It was all smiles at the five local Tim Hortons Restaurants in Lloydminster for the corporation’s annual Camp Day. Kristine Whitney, owner of the north and south side stores, was among the happy campers. Staff decorated her outlets, and it was the same story at the three other franchises owned by Jeff and Jeaninne Spencer. Geoff Lee Meridian Source
All five Tim Hortons restaurants in Lloydminster are still in party mode after celebrating the corporation’s annual Camp Day.
Special sales proceeds and donations from the July 19 fundraiser go to Tim Hortons Foundation Camps for youth.
It’s all smiles at Big Brothers Big Sisters Lloydminster too, which works with local franchisees to select local youth to attend the Tim Hortons Children’s Ranch in Kananaskis Alberta each year.
A festive mood inspired customers to buy into Camp Day at the north and south end outlets that owner Kristine Whitney and her staff decorated with balloons and banners.
“It’s exciting. It’s lots of fun good vibes, it’s awesome. It’s great knowing you are helping kids in the community,” said Whitney.
Balloons and decals also greeted customers at the three franchise locations owned by Jeff and Jeaninne Spencer to promote Camp Day.
The two local franchise owners send camp applications in the spring to Big Brothers Big Sisters to select eligible youth ages 12 to 16 from low-income families for camp.
“We pick the kids that fit in the age range for that year to go,” said the agency’s director of service delivery Jacqueline Weed, who is over the moon about Camp Day.
“We’ve had some fantastic opportunities over the years to be able to send kids that are part of our agency to camp,” said Weed, who says it makes a huge difference to the kids that go.
“It exposes them to new opportunities; they’ve made a ton of friends they wouldn’t normally meet and just the opportunity to leave our community and do different things.”
There were just two applicants this year and one of the youths headed to summer camp about 10 days ago.
“In the past, we’ve had as many as six or eight,” said Weed.
“It just depends on how many applications we receive from Tim Hortons. They tell us how many spots are available.”
She says those who are selected fully understand the opportunity.
“For a lot of these families, it wouldn’t be possible without the Tim Hortons Camp Day and the proceeds from that supporting the camp. It’s a life-changing opportunity for them,” said Weed.
She notes Tim Hortons looks after everything once the youth is approved.
The Tim Horton Children’s Ranch allows kids from all over Alberta to experience everything from horseback riding, fishing and overnight camping to archery and crafts while making new friends.
“They get skills and leadership and resilience and responsibilities and it helps them to believe more in their potential,” said Whitney.
“A lot of times the kids go on to get degrees.”
Whitney has toured the camp herself and one in Ontario and declares them to be amazing facilities.
“I’ve known a few kids from the community that have gone. They’ve got nothing but good to say about it,” she said.
“Quite often if you go on our webpage, there are stories from other campers who have been there. It’s amazing how it impacts their lives.”
Whitney says the camp is all about having the opportunity to sit around the campfire and have all those experiences you would have at camp and make new friends.
“The camp runs all year long, but the kids go in the summertime. Throughout the year they have different school groups that go. It’s a pretty amazing camp,” she said.
There are six Foundation Camps in Canada and one in the United States.
