50 per cent of Canadians hardly know their neighbour, but agree coffee is a great icebreaker
OAKVILLE, ON: March 20, 2018 -- Did you know 50 per cent of Canadians hardly know their neighbour*? Despite being one of the friendliest nations in the world, many Canadians don’t make connections with their neighbours. To help foster new relationships and build connections in communities across the country, Tim Hortons® is encouraging Canadians to get to know each other over a shared love – a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
This past month, Tim Hortons® surprised real Canadians in communities across the country with the opportunity to meet their neighbour for the first time. Although wary at first, the conversations revealed these neighbours have much more in common than they would have thought. In the comfort of their front yard, over a fresh cup of Tim Hortons® coffee, strangers became friends, future plans were formed and true connections were made.
“Tim Hortons has a longstanding tradition of making a difference in the communities we serve. Whether it’s in our Restaurants or the backyards of our Guests, we’ve been helping people connect over coffee for decades,” said Sami Siddiqui, President, Tim Hortons Canada. “We get to see the generosity and connections between Canadians in our Restaurants each and every day, and look forward to witnessing even more relationships formed over our coffee.”
A recent survey commissioned by Tim Hortons® revealed that despite the lack of connection, 67 per cent of Canadians would be open to going for coffee with their neighbour**, but 35 per cent say they just don’t know how to initiate the meeting. Tim Hortons® hopes to make connecting easier and encourages Canadians from coast-to-coast to get outside and meet their neighbours. Besides coffee, studies have shown there are many benefits to neighbourly connections, from relationship building to feelings of inclusion and positivity, which all lead to fostering stronger communities.
“There is an inherent power to human connection and real benefits to relationships within our communities,” said Emily Levitt, Cornell anthropologist. “It’s so important to foster real, in-person connections with one another to build strength and a sense of security.”
Do you know your neighbour? Tell us why you want to share a Tims coffee with your neighbour on Twitter or Instagram using #CoffeeWithNeighbours and tag @TimHortons for a chance to win one of hundreds of $10 TimCard prizes so you can make it happen. Whether it’s inviting a neighbour for a freshly brewed coffee at your local Tim Hortons restaurant or buying a new neighbour a coffee, we’re calling all Canadians to get to know their neighbour and make a connection. Visit www.timhortons.com/neighbours for full contest rules.
Additional survey highlights include:
- 81% of Canadians agree coffee is a great way to get to know their neighbour
- Over 67% of Canadians would be open to going for coffee with their neighbour
- 63% of Canadians would bring coffee to their neighbour
- 77% of Canadians would accept a coffee from their neighbour
About the Survey
*This report is from Statistics Canada, based on data from the 2003, 2008 and 2013 General Social Survey. The target population consisted of persons aged 15 and older living in Canada’s 10 provinces, excluding people living full-time in institutions. The number of respondents was 24,951 in 2003, 20,401 in 2008 and 27,695 in 2013, for a total of 73,047 persons.
**The national online survey of 1,510 Canadians was conducted from March 7th to 9th, 2018. The data was weighted to Census population figures to achieve representation for age, region and gender. The margin of error associated with a probability based sample of 1,809 is 2.3%, 19 times out of 20.
Canada’s Favourite Coffee™, based on #1 brewed coffee servings in Canadian QSR (The NPD Group/CREST®) for the year ending July 2017.
About Tim Hortons®
TIM HORTONS® is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, TIM HORTONS® appeals to a broad range of consumer tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos and espresso shots), specialty teas and fruit smoothies, fresh baked goods, grilled Panini and classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, prepared foods and other food products. TIM HORTONS® has more than 4,700 system wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States, and around the world. To learn more about the TIM HORTONS® brand, please visit the TIM HORTONS® brand website at www.timhortons.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About Restaurant Brands International
Restaurant Brands International Inc. ("RBI") is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with more than $30 billion in system-wide sales and over 24,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries and U.S. territories. RBI owns three of the world's most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands – TIM HORTONS®, BURGER KING®, and POPEYES®. These independently operated brands have been serving their respective guests, franchisees and communities for over 40 years. To learn more about RBI, please visit the company's website at www.rbi.com.
For further information, please contact:
Summer Martin, Citizen Relations
E: summer.martin@citizenrelations.com OR mediainquiries@timhortons.com
T: 647.208.5261
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