Aboriginal Relations Strategy Synopsis

As part of making a true difference to people and the communities we serve, Tim Hortons is committed to implementing a meaningful, structured and long-term partnership with the Aboriginal community.    Our aboriginal relations philosophy, strategy and programs are guided by the following principles:

i) Our programs must be sustainable;
ii) Our programs must have a clear benefit;
iii) Our programs must be community based; and,
iv) Our programs must be supported by the aboriginal community. 

To provide some structure to our guiding principles we have developed an aboriginal relations framework that comprises 4 key areas of focus: 1) Education; 2) Empower Youth; 3) Economic Development and 4) Employment.  Over the past two and half years we have developed initiatives in each of these areas.  Some initiatives are only just beginning and some are well on their way. 

Susan Aglukark delivers her message of opportunity and leadership at the "Day of Inspiration" Aboriginal Youth conference in Brandon, MB

Education

• With the assistance of Millbrook First Nations of Truro Nova Scotia, we developed a comprehensive on-line training program* for our store level staff and corporate personnel. To-date more than 70,000 employees have completed the training.  This training program is one of a kind and is the largest aboriginal training of its kind, undertaken by a national company in Canada.
• Tim Hortons has partnered with  Susan Aglukark, a celebrated Inuit leader, and Order of Canada recipient.  Susan has conducted self esteem workshops for aboriginal youth, in western Canada in 2009. Susan is the Chair of the Arctic Youth and Children's Foundation and Tim Hortons has provided seed capital for a new initiative that will focus on improving the education of youth through enhanced homework programs.  A four community pilot program begins in the spring of 2010 in Nunavut communities.

* - Two modules, cover workplace diversity, cross cultural aboriginal awareness. Topics include: aboriginal culture, overcoming prejudice, common myths, aboriginal history, treaties, self government, residential schools, oral tradition, current culture, aboriginal role models. 

http://www.susanaglukark.com/
http://www.acyf.ca/

Empower Youth

• The Tim Horton Children's Foundation has been serving youth since 1974.  Our community partnership program invites youth, both aboriginal and non-aboriginal to attend one of our six camps throughout the year.  To-date more than Over 150 aboriginal youth have attended our Youth Leadership program; and over 350 have attended our camps during the year. 

Ted and Sandra Nolan congratulate members of Garden River First Nation, attending the inaugural Leadership Camp at Onondaga Farms.

• Late in 2009, we announced a 5 year partnership with the Ted Nolan Foundation+.  Aboriginal youth identified through the Ted Nolan Foundation are taught the Seven Grandfather teachings with the support of Elders and facilitators from their communities, at Tim Horton Children's Foundation Camps.  In 2010 approximately 100 aboriginal youth attended our camps through our partnership with the Ted Nolan Foundation. In Feb of 2010, the inaugural Inuit Youth Leadership Camp was held at our Camp des Voyageurs in Quyon Quebec.  Inuit Youth from the Ottawa area participated in a program supported by the Tungasuvvingat Inuit and the national leadership of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

• For the past two years The Tim Horton Children's Foundation has supported Outside Looking In++, an innovative program that develops aboriginal youth leadership, confidence and self esteem via performing hip hop dance.

• We have also provided sponsorship to the National Aboriginal Hockey Championships for the past two years.  We are reviewing how we can best leverage our experience and strengths in youth hockey, with aboriginal communities that embrace hockey.

+ - For more information on the Ted Nolan Foundation, please visit http://www.tednolanfoundation.com/

++ - http://www.olishow.net/

Inuit Youth Camp: Tungasuvvingat Inuit Youth attend their first Leadership Camp at Camp des Voyageurs in Quyon, QC.

Economic Development

• Today, Tim Hortons has a few franchise locations on aboriginal lands however they fall under sub-lease agreements.  In 2010 we will be piloting franchises on aboriginal lands, operated by an aboriginal franchisee.  We hope that these franchise locations will provide much needed employment and management development opportunities for the aboriginal community. 

Employment

• Tim Hortons has long been recognized as a "first job" employer for youth and a provider of "on the job" training. The fastest growing youth demographic in Canada is aboriginal youth.  The combination of these factors suggest that an opportunity exists for Tim Hortons to be an employer of choice for the aboriginal community.  We are continually broadening our understanding of  cross cultural differences and removing any possible barriers to employment. Understanding recruitment and retention of aboriginal employees will be an area of focus in 2010.

Our Senior VP of Corporate Affairs is a patron Board member of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB).  The CCAB is a national non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping companies increase employment, foster positive business relations and create economic opportunities for Aboriginal people, businesses and communities across Canada.  http://www.ccab.com/