It can be argued that big city folk seem like an uncaring lot -- individualistic and focused only on what matters to them in the end. But then something as terrifying as an ice storm hits, causing massive blackouts, and we start to see just how much we care for one another -- especially when it matters most. There are a lot of stories surfacing about random acts of kindness during the Toronto ice storm (which, by the way, isn't over, yet). We read of beautiful stories surfacing during other similar disasters like the Alberta floods and what happened in Lac-Megantic, so we know the real Canadian spirit shines brightest when needed most. Here are three glimpses of the true nature of humanity shown during the 2013 Toronto ice storm. These glimpses of good nature among people give me hope, especially as we sit on the cusp of new year. 1. Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi reached out to show support. 2. This part from an editorial posted in the Toronto Star on December 23, 2013, that explains how people are helping each other.  "These days, Toronto is all about neighbours helping neighbours, especially with the easier fixes that involve small trees or frozen cars. As hydro crews work around the clock and electricity is restored, some generous souls are even taking to Facebook, offering the warmth of their home to friends, or at least those whose electronics had enough power to read the post." 3. Local restaurants took on 'rescue Christmas' operations to feed cold and hungry Torontonians during the ice storm. Here's one of my favourite tweets sent out by @RealJerkToronto - a famous local restaurant. Besides offering free/pay-what-you-can meals, they also set up a system, encouraging other restauranteurs to participate in their operation.