Please spend this week choosing kindness

For one week, Niagara-on-the-Lake residents are being asked to be kind. The town’s first Shine Light, Spread Kindness Campaign began Monday, designed to promote a culture of kindness throughout the community.

“Niagara-on-the-Lake has always been like a little piece of paradise for me. It is the most beautiful town, filled with the friendliest people, and is the place I am proud to call home,” says  Lord Mayor Betty Disero. “This kindness campaign provides a beautiful opportunity to remember and celebrate who we are as a community. Even as we go through this difficult time together, let’s continue to shine our light and spread kindness out to the world. Everyone desires kindness and respect.”

“The town is inviting community members to commit to shining light and spreading kindness every day this week, and by doing so, working together to ignite light and joy in our community. One flame provides some light to a dark room but light multiple candles at once and a dark room is transformed to light,” the news release says.

“I always marvel at the way a simple smile or kind word can brighten my day,” says CAO Marnie Cluckie. “Kindness is truly powerful and now, more than ever, kindness really matters. Many people are hurting, frustrated, confused, lonely, anxious, sad, and the list goes on. While we are all in this pandemic together, we are all experiencing the effects of it differently. It is essential that despite the frustrations we’re experiencing, that we choose to be kind to ourselves, and kind to each other. Extending grace is one way to shine your light. Join us this week in spreading kindness and reminding ourselves and one another that we are all human and we are doing our absolute best with the challenging circumstance. May our first response always be a kind one.”

To be part of the community initiative, visit notl.com/kindnesscampaign, and follow along with the town on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more information and daily suggestions on ways to spread kindness.

Kids can participate too. Parents or guardians are invited to print the activity sheet, available on the campaign website, and encourage their children to participate, and even make it a family affair.

The town is also asking the business community, churches, and other people or organizations with digital signs, billboards, or lawn signs, to display kindness messages throughout the week, such as Shine Light, Spread Kindness, Kindness Matters, Be Kind Always, Choose Kindness, or Spread Kindness, as a visual reminder to the community.

Take a picture of your sign and email it to [email protected] or post it to social media, tagging the town and using the hashtags #NOTLShinesLight #NOTLSpreadsKindness