Finally, some good news: Olympian awarded for act of kindness, a Sask. mom helps students in need, and a father-son duo win whale-watching lottery

In a world often dominated by challenging headlines, Yahoo News Canada aims to spotlight uplifting news stories both local and beyond. This week's roundup includes TIME Magazine's first-ever Kid of the Year and his skin cancer breakthrough, a Saskatchewan mother stepping in as parents battle sky-high inflation while sending their kids back to school and a Canadian gymnast awarded for a viral act of kindness at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

🎒 'What could I do to make this better': Sask. mom gives away 1,000 backpacks filled with supplies to kids in need

A mother of three has been collecting backpacks for close to a decade to give out to kids in need, and on Wednesday she did it all again, CBC News reports.

When she dropped off her middle daughter 10 years ago, Amanda McCall noticed three children without backpacks because their parents couldn't afford it.

The first year there were 75 backpacks and it was just for family and friends. As word started to spread about what she was doing, more people reached out, so she says each year the list gets bigger.

"The rising cost of everything, the need is so great, last year we had 552 bags and we had 10 left when we were done. And that's the first year that we didn't completely run out," said McCall.

• READ MORE: Sask. mother gives away almost 1,000 backpacks filled with supplies for kids in need

"I think this is our way of getting kids back to school at the best they can be."

She follows the McLurg school supply list, so there are binders, paper dividers, pencils, crayons, pens, erasers, duotangs and a few other little things that were donated inside the bags.

This year marks the 10th giveaway event, and McCall assembled just under 1,000 backpacks filled with supplies. The giveaway event was held at the A&W parking lot on Avonhurst Drive on Wednesday.

🐳 Watch: #TheMoment a father and son won the whale-watching ‘lottery’

🤸‍♂️Canadian gymnast wins prestigious Olympic award for viral act of kindness in Paris

Canadian gymnast Ellie Black may have left Paris without an Olympic medal, but she didn't leave the games empty handed.

On Wednesday, The International Olympic Committee (IOC) — along with the International Fair Play Committee — announced that Black has been chosen as the recipient of the Paris 2024 Fair Play Award, which recognizes Olympic athletes who "exemplify sportsmanship, the spirit of fair play and respect for others."

"I think it's just truly incredible and I'm incredibly honoured," Black said. "I think it really shows what the true meaning of sport is in the Olympics and bringing people together and the sportsmanship, really looking out for everyone as an individual, as a human being first."

• READ MORE: Canadian gymnast Ellie Black wins prestigious Olympic award for viral act of kindness in Paris

Black added how cool it was to officially be named the award winner in her hometown surrounded by friends, family, coaches and teammates.

It was one particular interaction which really stood out and led the four-time Olympian to win the prestigious award.

After competing in one of the qualifying rounds for the artistic gymnastics final in Paris — one in which Canada competed alongside home-team France — Black, along with teammate Shallon Olsen, were seen encouraging and consoling French gymnast Mélanie de Jesus dos Santos after the latter's qualifying event did not go so well.

De Jesus dos Santos, who suffered falls in each of her three opening routines in that qualifying event and did not advance to any medal round, was devastated following her rough outing, which prompted the Canadian gymnasts, especially Black, to make the effort to console their french competitor.

"Today was not my day," de Jesus dos Santos said on Aug. 3, via International Gymnast Media. "I feel really sad. I feel like everything I did the last two, three years, did not work out today. I’m very sad. I feel like I’ve worked for nothing the past years. I’m sad."

When reflecting on the moment, Black says that she approached de Jesus dos Santos to try and cheer her up after a tough day on the mat.

Black added that she's competed against the French gymnast over the years and that Ellie considers her a friend — something not uncommon among competitors in such a ruthless, intense and often lonely sport.

"I just wanted to go over and comfort her and just remind her that it's not her gymnastics, it's who she is as a person … having an off-day or results, they don't define who you are. They don't define what you've done, what you've brought to sport, what you've brought to all these people," Black said. "All the spectators were there to cheer her on, to cheer France on no matter what. Even after she fell, they were chanting her name."

🏥 Watch: TIME Magazine's 1st-ever Kid of the Year has 'curiosity to help others'

👨🏻 Dad goes viral for capturing his daughter's 1st day of school from kindergarten to senior year on film

A father has gone viral after filming his daughter on the first day of school every year since kindergarten, according to a report published by The Independent.

Ray Petelin, a CBS News meteorologist, begins by asking Elizabeth, now in her senior year, to say and spell her name for the record.

READ MORE: Father interviews his daughter on every first day of school from kindergarten to senior year

The footage then bounces back to Elizabeth before she starts kindergarten, and continues for every year in between.

Ray is heard asking his daughter what she wants to be when she grows up in the heartwarming footage, as well as telling her that her parents love her.

“I have been interviewing my daughter on the first day of school since kindergarten. I did that interview for the last time today. Good luck in your senior year, Elizabeth,” he wrote, sharing the video on Facebook.

The footage was also posted on X, where it has been viewed more than 13 million times.

Do you have an uplifting moment or story you would like to share with us? Email the Yahoo Canada team: canadatips@yahoonews.com.