Canada's Kindest Community: Celebrating the Heart of Canada, One Nomination at a Time

When I moved to Peachland, what I noticed immediately was the kindness this community shows.  Whether it's a friendly 'hello' when walking, a Facebook post to help out a citizen in need or kindness notes left by children from Peachland Elementary.  I even had one left at my door! 😊   The wellness centre and food bank go above and beyond to ensure the citizens of our community are looked after.  The 'Angel Tree' is set up at our community centre which has angels written with children's ages/gender that you can take and shop for. It is an easy way to give Christmas presents to children who may not get any.  It is a tradition that I look forward to each Christmas. This is just one of the many acts of kindness the Peachland community shows. I, as well as many, am so proud to be a "Peachlander".

Such a generous community. If ever there is a local need, many people step forward to help and volunteer and donate.

This year our community was hit with 3 wild fires. People opened their homes to evacuees and their pets.

The Wellness Centre offers meals for any community members on Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays.

They always have so many people wanting to volunteer, they can't use everyone.

People in Peachland are especially generous with their time, helping whenever and where ever they can.

Peachlanders are great gardeners and whenever they have extra vegetables, they willingly share. There are many fruit trees in our yards and you often see signs of free fruit in front of homes.

During the recent fires, in Peachland, residents were opening their homes to total strangers who were evacuated from their homes.  Councilors and Mayor opened the Rec Center for registration of evacuees and worked over night to keep the center open for those evacuees.  We have smaller hobby farms who supplied horse trailers and boarding for the animals being displaced.  When the second fire happened on the south side of the district approx. 3 weeks later, residents stepped up again.  The local quilt guild, which meets weekly supply quilts to the Kelowna NICU, a recovery house, the local shelter for abused women and families.  Over 297 quilts supplied this year.  This guild has now undertaken to supply quilts to a local operation that builds beds for children.  (Sleep in Heavenly Peace, No child sleeps on the floor)  The local Lions Group has provided funds to the local soccer group, the Peachland Food Bank, Scholarships for graduates from the Mount Boucherie High School. the local elementary school and have participated in clean up of Camp Winfield, and also organize and put on the District's July 1st Parade.  Locals gather once a year to clean up and haul trash out of our back country.  The local Friendship Club supply volunteers to serve food during the Fall Fair.  The Fall Fair itself is put on by local volunteers.  We are a small community of just under 5,000 people, but we certainly "Punch above our Weight".