Tim Horton's Turns 50

Posted on: 2014-05-18 12:00 AM

A lot has changed in 50 years. Tim Horton's and Canada have both done a lot of growing up in the last 50 years.

1964 - Tim Horton and Ron Joyce open the first Tim Horton's bake shop in Hamilton Ontario.

The chain's focus on top quality, always fresh product, value, great service and community leadership has allowed it to grow into the largest quick service restaurant chain in Canada specializing in always fresh coffee, baked goods and homestyle lunches.

The first Tim Hortons restaurants offered only two products - coffee and donuts.  The selection of donuts was highlighted by two original Tim Hortons creations, the Apple Fritter and the Dutchie.  They became the most popular donut choices in the 60's, and remain two of the most popular today.

1964 - Prime Minister Lester B Pearson made the creation of a National flag a priority for Canada.

In October 1964, after eliminating thousands of proposals, the Special Committee on a Canadian Flag was left with three possible designs: one incorporating three red maple leaves with blue bars (nicknamed the "Pearson Pennant"), a flag with a single stylized red maple leaf on a white square with red bars, and another version that contained both the Union Jack and three fleurs-de-lis.

On October 29, 1964, the committee recommended to the House of Commons that the single-leaf, red and white design be adopted. Debate in Parliament continued, however, and it was only at the early hour of 2:15 a.m. on December 15, 1964, that the motion to adopt the National Flag of Canada was carried by a vote of 163 to 78. Approval by the Senate came on December 17, 1964, and on January 28, 1965, the National Flag of Canada was proclaimed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, to take effect on February 15, 1965.


Since 1964 Tim Horton's has grown to more that 4,000 stores across Canada and the United States. A quick summary of Tim Horton's innovations include the Tim Bit, a bit sized donut introduced in 1976, the addition of a lunch menu in the 1980's that included one of my favorites Tim's Chilli and of course Roll up the Rim Tim Horton's annual contest to find free coffees and prizes under the rim of every cup.

Since 1964 Canada has grown up a lot too. Canada has become a leader in international peacekeeping which was also created by Lester B Pearson while he was Canada's Embassador to the UN. Canada has become a welcome home to refugees from around the world, who probably are served a Tim Horton's at some point during their first weeks as Canadians. Canada has hosted several succesful Olympic and Winter Olympic Games in 1976, 1988 and 2010. Erected the CN Tower which until recently was the tallest free standing structure in the world. Canada has become a leader in finance and transparency as a partner in the G7 providing sound guidance and assistance in creating economic stability around the world.

So Happy Birthday Tim Horton's and when you are having your "Timmy's" this weekend take a moment recognize the growth of both Tim's and Canada over the past 50 years.