic Congress 2024.