Lightness and Kindness

The University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C., Canada, is the first known University in Western Canada to organize an initiative around promoting kindness!

The name chosen for U-Vic's kindness week is 'Lightness and Kindness'. The originating idea was to introduce some fun surrounding a kindness theme so as to create a balance to the sometimes serious mood that can prevail in the 'halls of higher learning'.

The Lightness and Kindness Program

The University of Victoria in Victoria, B.C., Canada, is the first known University in Western Canada to organize an initiative around promoting kindness! 

The name chosen for U-Vic's kindness week is 'Lightness and Kindness'. The originating idea was to introduce some fun surrounding a kindness theme so as to create a balance to the sometimes serious mood that can prevail in the 'halls of higher learning'. 

Sample Media Materials

The Third Annual Lightness and Kindness Week was celebrated from Nov 6 to 13, 2001 at the University of Victoria. The week dovetailed with Random Acts of Kindness Week, Nov 11-17, which culminates in World Kindness Day. The Lightness and Kindness Week event inspired individuals and groups to demonstrate support for a kinder world.

Students, staff and faculty at the University of Victoria were challenged to "lighten up" and perform a selfless act of kindness. In turn, for each act of kindness received, members of the campus community were encouraged to "pay it forward," and perform a kind act for two others.

Click on the thumbnail below for sample promotional materials:

HIGHLIGHTS:

• President of the University, Dr. David Turpin, sent a memo to the University community in support of UVic's Lightness and Kindness Week
• The campus newspaper, The Ring, featured an article promoting the week
• Lightness and Kindness Week was advertised with a large banner in the foyer of the University Centre, colourful posters were distributed throughout the campus
• With Remembrance Day falling during the week, notices were distributed with the posters listing the location of the poppy boxes
• Approximately 500 Lightness and Kindness buttons were distributed to members of the campus community-students, staff and faculty. The organizers were happy that the buttons were very well received by the campus community. Approximately 150 Kindness Kits were also distributed to all general offices on campus. The kits contained Lightness & Kindness buttons, posters, poppy box posters, a general information sheet, bumper sticker slogans, a business card from the Victoria Kind Acts Committee, a Kind Acts greeting card and some Hershey's kisses.
• During the week, there was an event in support of a peaceful resolution to the war on terrorism. The "Ring of Peace" attracted several hundred members of the university community and the community at large. The human chain completely encircled the fountain and quadrangle at the heart of the UVic campus. Lightness and Kindness pins were distributed at this event. This event was covered by Victoria's daily newspaper, The Victoria Times Colonist.

Sample Media Clips

Week promotes random acts of kindness on campus, click here.

Kindness Week stresses small things that really make a difference, click here.

Group seeks to make UVic "brighter, kinder", click here.

For more information, contact Michelle Connolly at (250) 721-8050 or mdc@uvic.ca  Kathy Harris at (250) 721-6163, kharris@uvvm.uvic.ca or Linda Sproule Jones at (250) 721-8496, sproulel@univ.ca