TORONTO -- Canadians are upset about the Tim Hortons-Burger King merger. Very upset.
After the American fast-food giant confirmed a deal to buy the Canadian coffee chain for $11 billon on Tuesday, some Canucks took to Twitter to express their anguish.
I don't agree with Tim Hortons merging with Burger King noooo. Its ours!! Its canadian— stephanie (@damniamm) August 25, 2014
I have a good feeling that @timhortons will never be the same. @burgerking is horrible at making hamburgers why would they improve timmies— dave (@foredavey) August 26, 2014
Burger King purchased @TimHortons Wow. Sad news for Canada. No longer a fan.— Nikki Benz (@nikkibenz) August 26, 2014
Their fear? That the big bad American corporation will erode the unique identity of a beloved Canadian brand. Although Tim Hortons won't likely transform into a Dunkin' Donuts North, changes will undoubtedly come to Timmies post-merger. So to show you why we Canucks love Tim Hortons so much, here's a list of seven things that are totally Canadian about the coffee chain:
1. Tim Horton was a hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs
Tim Hortons is named after an Ontario-born hockey player named Tim Horton, who was signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1949. He spent the majority of his career with the Leafs, playing 17 full seasons and three partial seasons for the team.
Horton was also a shrewd business man who "realized that his hockey career would not last forever and sought to find a clever way to add to his hockey salary," according to the coffee chain's website. He launched the first Tim Hortons restaurant in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario.
In sum: Tim Hortons was the brainchild of a Toronto Maple Leafs hockey player. You can't get more Canadian than that.
2. Patriotic donuts
Over the years, Timmies has released limited-edition donuts so patriotic that you could mount them on a flag pole.
There's the Maple Dip donut...
The Toronto Maple Leafs donut...
And finally, the Canada donut.
3. Timbits
You've heard of donut holes? Well, they're not called donut holes in Canada. Here, they're called Timbits, which you can only get at Tim Hortons.
Timbits come in a variety of flavors, and they're delicious.
4. The term "double-double"
The "double-double" is a uniquely Canadian term that is strongly associated with Tim Hortons. It will get you a coffee with two creams and two sugars (or double cream, double sugar).
In this uber Canadian video that features Deadmau5 taking Toronto Mayor Rob Ford on a coffee run, the musician (who is originally from Niagara Falls, Ontario) orders an "extra-large double-double."
5. Roll Up the Rim to Win
Every year, right around late winter and early spring, Tim Hortons rolls out a contest called "Roll Up the Rim to Win." During this time, whenever customers buy a hot drink, the liquid is contained in a special paper cup.
They then roll up the rim of their cup to reveal possible prizes, ranging from free drinks to cars. Like so:
6. The commercials
Tim Hortons commercials are notorious for their Canadianness. This 50th-anniversary ad lists just a portion of the Canadian towns and cities where Timmies is located.
This one features a very Canadian winter scene: a snow storm.
This one is all about how hockey is integral to Canada's identity -- and it features Halifax-born hockey star Sidney Crosby.
7. They're all over Canada
Seriously.
We mean it.
Note: We know there's more to Canada than stereotypes about hockey, snow and donuts, but honestly, they're still big parts of our culture.