96% say time with loved ones directly boosts their happiness, survey shows
Nearly every Canadian links happiness to quality time with loved ones – and many say a sweet snack after a hard day helps them feel better.
Loacker Canada released new survey findings ahead of International Day of Happiness on March 20 to explore how Canadians experience joy and how “small acts of goodness” relate to everyday moods.
“Happiness isn’t only about constant positivity or big life milestones,” says Gillian Mandich, Canadian happiness researcher and author. “It’s shaped by small, intentional behaviours that help us feel grounded, comforted, and connected.”
Connection stands out as a dominant theme in the data.
The survey reports that 96 percent of Canadians say spending quality time with loved ones positively impacts their happiness.
In addition, 85 percent agree that sharing a sweet treat with someone else can make a difference in how happy they feel.
The research also points to the role of “mindful indulgence” in stress management.
Nearly three-quarters of Canadians (74 percent) say they enjoy sweet treats, and 45 percent say having a treat after a stressful day helps them feel happy again.
Taken together, the findings suggest that many Canadians rely on small rituals to support how they feel: pausing during a busy day, sharing something sweet, or deliberately making space for connection.
Loacker situates these insights within its focus on “goodness” and everyday choices.
The company produces wafers and biscuits in the Italian Alps using selected ingredients and time-honoured recipes, and says all its wafers and biscuits are made without preservatives and with no added flavourings or colours.
Around International Day of Happiness, the brand encourages Canadians to step back from the rush of daily life, slow down, savour simple pleasures and view happiness as something shaped by everyday behaviours grounded in “goodness.”
The brand worked with Canadian happiness researcher and author Gillian Mandich to interpret the results.
