Get ready to feel the magic of the season as the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan returns to communities across Canada, spreading joy and celebrating kindness. We sit down with Todd Parsons and Andrea Dicks to learn about the beloved Coca-Cola Caravan tour and the new Canada’s Kindest Community program, spotlighting heartwarming acts of kindness this holiday season. —Noa Nichol
Todd Parsons, CEO, Coca-Cola Bottling Ltd.
What inspired Coca-Cola Canada to bring back the Holiday Caravan Tour, and what are the new elements Canadians can look forward to this year?
The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan was born from an opportunity to spread optimism and share moments of joy in communities coast-to-coast. The Holiday Caravan started with a passionate Distribution Centre Manager in Saskatchewan who decorated a Coca-Cola truck and spread holiday cheer throughout his community. When Covid hit, he brought back the magic of past holiday seasons, decorating a truck once again, for the first time since 1999. This inspired our beloved yearly tradition that we have today, spreading holiday cheer across Canada.
The Holiday Caravan sees our iconic red truck, driven by Santa himself, travelling across Canada to deliver optimism and kindness-led experiences that highlight the spirit of the season.
New this year, we’re introducing the Canada’s Kindest Community Contest, a nationwide search in partnership with Community Foundations of Canada. The new program encourages Canadians to share acts of kindness that they or others have done that have made life a little kinder for a chance to win $50,000 for their Community Foundation, a special 2025 Holiday Caravan experience and be recognized as Canada’s Kindest Community.
With “Canada’s Kindest Community” initiative, what kind of stories or acts of kindness is Coca-Cola hoping to spotlight, and why is this focus on kindness important now?
Now more than ever, we believe the world needs more kindness. For Canada’s Kindest Community no act of kindness is too small. Even the smallest acts can make a significant difference, and we hope that by celebrating and rewarding these contributions, we inspire others to spread joy in their own communities.
How do you envision the Holiday Caravan experience impacting communities across Canada, especially with the addition of kindness-led experiences?
At its core, the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan is about delivering moments of optimism to Canadians coast-to-coast and bringing joy through shared moments of togetherness. We believe that kindness is contagious and hope to create opportunities where people share acts of kindness and inspire others to do the same.
For Canadians interested in nominating someone for the Canada’s Kindest Community Contest, what qualities or acts are you hoping to see in the nominations?
No acts of kindness are too small to nominate as part of Canada’s Kindest Community. Whether it’s helping a neighbour carry groceries or organizing a large community event, we want to see any action that inspires and uplifts communities. Acts of kindness can be something you have done or something you have witnessed.
What role does Coca-Cola see itself playing in promoting community engagement and kindness, both through this tour and more broadly across Canada?
What many people don’t know is that Coke Canada Bottling is locally owned and operated. With over 6,000 employees and a presence in every province, we are committed to delivering optimism and making a positive difference in the communities where we operate. We are Canada’s Local Bottler and we hope that through Canada’s Kindest Community we can further our impact in local communities.
How can Canadians get involved, either by nominating acts of kindness or supporting local nonprofits through programs like the Canada’s Kindest Community Contest?
Canadians can visit www.coke.ca/holiday to nominate their community acts of kindness.
Andrea Dicks, president, Community Foundations of Canada
Can you tell us about the role of Community Foundations of Canada in supporting the Canada’s Kindest Community program and how the partnership with Coca-Cola came about?
Earlier this year, the Coca-Cola in Canada team invited us to collaborate on their kindness-focused initiative, which reflects our shared belief in the transformative power of community. With our network of 200+ community foundations, we’re helping to amplify these stories of kindness, fostering inclusion and belonging in communities from coast to coast to coast.
Why is it important to recognize and celebrate acts of kindness, and what impact do you believe programs like this can have on Canadian communities?
Amplifying kindness inspires action. Programs like this help to build stronger, more connected communities.
How do you foresee this initiative motivating individuals and communities to engage in more acts of kindness throughout the holiday season and beyond?
Programs like this ignite collective action and inspire everyday acts of kindness, fostering a sense of belonging and togetherness beyond the holiday season. The impact of kindness, no matter how small, strengthens our communities and builds a culture of care that carries forward into the future.
What are some examples of community-led kindness initiatives that have made a significant impact, and how do these inspire your work with programs like Canada’s Kindest Community?
With a network of over 200 community foundations, we see numerous examples of community-led initiatives addressing vital priorities including, gender equality, climate action, and reconciliation. At the core, it will always be the people—the people who advocate for change and who make a positive impact.
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