Coca-Cola Canada searching for Canada’s Kindest Community in 2025

Sunny South News Photo Submitted by Coca-Cola Canada. COKE KINDNESS CARAVAN: Coca-Cola Canada is searching for Canada’s Kindest Community and will spread a little kindness and joy while joining in the festivities during Coaldale’s Night of Lights Nov. 28, when its annual Holiday Caravan tour stops in town and participates in the Night of Lights parade. Coaldale residents can join Canadians across the country in sharing random acts of kindness and submit them from Nov. 12 - Jan. 1, 2026 at www.coca-cola.com/ca/en.

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

Coca-Cola Canada’s annual Holiday Caravan Tour is returning to Coaldale for the town’s Country Christmas Night of Lights on Nov. 28, and with it, Coaldale residents will have a chance to demonstrate kindness this holiday season, as Coca-Cola Canada searches for Canada’s Kindest Community in 2025. 

Canada’s Kindest Community initiative first began in 2024 and invites Canadians to share acts of kindness in in their community, while inspiring others to do the same. 

“We’ve been doing the Coca-Cola Caravan for a number of years, but Canada’s Kindest Community came into existence, starting last year,” said Konrad Kiss, general manager Southern Alberta, Coca-Cola Canada Bottling. 

Last year’s winner as Canada’s Kindest Community, was Jarvis, Ont.  

This year, the initiative opened Nov. 12 and will close at 11:59 PM ET on January 1, 2026. Submissions can be made online at http://www.coke.ca/holiday/kindest-community, at local Holiday Caravan stops or through QR codes at select retailers. 

A total of 10 communities with the highest number of valid ‘acts of kindness’ submissions per capita, will be selected for Canada’s Kindest Community shortlist. The winning community will receive $100,000 for a charity supporting the community – which is double last year’s prize, and a Caravan experience in the 2026 tour. 

People provide a written submission on the website, detailing an act of kindness they experienced in the community. 

“That can be as small as I dropped my pen and somebody picked it up for me or somebody bought me a coffee at Tim Hortons or somebody shovelled my driveway after a big snowfall. Whatever that act of kindness is – how big or how small, we ask the community that they go onto the website and they submit these events or acts of kindness,” said Kiss, noting community members from last year’s winner  will be part of the decision-making panel to determine this year’s winning community.  

“To accommodate for size and scope – to get into the final (Top 10) and to be in front of that panel of judges, it’s the most submissions of kindness divided by the population,” explained Kiss. “There’s no limit on the amount of submissions somebody can make. So the intent on that is to equalize between communities – not all communities are the same size and we want to get as many (communities) across the country.”    

Last year, Canadians shared stories of organizing local events, helping at food banks, shovelling driveways and stopping to share stories with neighbours – all acts  that made life a little kinder. 

As Canada’s Kindest Community initiative began this year, it coincided with World Kindness Day on Nov. 13, noted Kiss, pointing out the many opportunities for people to share some kindness over the holiday season. 

“It encourages our fellow Canadians to do those random acts of kindness and tell us all about it so we can share in that as well,” said Kiss.

The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan tour across Canada began Nov. 13, and will travel to hundreds of communities across the country, including a stop in Coaldale on Nov. 28. 

For a complete tour schedule or to submit an act of kindness, visit http://www.coke.ca/holiday