Dear editor:

An act of kindness is being selfless, caring, compassionate and unconditionally kind. Let me explain.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting on a bench at the Queenston docks waiting for my grandchildren to return from their ride on a Whirlpool Jetboat.

As I watched the excited crowd lining up to get on the next boat, I noticed a little problem at the front of the line.

A young boy visiting the area with his family was told he was not allowed on the ride because of his height and age. The look on that young boy’s face just about broke my heart.

This was something he had looked forward to all day and now he was being denied this exciting opportunity. His mother decided to stay back with him and sat down on the bench beside me.

How does a mom console a sobbing boy? I tried to help by telling him that I had been on that ride many times and that he would enjoy it much more when he was older.

Whirlpool Jetboats owner John Kinney noticed the distraught boy from a distance and came over to where we were sitting.

He spoke kindly to the boy, offering to take him, his mother and me for a ride when all the other boats had returned. Not only would he get a ride, but he would be allowed to steer the boat.

I can’t even describe the look on the boy’s face as he sat on John’s lap steering the boat as we motored up and down the river (we did not go into the rapids.)

That young boy will never forget the kindness shown to him by John Kinney that day. That is what Niagara-on-the-Lake is all about: People helping people.

For me it showed that a little bit of kindness goes a long way. Thanks, John. You not only made his day, you made mine as well.

Margie Enns 
NOTL