Tim Hortons to sell orange sprinkled donut to raise funds for residential school survivors

KAMLOOPS — Tim Hortons locations across Canada will be raising money for two Indigenous organizations in light of National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (Sept. 30) — and the idea was initiated by two Kamloops franchise owners.

It was spurred by the owners of the Tim Hortons located on Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc — just down the street from the Kamloops residential school where 215 unmarked graves of children were discovered.

From Sept. 30 to Oct. 6, 100 per cent of the proceeds from the sales of a special orange sprinkled donut will go toward the Indian Residential Survivor Society and the Orange Shirt Society.

“They were very, very supportive of us every step of the way and asked us if we would like to do something to commemorate the 215 and orange shirt movement,” said Shane Gottfriedson, co-owner of the Tim Hortons, Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc location.

The initiative will be adopted by all Tim Hortons across Canada. Gottfriedson is former Tk’emlúps te Secwepemc chief and has a personal connection to the Kamloops residential school. His mother is a Kamloops residential school day scholar and his partner’s parents are survivors of the school.

“It’s only a natural thing for us as intergenerational survivors to do something that will help so many communities, so many people, so many families,” said Gottfriedson.