On September 22, 2025, City Council declared the third week of February in each year as Kindness Week in accordance with the Kindness Week Act passed by the federal government in 2021.
The Kindness Week Act describes and encourages the following:
- Kindness encourages values such as empathy, respect, gratitude and compassion;
- Kind acts lead to the improved health and well-being of Canadians;
- Designating and celebrating a Kindness Week throughout Canada will encourage acts of kindness, volunteerism and charitable giving to the benefit of all Canadians;
- Kindness Week will connect individuals and organizations to share resources, information and tools to foster more acts of kindness;
- Kindness Week might encourage a culture of kindness in Canada throughout the year;
Kindness Week is already celebrated in a number of Canadian cities. The declaration of Kindness Week in Sault Ste. Marie is timely. Peter Vaudry has just published a book Kindness is Sault Ste. Marie, which demonstrates brilliantly that kindness is part of the spirit and soul of Sault Ste. Marie and its people. The book is a catalyst to actively celebrate kindness in Sault Ste. Marie during the third week of February in each year and further encourage a culture of kindness throughout the year.