There are few things more rewarding than hearing stories of our fellow Canadians stepping up for each other and our communities right now.
That’s why RBC launched Random Acts of Canadian – a celebration of the incredible acts of kindness, generosity and ingenuity of individuals across our country.
Explore these amazing stories below, and share your story. Let’s show the world what it means to be Canadian.
Thanks for showing us what it means to be Canadian.
While many industries across the globe have been significantly affected by the COVID-19 crisis, the airline industry has been one of the hardest hit. Despite the impact the pandemic was having on business, Nolinor Aviation found a way to step up
Suzanne’s daughter Rachael, age 5, reads horse books and records the videos to a GoFundMe page and YouTube channel. So far she’s raised $2,285, helping 6 local barns cover feed and healthcare costs for horses. Way to go Rachael! Save the horses
Faced with the urgency of setting up screening clinics for COVID-19 during the pandemic, William and Jonathan Trudel, RBC clients and real estate developers, had the bright and ambitious idea to convert an abandoned garage into a pop-up clinic.
During the pandemic, three RBC partners and clients rolled up their sleeves and pivoted all their company’s efforts into assembling visors to protect healthcare workers from COVID-19. A hugely inspiring example of teamwork.
Shannon and team of The Shack Fitness Studio in Selkirk, MB have shown resilience and creativity so members could remain physically and mentally motivated with free live streamed and outdoor classes.
Geraldine wanted to help others. In the spirit of giving, she made masks and handed them out for free to transit drivers, hospital workers, seniors and everyone in her building. Thanks for making a difference Geraldine!
Everyone Eats is a not-for-profit initiative developed in response to increasing food insecurity, nutrition insecurity and food waste. Their mission is to provide quality, nutritious meals at a price point that everyone can afford.
The pandemic gave me the opportunity to make my 19th blood donation. This time, when the needs are greater than ever to help save lives, I went there with my daughter to answer the call from Héma-Québec.
My grandmother decided to sow masks to keep busy during the lockdown. In addition to providing protective equipment to those who made the request, she donated all the benefits to the Fondation de ma vie. www.lequotidien.com
Loukia Zigoumis wrote and published a children’s book titled “Together, Apart: Life During the Coronavirus, illustrated by best-selling artist Katerina Mertikas. Proceeds are going to CHEO and Kids Help Phone.
Liz’s daughter Grace personalized a painted rock for every resident in the building near their home. The residents were very pleased with their gifts and the visit that along with it. Thanks for spreading the joy Grace!
Paula French has taken her vocal talents to a long-term care home in Hamilton, where she serenades them from outside their windows. The residents have been in lockdown since March. Thanks for brightening the days, Paula!
When the family business shut down due to COVID, Lorraine and her husband decided to help frontline workers. They retooled their business and started donating mask holders – so far over 6,500 donated across Canada!
Sarah Bewley has been picking up groceries from friends and neighbours and delivering them to the local food bank, which has been struggling during the pandemic. She’s off to do another delivery! Thanks Sarah.
Michelle and her co-worker noticed an elderly neighbour’s yard was looking neglected. The pair took it upon themselves to get her yard beautiful again. Thanks for making a difference, Michelle.
To honour frontline hospital workers, Edith Marton made almost 300 blue ribbons (the colour of their scrubs) for each of her co-workers in RBC Halton. “Every day they risk their lives so we stay safe.” #gratitude
Lisa and her friends and family put together and sponsored 50 mugs packed with goodies – from soup packs to instant oatmeal, granola bars and hot chocolate. They then gave the mugs to essential workers in the community.
Design JFL is a family upholstery business in Montreal that began producing washable face masks during the lockdown. They distributed the masks for free to the Filipino community and other organizations in their area.
When Catharine Shreiber went through chemotherapy, the staff of the oncology unit at Royal Columbian Hospital never wavered in their dedication to her care. She is grateful to them for their courage, sacrifice and generosity.
Thanks in part to funding support from the Lions club, Patti and her daughter Eleni made 205 high quality face masks, which they donated to Seniors’ Centres in Sidney. Thanks Patti & Eleni!
Andrea Skakun has crocheted over 700 small hearts and hung them up along the Songhees Walkway by the ocean in Victoria, BC. She started by making them for her own window and then for her family and friends.
Graeme Green and 10 of his co-workers heard there was a desperate need for blood during the pandemic. They rolled up their sleeves and donated blood together. Thank you Graeme!
Manojkumar Choudhary is proud to be serving the community by delivering food to homeless individuals. Food is prepared by RBC chefs and all deliveries are made by bicycle. Thanks Manojkumar!
Kinette Club of Edmonton members completed over 100 Random Acts of Kindness to celebrate 100 Years of Service. Acts included buying lunches, shoveling snow, buying coffee, and leaving inspiring messages for others.
Sandy Pepler made 100 earguards for her daughter’s co-workers, as masks were taking their toll. Thanks Sandy!
Alene Norris is trying to keep her business, Dragonfly Touch, running through COVID. A healing professional, she has been doing Self Care Sundays via Facebook, and other healing through Zoom. Online donations have helped her keep working.
"During confinement, we visited the elderly with our mobile stage, Mixbus, to bring comfort through music. These performances were given in front of various senior residences and ended up giving us as much joy as we gave them!”
Tina’s team along with other colleagues have contributed $1,700 to a Montreal food depot. A donation of $100 is equivalent to $300 worth of food, so this donation is equates to $5,100 dollars of food for the community!
Kathy’s RBC client is doing exceptional work during the pandemic. As a healthcare worker, he is helping his patients after their cardiac surgery and in addition to this, he’s volunteered to help a senior couple deliver meals and groceries.
This Women's Relief Fund serves black, BIPOC, visible minority womxn, and their families who have or are experiencing poverty, economic inequities, gender-based violence, homelessness, and marginalization. www.goodtobegood.ca
NL Eats is a community-driven food bank that focuses on helping individuals affected by the pandemic get access to essential food items. Through the pandemic, they have been bringing the community together and promoting important causes.
Fireweed represents strength, renewal and regrowth. Through the Fireweed Heroes project, which began in Dawson City, Yukon, people are encouraged to bead fireweed flower pins and gift them to frontline workers in their community.
While buying groceries, Andrew witnessed an elderly person struggling to figure out payment while the store wasn’t taking cash. She was getting upset, so Andrew stepped in to pay her grocery bill on her behalf. Such a caring gesture!
Early in the pandemic, education assistant Bonnie Bill was checking in on her students. Before the day was over, she took supplies from her kitchen pantry and delivered to students in need.
Abbey Tran was an extraordinary young girl. Beyond her passion for typical childhood pursuits – hockey, baseball, art, rainbows – Abbey was involved in social justice and loved helping others. When she passed away unexpectedly in 2018, her
Catharine’s friend Brittany has been bringing colour to the Lethbridge community throughout the pandemic. Her colourful cartoon images are brightening up streets, and hearts, throughout the city.
Erika and her fiancé have been 3D printing mask adapters for frontline workers and others in need. So far, they have printed over 500 adapters to be donated locally and across Canada. Thanks Erika!
Henrietta Mulder made a lot of seniors happy – while supporting local businesses – by sending flowers to two local nursing homes. Thanks for brightening someone’s day, Henrietta!
One of Monique’s supper club friends is battling cancer. She mentioned she was craving Monique’s spinach dip appetizer – so Monique made a triple batch and dropped it at her door. They met virtually to enjoy the dip together.
Since March, Sharmi has donated over 10,000 home-stitched masks to agencies such as the City of Toronto, Scarborough Health Network, Michael Garron Hospital, truck drivers, long-term care homes and more. https://t.co/55oFyi3FPH
With camps cancelled this summer, Thompson wants to get arts supplies to kids. He is raising money to donate 1000 sidewalk chalk boxes by summer’s end. His goal is to raise $30,000. Keep it up Thompson!
Jerilynn’s friend Sandy has seen more than 900 plays. When COVID hit she started sewing masks. Her goal: 1 mask for every play. She gives them to members of the arts community and only asks for a donation to an arts group in return.
Niagara Trailers found a way to help front-line health workers isolate from their families while staying close to home. They have donated 41 RV units to healthcare staff in the Niagara region.
Nova Scotia Spirit Company wanted to give back to hospitality staff who had lost work due to COVID-19. They sent out a $50 bill and a voucher for a 6-pack of their vodka-soda product to 1,000 affected workers. Now that’s a big tip!
Steve Kidron knows what it’s like to be hungry. So when community groups in Toronto began closing due to COVID, he felt compelled to help. He created Kitchen 24, which has provided over 30,000 meals to those in need so far.
RBC is supporting client Jane Tran and other local businesses as they find creative ways to provide delicious, healthy food to the community. Finding there is strength in numbers, Tran and others formed 852 Curbside Collective.
Bridgette Lord was working as a front line nurse at an Assessment Centre when she contracted COVID-19. To show their appreciation, RBC and Bryan & Sarah Baeumler conspired to give her an amazing surprise.
Thanks to community donations, The Goods is able to make and deliver healthy, wholesome food to people in need, including residents of L’Arche Toronto. RBC is proud to make a donation to L’Arche to support them through this time.
Musical artist Domanique Grant, in collaboration with Jamii Esplanade, sang messages of hope and optimism to the self-isolating residents of a Toronto neighbourhood. RBC was proud to support Jamii with a $5,000 donation.
In early May, Ausra’s neighbour turned 80, but of course couldn’t celebrate her big day with friends. Ausra’s birthday was the next day, so they toasted each other with a glass of wine from across the hall. Happy birthday ladies!
These RBCers started “Feed it Forward,” a campaign to help feed Toronto’s hungry. Every $1 raised goes to buying a hot meal for someone in need. With a 12X increase in food insecurity, they are making a big difference. Thanks guys!
RBCers are doing their part, delivering groceries to the vulnerable via the Good Neighbourhood Project. One elderly man got groceries a few times and gave Flora a thank you note from his daughter. Together, we’re making a difference!
Photographer and RBC client Max Rosenstein has been capturing images of friends and neighbours in isolation. Both the experience and the photos offer a sense of comfort and connection to people otherwise feeling alone.
Ruth is a friend of Alex’s mother, who has taken it upon herself to paint rocks with inspirational messages. She leaves them in the gardens of her neighbours to brighten up their days. Thanks for a little extra colour Ruth!
With schools closed, farms that normally supply ducks to classrooms are looking for families to foster their ducklings. Some of Sara’s friends have adopted ducks to keep their kids entertained. Great news for kids and ducks alike!
Over the long weekend, Beatrice made and delivered sandwiches to 6 St. Joseph House, a place of hospitality helping homeless individuals in Toronto. Many have no place to go now, due the risks of packed shelters. Thanks for your kindness, Beatrice.
On Friday nights, Michael and his family visit their neighbours on their driveways. His son Max always performs a few songs he’s been working on. The “Friday Night Live” acts are a fun way to stay connected with the community!
Near Carolyn’s home, a family leaves brightly painted rocks outside, which contain messages of hope and joy. Passersby are encouraged to take or leave a rock. It’s a reminder you can bring joy to someone’s day, even from afar!
Nancy has always been a regular blood donor, and during this time the need is especially high. With Canadian Blood Services introducing new safety measures, Nancy has kept on giving and encourages others to do so. Thanks Nancy!
Whether it’s performing Facebook concerts or sewing masks, Jason’s parents have inspired him: “While some fight for toilet paper, these two would give the shirts off their backs for people in need.” Thanks Rob and Marina!
Thank you Lorraine for making hundreds of masks and caps for those in need. Your words say it all: “I will never forget the ICU nurses, doctors, PSW’s, and mums who are desperately trying to get PPE for their at-risk children.”
Patrick is proud of his friend Jordan who is bottling hand sanitizer and offering it to those in need at no cost through www.handsan.ca. With over $31,000 in donations, Jordan has delivered over 7,000 bottles so far.
Sherri’s mother has organized a sewing group to give SW Manitoba frontline staff the protective equipment they need. So far they’ve made 763 caps, 598 headbands, 198 ear savers and 500 bags to store personal items.
Marie was struggling to keep her elderly parents cared for and entertained while isolating at home, a province over. Her friend Susan found puzzles, made a one-hour trip to drop them off, and stayed to visit at a distance.
Jill has always been inspired by her mother’s commitment to her community. When COVID-19 hit, 87-year old Olga made 160 face masks and left them on her porch for anyone who needed them. Well done, Olga!
