At Smile Care Dental, we have always believed that dentistry is ultimately an act of humanity- dentistry to us is about helping people live healthier. Most of our patients have been part of our extended family for more than two decades. You've trusted us, supported us, and grown with us. Because of that, we want to share a personal chapter from our family's journey, one that aligns with our sense of purpose as dentists and as human beings.
This past summer, Dr. Adam, Dr. Joanne, and our older son, Justin, travelled to Grenada to participate in the Great Shape! 1000 Smiles Project- the world's largest international humanitarian dental project. We deliberately chose "Great Shape!" because of their organization, impact, and commitment to serving communities in need- we wanted to make the greatest difference possible.
For Justin, now in his third year of dental school, this trip wasn't about following in our footsteps as dentists. It was about following in our footsteps as human beings. As the Dalai Lama teaches, "Our prime purpose in this life is to help others." - This is part of who Justin is.
Mother Teresa captured this spirit beautifully when she wrote, "The fruit of love is service, which is compassion in action," and "A life not lived for others is not a life."
Those words echoed in our minds every day in Grenada. We treated children who had never seen a dentist. We relieved the pain that some had endured for months. We met families who had so little, yet offered so much gratitude. Their appreciation was humbling—deep, genuine, and often emotional.
And something remarkable happened in that environment of giving:
Giving led to gratitude. Gratitude led to connection. Connection led to a profound sense of presence and shared humanity.
It was impossible not to feel how interconnected we all truly are.
One of the most meaningful moments for us as parents was seeing Justin fully embrace this reality—not as a student dentist, but as a compassionate human being. Watching him serve with kindness, patience, and a joyful heart reinforced everything we hoped to pass on: that compassion, kindness, and giving are not just values, but a way of life.
Your dedication to our clinic made this mission possible.
Many of you have been with us for over twenty years. Your loyalty, trust, and belief in our care allow us to give back in ways we could never accomplish alone. Every visit, every shared story, and every smile helps build the foundation that lets us extend care beyond our walls and into communities that need it most.
This mission deepened in us why we do what we do. It strengthened our sense of purpose. It deepened our gratitude—for our profession, for the opportunity to serve, and for each of you who makes our work meaningful.
From our family to yours, thank you for being part of our journey.
Thank you for allowing us to care for you.
Thank you for helping us spread compassion, connection, and smiles—both here at home and across the world.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Dr. Adam and Dr. Joanne
P.S. The closing remarks from the project co-ordinator at the end of the week:
"Hey everyone, I'm sure you're sick of hearing from me by now, but I just wanted to send out one final message to our Week One crew:
Thank you. What you all did, together, as a team, is so important. I've spent the last 10 years of my life serving my community back in Canada as a police officer, sadly seeing people hurt people time and time again. This week I got to witness all of you, people, helping people. That's what this is all about. Needless to say, it has reminded me that good & kind people do exist. Thank you for walking the walk. I'll hopefully see you all at the next one. Stay safe. One love."... "... we treated over 1,000 patients."