Random acts of kindness: Granddaughter carries on tradition of giving flowers to strangers
A Winnipeg man who was handing flowers to strangers has been in and out of hospital but now his granddaughter is keeping the random acts of kindness going.
Back in November, Kim Morfoot had been handing out bouquets of flowers to random strangers to brighten up their days, in honour his wife Bonnie.
The two had been married for more than 40 years when Bonnie died after a battle with cancer in 2017.
"We had a special connection," Morfoot told CTV News in November.
In recent months, Morfoot's family says he has become sick and has been in and out of the hospital. Because of the difficulty he is having, he has been unable to hand out bouquets.
But his granddaughter is stepping in to carry on the tradition.
"I decided that I wanted to keep it going, because I went with him multiple times to hand out these flowers and I just saw how it made people super happy. It made him happy to do it as well," Jory Giesbrecht told CTV News.
"I didn't expect flowers or bouquets in general just to make people that happy or for it to spread positivity as it did."
Giesbrecht said other people can join in to help with the random acts of kindness. She started the Kim and Bonnie Flower Foundation to raise money to help cover the costs of the bouquets.
She said, especially right now, people need this kind of positivity and happiness in their lives.
"Some people are down because of COVID and just all this stuff happening in our world, and I think it would just be good to continue it," she said.
Kim Morfoot hands out flowers to strangers in memory of his wife who passed away. (Source: Jamie Dowsett/CTV News)
Kim Morfoot, pictured here in November 2020, was handing out flowers to strangers in memory of his wife who passed away. (Source: Jamie Dowsett/CTV News)
Giesbrecht said she plans to start handing out the flowers in August, with plans to do another 'flower day' each season. She said she hopes her grandfather will still be able to come along.
"We still want him to be a part of it, because he does really love doing it."
-with files from CTV's Devon McKendrick
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Ellen DeGeneres addresses the 'hurtful' end of her talk show in new stand-up set
Ellen DeGeneres is reflecting on how her talk show came to an end in her newest Netflix special, 'Ellen's Last Stand ... Up Tour.'
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
What to pack during an emergency
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
Significant police presence as Israeli flag flies at Ottawa City Hall
The Israeli flag is flying at Ottawa City Hall today to mark the country's national day, with plans to hold a private ceremony to mark Israel's Independence Day. There is a significant police presence at City Hall, including security barriers outside the main doors.
Hot history: Tree rings show that last northern summer was the warmest since year 1
The broiling summer of 2023 was the hottest in the Northern Hemisphere in more than 2,000 years, a new study found.
Regulated area for invasive box tree moth expanded to parts of the Maritimes
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has added much of the Maritimes to a regulated area for an invasive species.