Yesterday I took part in a weekly ritual: fitness with friends followed by coffee at Tim Horton’s. As I looked around the restaurant, I wondered how many other people make a visit to Tim’s as part of a routine in their lives. Do you?

I don’t remember when Tim Horton’s first opened in 1964 as a donut shop in Hamilton:

But I do remember when Tim Horton himself died in 1974, the result of a fiery crash on the QEW near St. Catharines. He was a young hockey star with a wife and family, and the accident was truly tragic. And what was going to happen to those 40 Tim’s locations? Apparently his widow Lori sold them to a business person for $1million plus a Cadillac. Not a great deal in retrospect. Today there are almost 6,000 locations in 13 countries around the world.

Tim’s restaurants have a language all their own. Who doesn’t know what a “double double” is? And “timbits” are a menu staple. As a summer treat, nothing beats an “iced cap.” The line-ups for the pumpkin spiced lattes and muffins in October are long. Everyone grabs a ‘smile cookie” in November to support various charities. Oher holidays such as Valentine’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day have their specially-named treats also.

Every Monday afternoon my 3 friends and I rush out of fitness class, grab our warm coats and drive to our favourite Tim’s location. We try to beat the crowds so we can have the table and chairs in front of the fireplace. It’s an electric fireplace which doesn’t emit any heat. But sitting there on Blue Monday feels warm and cozy when the outside temperature is minus 20. We take on world issues – climate change, politics, and of course gossip – while relaxing in the padded chairs. Not too much gets resolved but we have a great time pretending we are world leaders.

Occasionally I have a chance to look around. The clientele is varied: a university student glued to his laptop as he does his research, a mother and 2 squabbling kids escaping from their home on a PD Day, a wannabe applicant trying to score points with her prospective boss, 2 couples following the rules of social engagement for older people.

Tim’s performs a lot of services for a lot of us. Think of all the folks who hurry to a location to buy cards for stocking stuffers, a last-minute gift for the mail carrier, an extra prize for a raffle at work. In fact this past Christmas Peter, mindful of my Monday addiction, bought me a Tim’s card for $100, all his shopping problems solved with one quick stop.

But Tim’s failed us in Portugal recently. We arrived in Porto late one evening for a couple of days’ stay. The next morning we were hungry and needed a quick bite before our first activity. Where was a Tim’s when we needed it? Well, apparently Portugal is one of the few places in the world where Tim’s has not gone. So we were directed to the local – dare I say it – McDonald’s!

This was a McDonald’s like no other. The entrance is embellished with a large spread-winged eagle. The furniture is modern and sleek. The ordering is all online. The inside was decorated with a Christmas tree and packaged gifts. And overhead? Crystal chandeliers. How could Tim Horton’s ever compete with that?

Sue