Every business with any sense whatsoever is doing everything it can to ride the Canada 150 wave. Canada’s 150th birthday is, after all, a massive, country-wide celebration, and there is plenty of money to be made by tapping into the festivities.
It should come as no surprise that Tim Hortons, a restaurant chain that is as synonymous with Canada as hockey or maple syrup, is working hard to get in on the Canada 150 action. Perhaps the most notable Canada 150 promo being offered by the ultra-Canadian chain (which is now owned by Restaurant Brands International, which is in turn owned by a Brazilian investment firm), is a poutine doughnut that treads the artery-clogging line between delicious and absolutely vile.
This is precisely what it sounds like: a doughnut topped with cheese curds and Tim Hortons potato wedges and doused in gravy.
Strangely, however, this weird but undeniably intriguing hybrid-junk-food will only be available at US Tim Hortons locations – yes, Tim’s has locations in the states (807 locations as of 2013, to be exact). So, any Canadians hoping to celebrate Canada 150 with this sort of sweet, sort of savoury, but definitely unhealthy creation are out of luck.
"Our new Canadian-inspired treats are a great way for Americans to get in on the 150th celebration of their friendly neighbour next door," Felipe Athayde of Tim Hortons U.S, said of the poutine doughnut in a statement (via CBC.ca).
Unsurprisingly, the unavailability of this weird poutine doughnut has disappointed many Canadians. Tim Hortons will quickly tell these disappointed Canadians that there are plenty of special Canada 150 items available at Canadian locations.
The problem is they’re just not nearly as interesting.
Canadian customers can triple their daily caloric intake with special, limited-time items like maple Timbits, white and red velvet muffins, Dutchie doughnuts and Nanaimo bar doughnuts. These items definitely sound good, but they do not correct the fact that we’re being deprived of the poutine doughnut – a travesty that might even classify as treason.
In a statement to CBC.ca, Tim Hortons addressed those that are not satisfied with the Canada 150 offers being sold in the Great White North.
"We're confident our guests will be delighted by our Canada 150 offerings both north and south of the border," said a Tim Hortons spokesperson.
So, Tim Hortons customers north of the border, are you delighted? Or will you spend July 1st begrudgingly chowing down on Dutchie doughnuts, wondering what the hell the poutine doughnut tastes like?
