The Ripple Effect- Matthew Sancton

Can small actions really make a big difference?

When I had the opportunity to attend the Canadian Student Leadership Conference in

Abbotsford, British Columbia in 2005 and Lloydminster, Alberta in 2006 as a delegate

from St. Thomas High School (Pointe-Claire, Quebec), one of my main takeaways was

that they can. It is a message that has stayed with me ever since then and – while it

may sound idealistic – I truly believe that the actions that we take in our schools,

workplaces and communities can create ripples that make the world just a little bit better

than it would have been otherwise.

This message is also the premise behind my new children’s book, The Ripple Effect:

How Small Actions Can Change the World. Released in August 2025, this rhyming story

beautifully illustrated by Alyse Mercey aims to teach children how even the smallest

good deed can change the world for the better.

The book is dedicated to my niece and nephews and my hope is that it inspires children

and youth of all ages to show kindness towards others, advocate for the issues that they

care about and realize that actions that they take in their daily lives hold greater power

than they may think.

To quote the book:

“Think of a pebble tossed into a pool.

The ripples it creates may seem miniscule.

But even the smallest of stones can set things in motion,

Turning ripples into waves that roar through the ocean.

The actions you take can have the same effect,

Creating change beyond what you might expect.

A simple act of kindness might not seem like much,

But you may be surprised by who it will touch.

The same is true for issues close to your heart,

The ones that need people to do their part.

The first steps you take may feel so small,

But the ripples they create can change it all.”

While I am incredibly proud of the book, I must say that writing a children’s book is not

something that I ever thought I would do. I am a proud federal public servant and had it

not been for my niece, nephews and a flurry of heavy geopolitical news that made me

want to channel my energy into something positive, I likely never would have written it.

However upon reflection, I feel that the book is in some ways an example of its own

message. The values that my parents instilled in me, the guidance that I received from

teachers and mentors during high school and the experience of attending events like

the Canadian Student Leadership Conference all created ripples that helped drive me to

pursue a career in the public service and try to write a book that will hopefully inspire

others too.

It is an example of the ripple effect in motion and my hope is that all students who

attend the Canadian Student Leadership Conference walk away from the experience

feeling empowered to make waves that change the world for the better too.

Matthew Sancton is a federal public servant and author of a new children’s book entitled “The Ripple Effect: How Small Actions Can Change the World.” He is also a Canadian

Student Leadership Conference alumnus, having attended the 2005 conference in

Abbotsford, British Columbia and the 2006 conference in Lloydminster, Alberta as a

delegate from St. Thomas High School in Pointe-Claire, Quebec. He is currently based

in Ottawa.