Today marks the anniversary of the first Tim Horton’s donut opening in Toronto in 1964, a brand that would go on to become another delicious morsel of Canadian culture
“In Canada, we have Tim Hortons on every corner.
They are basically our version of a stop sign.”
There are many traditions that our friends from The Great White North enjoy that we, as Americans, don’t necessarily understand. Sure, we have a love of ice hockey, cold beer, and Trish Stratus in common, but there are parts of Canadians’ everyday lives that we don’t even know about. Or at least, how big it truly is.
When most Americans speak about coffee shops, they often refer to our biggest java servers – Dunkin’ and Starbucks. And as much as those two brands are household names in the States, they pale in comparison to a Canadian chain that bears the name of a former seven-time NHL All-Star.
Today (May 17th) marks the anniversary of the first Tim Horton’s Donuts in Toronto, 62 years ago. At the time, Horton was in the midst of a very successful career on the ice; he would win four Stanley Cups as a member of the Maple Leafs. Looking for a business venture away from the game, he opened that groundbreaking location with a simple menu, featuring only two core items: coffee and donuts. By 1968, the eateries had expanded into a multi-million-dollar chain that was evolving rapidly.
That’s not to say that Horton made it all happen by himself. His business partner, Ron Joyce, a former police officer, came along shortly after the initial opening. Joyce understood operations and expansion, as well as the necessity for the same, uniform standards in every store under the company’s banner. Together, they created a formula that proved to be as irresistible as maple syrup: inexpensive coffee, fresh donuts, and a welcoming atmosphere. That vision is what helped the brand continue to expand well beyond Horton’s death in an automobile accident in 1974.
Today, Tim Hortons is everywhere in our neighboring nation.
In fact, there’s a running joke that it’s easier to find a Tim Hortons in Canada than it is to find a gas station.
As much as people in the US might ‘Live Mas’ with Taco Bell and ‘Eat Fresh’ with Subway from time to time, for Canadians, “going for a Timmy’s run” is an almost daily tradition. Morning commutes are powered by Timmy’s double-doubles (the chain’s famous coffee order featuring two creams and two sugars).
Meanwhile, the company’s Roll Up the Rim to Win contest also became a national obsession. Every spring, Canadians carefully peeled back paper coffee rims hoping to win free coffee, cars, or televisions.
Eventually, the famed hockey player became more known for his use of pastry and not the power play, Tim Horton went on to become known as a national hero in Canada. He’s received numerous honors, both in life and posthumously. Horton was even featured on an official postage stamp issued by his native land, portraying his days as a player with the Leafs
And that is the legacy of the terrific Tim Hortons brand and the man whose name it bears. It’s proof that someone can be a giant in two very different worlds. It epitomizes the ingenuity of Horton and the loyalty of Canadians, all in one.
And most of all? It shows that a hockey player’s greatest goal wasn’t scored on the ice, but served beside a hot cup of coffee and a box of donuts… Along with a side order of Timbits, of course.
Ryan K Boman is the Editor in Chief of The Sidearmer & the Publisher for the San Francisco Giants at Sports Illustrated. He’s been a professional sportswriter since 1990, and his favorite sports teams are the St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Lions, San Antonio Spurs, and St. Louis Blues. Ryan is married with four daughters and makes his home in southern Illinois
