Kindness Matters: Gracie lives on through her owner’s walks, waves and love

By What Matters to Hatters on June 11, 2025.

The What Matters to Hatters Coalition remains focused on reducing stigma related to substance use and mental illness in our community through our third annual kindness campaign promoting the importance of kindness and connection.

Acts of kindness can reduce pain, stress levels, anxiety, and depression. Kindness and connection can also increase our lifespan. As part of our kindness campaign, we recognize individuals and organizations as kindness champions for their kindness and connection consistently demonstrated in community.

When individuals view the people and community that surround them as supportive and caring, they are more likely to take the social risks of reaching out to strangers and seeking social support. Taking these social risks can help foster meaningful connections, expand social networks, and improve wellbeing. While these “risks” can be small actions like smiling or waving, their impacts can be far reaching.

This month, we are honouring Patrick Watt and his dog, Gracie, as our Kindness Champions. Patrick has exemplified kindness in the community of Southridge with his sweet dog, Gracie, for many years! If you use Southridge Drive on your daily commute, we are sure you have seen Patrick walking his Bassett Hound of 17 years, the last few years, using a red wagon with a white umbrella.

You have likely witnessed his enthusiastic waves for all who drive by. Community members would honk and wave back to Patrick. For many people driving by, Patrick’s love and care for Gracie and his genuine kindness for all, brightened their day!

As many of you know, Gracie sadly passed away on May 5. Despite his loss, Patrick continues his walks and waves. He has created a ripple of kindness in the community that came back to him with an outpouring of support in remembrance of Gracie. We’ve even learned that a video of Patrick and Gracie on TikTok has even gone viral! Thank you, Patrick, for demonstrating the power of a smile and a wave. You are a true Kindness Champion!

To learn more about the importance of building social connections, please visit our newly launched website at https://www.whatmatterstohatters.com/ where you will find tips for connecting, a great video, upcoming events, resources, and more.

The Kindness Matters column is put together by members of the What Matters to Hatters Coalition and will run monthly throughout the organization’s annual Kindness Campaign

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