#WarmWishes: Tim Hortons spreads warmth to cold Canadian town

On December 13, as part of its #WarmWishes campaign that collected thousands of hats and blankets for those in need, Tim Hortons unveiled a surprise cozy makeover at one of its restaurants in one of Canada’s coldest places: Fort Frances, Ontario, where temperatures average -15°C in December.

On December 11, Fort Frances residents woke up to discover that trees, park benches and fire hydrants had been yarn-bombed overnight.

Two days later, they woke up find trails of red yarn — leading them straight to Tim Hortons. 

Dubbed the “warmest Tim Hortons in Canada,” the exterior of the coffee shop was dressed in a giant knitted scarf and hat. Inside, tables and chairs were completely covered in knitted coverings. Tim Hortons staff wore red and white knitted toques as they served coffee — on the house. 

“We have amazing guests at our Tim Hortons and I’m thrilled we were able to surprise them in this special way just in time for the holidays,” Gord McQuarrie, the Tim Hortons restaurant owner in Fort Frances, said in a statement. “We succeeded in spreading warmth – we gave out hundreds of cups of free coffee and hot chocolate and everyone looked happy and comfortable inside the restaurant.”  

The surprise makeover was captured on video, which was released today. 

According to a press release:

“Our Warm Wishes campaign this holiday season has been all about generosity and sharing warmth, so it was only fitting that we celebrate the campaign with a gesture of warmth on a grand scale,” said Peter Nowlan, Chief Marketing Officer, Tim Hortons.

“Fort Frances is a small community that experiences bitterly cold winters and the local Tim Hortons is a regular stop for many, so we wanted to warm up their daily routine in a special, unexpected way.”

Watch a making-of video of the warmest Tim Hortons in the country below:

To continue spreading the warmth, Tim Hortons is donating yarn to numerous knitting groups across Canada which will knit hats and scarves on behalf of the chain for Canadians in need. 

Tim Hortons will also donate a warm toque through the Tim Hortons Children’s Foundation for every share of a good deed on social media. Share your good deed with @TimHortons on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #WarmWishes.