Be Kind Like Maddie for World Kindness Day

Be Like Maddie for World Kindness Day

Almost every time I speak publicly, I’m asked the same question: What was Maddie like?
The first word that always comes to mind is kindness.

November 13th is World Kindness Day, or as I call it, Maddie Day.

Maddie was kindness in motion. While we don’t always hear about how our kids touch others’ lives, after Maddie passed, people reached out with stories about how her kindness had changed them. Those messages were gifts. Moments of light that reminded me of the beauty she brought into the world.

One story came from a student at North Toronto Collegiate. She was new, didn’t know anyone, and was having a rough time adjusting. One day she dropped her books in the middle of a crowded hallway. No one stopped to help, until Maddie did. She helped her pick them up, walked her to class, and made her feel seen. For Maddie, it was a small gesture. For that girl, it changed her outlook. That was Maddie, always looking for the person who needed kindness most.

Another story came from Maddie’s time in the youth psychiatric unit at North York General Hospital. She was admitted twice, once for ten days and again for two months. The floor was cold, clinical, and frightening for most new arrivals. Yet Maddie would introduce herself to every new patient and their parents.
“Hi, I’m Maddie. Would you like me to give you a tour?” she’d say with a smile.

Even in her hardest moments, she focused on making others feel welcome. Her heart didn’t shut down, even when she was hurting. Her empathy never dimmed.

I’ve since learned that many parents who’ve lost children to suicide describe them the same way, deeply kind, selfless, and empathetic. They gave so much of themselves to others, sometimes until they had nothing left. Maddie was one of them. She was a light that shone too brightly, helping others find warmth, even as she struggled to find her own.

That’s the legacy she left behind: kindness.
Not the grand gestures. The quiet ones. The moments no one notices, but everyone feels.

And that’s where The MentorWell comes in.
Because kindness like Maddie’s shouldn’t end with her, it should live on through others. Mentorship is an act of kindness. It’s listening without judgment. It’s showing up for a young person who feels unseen. It’s helping them believe their story isn’t over.

Every mentor in our community carries a bit of that spirit: steady, compassionate, and real. When we match a teen with someone who simply cares, we honour Maddie’s legacy. We remind kids that kindness still exists, and that sometimes, it’s found in the person who shows up to walk beside them.

So on World Kindness Day, I invite you to do one small thing.
Be kind like Maddie.
Smile at a stranger. Check in on someone who’s struggling.
Or take the next step, help a young person who needs guidance and hope.

That’s what kindness looks like when it grows.
That’s The MentorWell. That’s Maddie’s smiling legacy.