Joyce, Ron
Biography
Ron Joyce was born in 1930 in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia. In 1951, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy. His tour of duty took him around the world, serving off the coast of Korea and Japan in 1954-55.
In 1956, Mr. Joyce moved to Hamilton, Ontario and took up a full-time career with the Hamilton Police force. In 1965, his entrepreneurial spirit had come to the fore and he took over the fledgling Tim Horton Donut Shop on Ottawa Street in Hamilton. By 1967, after he had opened up two more stores, he and Tim Horton became full partners in the business. Upon Tim Horton's death in an automobile accident in February of 1974, Mr. Joyce purchased Tim's shares from Tim's wife and took over as sole owner of the chain, which then consisted of 40 stores.
Shortly after Tim Horton's death, Mr. Joyce was instrumental in setting up the Tim Horton Children's Foundation, created in line with Tim Horton's love of children and desire to help those less fortunate. The Foundation, which is a non-profit, charitable organization, operates camps for economically disadvantaged children from communities in which Tim Hortons stores operate.
Awards/Recognitions
2004 Gallery of Distinction Inductee
Other Information
Related Websites or Blogs
Hamilton Gallery of Distinction
Published Work
2006. Always fresh : the untold story of Tim Hortons by the man who created a Canadian empire. Toronto: HarperCollins. [Nonfiction]
