After writing this column for nearly eight years, people often ask me who my personal Hidden Heroes are. My first reaction is always to say, "Every one of the four hundred or so people I have written about is a Hidden Hero to me," but when I think of those who have had the biggest impact on my life and the way I live it, I turn to my family, especially my parents. They taught me many things but here are two that stand out.

When I was three and a half or four years old, my mother taught me to pause, think just a little and then "do the right thing". She taught it to me by doing the right thing herself, and making sure I did the right thing too.

I had been playing with Melba Cole, a girl close to my age who lived across the street. When Melba had to go in, I decided to take one of her toys home with me with every intention, I'm sure, of taking it back later. I also remember wondering if I should.

When my mother saw me playing with the toy at home, she asked where I got it. When I explained, she asked if I had asked permission from Melba's mother and I confessed I hadn't. With that she told me to march right back, on my own, return the toy and apologize to Mrs. Cole.

That was the longest walk of my life during which time I learned a lesson that has stuck with me the rest of my life. It's also a lesson we teach in the Our Hidden Heroes Program we have developed for students in Grades 1, 3, 5 and 7 - Stop, think, and then do the right thing.

Thank you mom.

When I was 13 years old, I helped my parents build our family home in Ottawa.

The winter before we started to build, my dad spent most evenings either studying or in a special class learning how to build our new home. I learned a lot about patience, persistence and commitment by simply watching him through that period of time, but perhaps the most important lesson he ever taught me came after we started to build.

It seemed most of the houses around us were being built by professional contactors and they seemed to pop up as quickly as Boy Scouts pitch tents. On the other hand, our home wasn't "popping" a lot. One day I got a little depressed about our progress, and let my dad know how I felt.

"As long as we don't have to tear down tomorrow what we build today," he assured me "we'll be just fine."

That message has remained with me ever since. In fact it too is part of the foundation of the Our Hidden Heroes Program - "Small things, done consistently, make a big difference in the end."

Thanks dad.

So now, no matter how old you are, why you don't you pause for a minute, think of the lessons your parents have taught you, and then do the right thing - Thank them. A hand written note would be nice.