HEADLINES | Micro-Bravery and Dandelion Jelly: Canada’s Quiet Kindness

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These headlines point us back to what really matters. Ordinary

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neighbors showing extraordinary care. I'm Johan

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Heinrichs and this is Neighbourly Headlines. Real stories of

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kindness, community and faith in action across Canada.

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Let's take a look at what's been happening close to home.

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Hey, friends. This is Neighborly Headlines, where compassion is

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the local news. I'm your host today, Johan Heinrichs.

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Today we're headed from the wind whipped coast of Labrador to the

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quiet streets of Cambridge, Ontario. Then out into the

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wide open social spaces of Canada where apparently

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talking to strangers is not only allowed, but it's

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good for you. So grab a coffee and maybe a jar of that

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dandelion jelly we're about to talk about. Let's get right into

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it.

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Labrador's welcome mats. Dandelion jelly and

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belonging. On the southern edge of Labrador,

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there's a group of folks who figured out that hospitality can double as an

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economic development strategy. They call it the Welcoming Communities

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Project, but it can just as easily be called Come for the socks

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and Stay for the love. Since 2022

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volunteers have been delivering homemade welcome kits to anyone new in the

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Labrador straits. That amounts to about 115 so

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far. Inside these kits are hand knit socks, local

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treats, travel tips and even a coupon for a free haircut.

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It's kind of a package that says you belong here without

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needing a slogan. The kit started as a response to a shrinking

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population, but they've become a reminder that people don't just

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move for jobs, they move for community. One newcomer

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from the Philippines said the gift basket helped him feel instantly at

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home. And in true Labrador fashion, the kindness didn't

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stop there. He now returns the favor by cooking food for his

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Canadian neighbors. It's a beautiful reminder that small

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gestures grow roots even in rocky soil

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like Labrador. Our next story,

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Harold, the neighbor who fixes everything except his

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halo. In Cambridge, Ontario, one man has officially

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broken the don't get involved rule in modern Siberia.

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And everyone's grateful for it. His name is Harold and he's the kind of

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neighbor who turns, hey, can you look at this? Into a week long

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renovation project. When Bill and Linden next door needed their

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kitchen redone, Harold didn't just lend him his drill, he

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practically became their general contractor, finding tradespeople

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ripping out cabinets, installing trim and painting

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the whole place himself. And then he spotted a puddle in their yard and

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built them an eavesdrop extension for good measure. Harold's motto

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is simple. If someone needs a hand, I'll give them a hand.

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So when a local paper, Cambridge Today, showed up to Surprise him with a random

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act of kindness award, plus a few gift cards and sweet

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treats. He was speechless. Which apparently is the only

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home improvement project he hasn't managed to finish. Hey, if every

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neighborhood had a Herald, there'd be fewer fences and more

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shared lawns. This takes us into our final story of the day.

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Talk to strangers. It's the doctor's orders.

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If your mom ever told you, don't talk to strangers, she probably

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meant well. But according to researchers and one friendly

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professor who started her career waving at a hot dog Toronto vendor,

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that advice might be hurting our social health. Studies show that

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little interactions, chatting with the barista, greeting the dog

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walker, saying hi to the neighbor whose name you keep forgetting

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may actually make us happier and less lonely. Doing

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it even lowers stress and strengthens resilience. Who

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knew that your morning how's it going? Could count as cardio for the

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soul? A Canadian organization called GenWell is even

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running a national Talk to a Stranger week. And their goal?

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To help people practice what one expert calls micro

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bravery. Tiny acts of connection that can change your

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day, maybe even your life. One man from Alberta tried it as

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a personal challenge, speaking to a new person every day.

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He says it's pulled him out of depression and. And even led to new

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friendships and love. So I don't know about you, but I feel challenged by

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this whole idea of micro bravery, and I know that I can use it myself.

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So go ahead, say hi to the stranger at the grocery store. Worst

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case scenario, you might brighten their day. Best case?

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Best case, you might end up sharing your story here on

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Neighborly Headlines. Hey, thanks for tuning in. We had three

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stories, one theme. Connection. Whether it's a handmade welcome,

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a helping hand, or a hello to someone new, community doesn't just

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happen. It's built one act at a time. Now go out there

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and make your own headline, preferably one that smells like fresh

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paint or dandelion jelly. These

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headlines remind us that good news is still all around us if

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we take the time to notice. Do you have a story of care

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happening in your neighborhood? Share it@Neighbourly CA

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or join our Care Impact podcast group on Facebook.

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Neighbourly is an initiative of Care Impact, a Canadian charity

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equipping churches, agencies and communities with tech and training

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to care better together. Learn more@careimpact

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CA. I'm Johan Heinrichs and this has been Neighborly

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Headlines because every story of care deserves to

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be seen and shared. Turning over

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tables, tearing down walls.

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Up. The bridges between the stones

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of this turning over table

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Breaking off chain When I see you

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in a stranger, I'm no longer.