Their Story
Sarah Collie and her husband have been in the Tim Horton’s franchise for a total of 4 years now, previously living in Northern Ontario in the Callander region. Sarah was working in financial services for a number of years, which helped developed her efficient work ethic, amazing customer service skills, and ability to handle finances. Sarah’s husband worked in the construction industry as an architect project manager, which gave him amazing experience managing projects and teams. With their combination of skills they were the perfect fit for the transition to become franchisees of these businesses, and are bringing something unique and special to the table. They are currently franchisees of three Tim Horton’s locations, two in Wasaga Beach and one in Thornbury. Sarah has highlighted the fact that the franchise is largely based on community support, and has already grown so close to those in the area and it has really changed her life in a positive way. When Sarah’s stepmom suggested this franchise opportunity at Tim Horton’s in the Blue Mountain, Sarah was excited not only to work everyday and excel in her career but also to give back to this amazing community. Although Sarah was prepared to use her skills and passion to make difference, she wasn’t prepared for just how fast she would fall in love with everyone around her and the profound impact it would have on her heart forever.
What Has Changed Now that Sarah and Her Husband Are Franchise Owners
Sarah and her husband Trent have really taken a strong initiative to include the special needs community in Tim Horton’s vision and environment. This is the second year that Tim Horton’s has been a key sponsor for the special olympics in our community, and the support has resulted in tremendous success. All proceeds donated to this cause go towards raising money for the special olympics events, creating a lifetime of memories for those participating in the olympics and their close loved ones. In addition to this, Sarah has made sure to give plenty of opportunities for people with disabilities to apply and actively be involved in the workplace. She has put emphasis on the fact that it is not just another simple job, the special needs positions are just as important as the other employee positions in the workplace.
Everyone working in the franchise is the face of the business and contributes to the greater good of the work environment and success. Having at least one or two employees that are special needs, creates a special experience for the staff and customers bringing the positivity and simplicity that the store needs to stay sane during the busy customer traffic. The happiness and dedication that comes from the special needs employees keeps everyone grounded and reminds them of what is really important in life, and how the little things that go wrong don’t need to destroy your entire day. Essentially the special needs employees help keep everyone in the store calm and happy while dealing with the busy consumer traffic of the locations. Sarah highlights the fact that our community is going to see first-hand how Tim Horton’s will change the lives of those with special needs and in the special olympics in the upcoming months. Sports such as curling, baseball and others will be supported. She is absolutely thrilled to tap into another niche in the area that needs recognition and support.
As quoted from Sarah Collie;
“In terms of the everyday operations, there is a very simple reason why we incorporate individuals with special needs as part of our team. We have a specific job that needs to be done and these individuals are perfectly capable and willing to contribute to our team. What we did not anticipate is the level of joy these individuals bring to us, the rest of the team and to the guests in the restaurant every day. I am so proud of Terry, Joram and Michael. They are all outstanding employees and have all achieved personal accomplishments such as Special Olympic participants and world travels. Always pleasant, reliable, helpful and enthusiastic these team members have proven to be great role models for us all.
Trent and I are proud to provide a work environment where Joram, Michael and Terry are valued and respected. We appreciate the support from community services to ensure they are trained properly. These individuals work just as hard as every other employee to promote our business and to contribute to our team in a meaningful manner to achieve a common goal. To serve Canada’s favourite coffee in a welcoming environment in the lovely community of Thornbury.”
Exciting Plans For The Future
They are currently working on expanding the sporting events they are sponsoring for (special olympics and others), including the Timbit’s baseball and curling that will start sometime closer to the winter months. A sponsorship for the memorial tournament run by the BVAA is also in the works, an event that was created to honour those who died in the tragic car accident in Meaford. In addition to this, they were recently approved to be a new sponsorship for Clearview community theatre, which is a staple in the Wasaga community. Currently Sarah and her husband are establishing and growing their marketing tools, collaborating with other franchise owners and supporting each other’s businesses.
Why They Chose Thornbury and Wasaga Beach
Sarah and her husband have emphasized how much they love the BVA and what they do for the community and its economy. She highlights the fact that the BVAA is always supporting people and networking at various events. In addition to the BVAA support, Sarah also mentions the community support itself and how life-changing it has been for her franchise and overall outlook on life. The community welcomed her family with open arms, and they couldn’t be more thrilled to continue to make a difference for everyone using her innovation and previous experience. Some of her favourite activities to do in the area include; using her boat and cruising on the beautiful Georgian Bay, visiting all the local beaches, admiring the beautiful scenery, going on hikes, biking and skiing in the winter months.
