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Miles Gilbert "Tim" Horton
Miles Gilbert "Tim" Horton was born January 12, 1930, in Cochrane, Ontario. Although he was named after both his maternal and paternal grandfathers, Miles' mother preferred the name Tim, so it became his unofficial name. -
Hockey Career
Horton and his family moved to Sudbury when he was 15, and he began playing junior hockey for the Copper Cliff Jr Redmen during the 1946–1947 season. During this time, he established himself as both a strong defenseman and forward. The following year, Horton signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and began his NHL career in 1952. In 1970, he was traded to the New York Rangers, and then a year later to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In 1972, he played for the Buffalo Sabres until 1974. -
Franchising
In addition to playing professional hockey, Horton worked odd jobs to support his wife and four daughters. in 1964, he opened the very first "Tim Horton" coffee and doughnut shop in Hamilton, Ontario. It featured the classic Dutchie and apple fritter doughnuts, as well as 25 cent coffee. It was a booming success! Horton decided to expand his restaurant into a franchise chain. Today, there are nearly five thousand Tim Hortons locations across Canada, the United States, and the Persian Gulf. -
The Ideal Entrepreneur- Philosophical Expression
According to the 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, Canada ranks second globally in levels of entrepreneurial activity, putting it ahead of most G7 countries and the developing world. It promotes success achieved through personal effort, self-sufficiency, initiative, and creativity- all considered "Canadian" attitudes. The entrepreneurial spirit in Canada is especially encouraging young people to believe in themselves, and with a booming tech industry, there is lots of room for innovation. -
The Ideal Entrepreneur
Horton was the perfect man to tie his coffee company and Canadian culture together. He played hockey, which is Canada's unofficial sport, but he wasn't flashy. Instead, he showcased his ability to stay calm under pressure, work hard, and remain sportsmanlike, which is fitting considering Canadians are known for being polite. He was a family man, opening the coffee shop to support his family, but was known for staying humble even as his success grew. -
Paying it Forward
After Horton's death in 1974, the Tim Horton Children's Foundation was established to provide children and youth from low-income Tim Horton communities with more opportunities. This includes sending children to Tim Horton camps in Canada, and a youth leadership program. On Camp Day, 2017, a record-breaking $13.7 million was raised to help subsidize camp costs so that more kids than ever before could be kids at camp without money being an obstacle. -
Healthy Active Lifestyle
The Timbits Minor Sport Program was founded by a New Brunswick Tim Hortons franchisee in 1982. The program offers children aged four to nine the opportunity to participate in house league sports including soccer, ringette, lacrosse, softball, baseball, and of course, hockey. The most notable (former) Timbit is Canadian hockey player Sidney Crosby, who has said that his the importance of having fun stressed while playing Timbits hockey has stayed with him during his professional career. -
Healthy Active Lifestyle- Philosophical Expression
The importance of living a healthy lifestyle is prevalent in Canada. Initiatives including breakfast programs across the nation, a Children's Fitness Tax Credit, and ParticipACTION funding are created to encourage physical activity and healthy eating habits among young Canadians. Canadians recognize the importance of leading healthy lives, and the benefits it can have down the road, including a decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and an improved mental health. -
A Dedication to Education
The Tim Hortons Scholarship Program was established in 2005 and offers 220 monetary awards of $1,000 to qualifying Tim Hortons employees, their children, and grandchildren. To date, the program has awarded more than $1 million dollars to deserving students. -
A Dedication to Education- Philosophical Expression
Continuing post-secondary education is very important. From a young age we are told, to get a good job we need to receive a good education. Tim Hortons believes that money shouldn't be the factor preventing you from reaching your goals, which is why their scholarship program even exists. In the same was OSAP helps students finance their education, Tim Hortons is giving back to the people who make the company such a success- the employees. -
Community Initiatives- Philosophical Expression
Not just as Canadians, but as human beings, we have a natural desire to belong. We seek out acceptance from our friends, families, and peers, because we want to be accepted. In sending underprivileged kids to camp, opening up free swims, and offering complimentary skate time, Tim Hortons has created the perfect conditions for these children and their families to find that feeling of belonging we all crave, and to further insert themselves into the community as active, contributing members. -
Community Initiatives
Numerous times each year, Tim Hortons offers complimentary public skating and swimming at community centers across Canada. The purpose: to get kids and families involved in physical activities. This initiative also provides low-income families with fun, recreational activities that won't cost them anything. -
Environmental Sustainability
Since 2009, Tim Hortons has been committed to making small changes to their company in an effort to preserve and improve the environment. For the past nine years, the company has focused on making packaging less wasteful, encouraged recycling and composting at their restaurant locations, and implementing energy-efficient building designs. -
Environmental Sustainability- Philosophical Expression
The environmental sustainability initiatives implemented by Tim Hortons accurately reflect the general feelings Canadians have towards protecting the planet. The Canadian government has made several sustainability plans touching on air pollution, climate change, water availability and quality, and ecosystem conservation. Canada has an abundance of natural resources, and as such it's our job to protect them. Tim Hortons' initiatives are also leading the way for other businesses to take action. -
Influence Over the Canadian Vocabulary
Ask any Canadian what a "Timmy Run" (coffee run), "Double Double" (coffee with two creams and two sugars), or "Timbit" (mini doughnut) is, and chances are they'll be able to tell you. Products offered at Tim Hortons have added words and phrases to the Canadian vocabulary that would not necessarily be recognized or understood in other parts of the world, but are widely accepted in Canadian culture. In this way, Tim Hortons has inadvertently altered our ability to communicate with others. -
Burger King Sale
In 2014, Tim Hortons was purchased by Burger King and became a subsidiary of Restaurant Brands International, owned by Brazilian investment firm 3G Capital, later that year. Since the ownership shift, changes have been made to the food chain, including a menu that now extends beyond baked goods. Canadians have not been thrilled with these changes, clearly exemplified in the 0.6% fall of Canadian sales between April and June of 2017. Consumers felt like the Canadian icon was losing its identity. -
Is Tims Losing its Canadian Ideals?
Since being sold to Burger King, Canadians have began to see Tim Hortons less as the corner coffee shop, and more like a big, money-hungry company. In a survey conducted by Leger in partnership with National Public Relations and The Globe and Mail which sought to reveal the 100 most admired Canadian companies, Tim Hortons fell from the 4th most admired company in Canada to the 50th. The concern over Tim Hortons' values has Canadians questioning the authenticity of a once beloved company.
