Green Party leader Elizabeth May spoke at this year's National Kindness Week news conference.
Redefining political discourse and human connection for National Kindness Week 2026.
We are so used to the performative anger of the internet. We see politicians shouting across the floor during Question Period, and we see comment sections bleeding red with arguments that never actually go anywhere.
It’s exhausting.
Green Party leader Elizabeth May hit the nail on the head this morning when she said that the public often only sees the ‘worst’ of them—the ‘pure stupidity’ and meanness that makes for a good twenty-second clip on the news. But this week, something felt different. Seeing her talk about her genuine friendships with MPs Michael Barrett and Don Davies felt like a glitch in the simulation, but a good one.
She described Michael as a dear friend, despite their political differences. That shouldn’t be a radical statement, yet in 2026, it feels like one. We’ve been conditioned to believe that if you don’t agree with someone’s every move, you have to keep them at arm’s length. The party opposite is your enemy.
But the reality of Parliament—and the reality of life—is that we are all just neighbours and friends trying to figure it out. When Elizabeth May talked about how ‘stricken’ everyone was for Bob Zimmer and the people of Tumbler Ridge, you could tell it wasn’t a script. It was real grief for a colleague and a community.
Kindness is the currency that actually matters when the cameras are off. It’s the ability to see the human being behind the title or the political party. Don Davies mentioned that the House of Commons is rarely a place where empathy is the ‘currency of debate,’ and he challenged himself and others to change that.
That’s a challenge for us, too.
How often do we lead with kindness in our own digital and real-world spaces? How often do we allow ourselves to be seen without the armour of our opinions?
Maybe the goal of this week is to realize that we have so much more in common than we’re led to believe. If people who are literally paid to disagree can find common ground and genuine affection, then surely we can do the same in our own circles.
It starts with dropping the need to be ‘right’ all the time and replacing it with the desire to be kind.
It’s about building a brand of ‘Canada strong and kind’ that isn’t just a slogan, but a way of actually treating the person often standing right in front of you.
National Kindness Week 2026
National Kindness Week is celebrated across Canada each year during the third week of February, following the passage of Bill S-223, the Kindness Week Act. Championed by Senator Jim Munson and inspired by the late Rabbi Reuven Bulka, founder of Kind Canada, this legislation officially made Canada the first country in the world to dedicate a week to promoting kindness, compassion, empathy, and community service.
This annual celebration encourages Canadians from Manitoba, Ontario, and coast to coast to participate in acts of kindness, volunteer in their communities, support charitable initiatives, and strengthen social connections. National Kindness Week also provides an opportunity for schools, workplaces, nonprofits, and local organizations to share stories, ideas, and resources that foster empathy, respect, inclusion, and positive social impact.
From simple gestures, like checking in on a neighbor or helping a senior, to larger community projects, National Kindness Week reminds us that every act of compassion matters. By celebrating kindness in daily life, in schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods, Canadians can help build a culture of generosity, unity, and hope across the country.
Find more motivational short stories, community projects, and ideas for spreading kindness at Art Borups Corners.
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