Kindness in the Community
Who’s behind the kindness? The Ottawa Kindness Initiative
Kindness Week Chair: Rabbi Reuven Bulka
As spiritual leader of the congregation Machzikei Hadas and a well-known community leader around Ottawa, Rabbi Bulka is often approached to lend his name, wisdom and support to many community causes. On more than one occasion, he has been asked to participate in activities against anti-Semitism and other initiatives aimed at fighting injustice and intolerance. “All very important causes,” the rabbi thought, “but I’d rather fight FOR something POSITIVE, than be AGAINST something NEGATIVE."
So he set about meeting with other community leaders all around the city and across all sectors, engaging them in this common dialogue: what if we could make Ottawa a kinder community? Would we need to spend so much time on anti-bullying, anti-racism, issues of mistrust, and other nasty stuff?
It would seem the rabbi’s questioning struck a chord in many. Soon a Kind Ottawa Steering Committee was created and planning for Ottawa’s first annual Kindness Week celebration was underway. Since its beginning in 2008, the idea of encouraging the kindness that is and the kindness that can be has attracted many like-minded community members and the list continues to grow.
The essence of Rabbi Bulka’s message is this: We each have the ability to create the community we want. Make a conscious choice to contribute to a kind Ottawa.
The following organizations had representation on the 2010 Kindness Week Steering Committee:
Airmetrics
Best Tools for Schools
Bruyère Continuing Care
Canadian Tulip Festival
Child & Youth Friendly Ottawa (CAYFO)
CTV
Greenspon, Brown and Associates
Il Postino
Knock on Wood Communications + Events
Networking for Results
Office of Yasir Naqvi, MPP
Ottawa Catholic School Board
Ottawa Kiosk
Ottawa Police Service
Rabbi Reuven Bulka
Tourism Ottawa
United Way Ottawa