Canadian Tire money facts for kids

Canadian Tire money, also known as CTM, is a special program from the Canadian store Canadian Tire. It's like a reward system for shoppers. You can get it as paper coupons or in a digital form.

This program started in 1958 with paper coupons. Later, in 2012, a digital version was added. Today, both ways of earning Canadian Tire money are still used. Many people think it's one of the most successful reward programs in Canada!

Canadian Tire money is valued just like Canadian dollars. You earn it based on how much you spend before taxes. For example, if you spend $100, you might earn 40 cents in Canadian Tire money.

When you use CTM to pay, it's like using real cash. You can use it for anything you buy, even to help pay sales taxes. But remember, you can't trade Canadian Tire money for regular Canadian cash.

Paper Canadian Tire Money Coupons

Paper CTM coupons look a lot like real banknotes. They are printed on special paper, similar to old Canadian money. Two well-known companies, British American Banknote Company and Canadian Bank Note Company, print them.

You can earn and spend paper CTM mainly at Canadian Tire stores. However, some other small businesses might also choose to accept it as payment.

You usually get paper CTM when you pay with cash, a debit card, or even with other Canadian Tire money. If you pay with a credit card, you usually don't get paper CTM.

History of Paper CTM

Canadian Tire money coupons first appeared in 1958. They were given out at a Canadian Tire gas station in Toronto. The idea came from Muriel Billes, whose husband helped start Canadian Tire. She wanted to offer something special, like other gas companies were doing.

The program was so popular at gas stations that by 1961, it was also used in Canadian Tire retail stores. For many years, there were different coupons for gas stations and for stores.

At first, Canadian Tire money was only available in Eastern Canada. But in 1995, the program became available across the entire country.

Since 1961, the coupons have shown a picture of "Sandy McTire." He's a fictional character with a special hat called a tam o' shanter and a fancy mustache. He's meant to look like a smart, money-saving Scotsman, representing everyday Canadians from the 1950s.

What Denominations Are There?

Today, you can find CTM coupons in different values: 5 cents, 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, one dollar, and two dollars.

Here's a look at some of the different values that have been made:

Fun Uses Beyond Canadian Tire

Sometimes, Canadian Tire money shows up in unexpected places!

• In 2004, in Moncton, New Brunswick, an ATM accidentally gave out Canadian Tire money instead of real cash to a few customers. The bank quickly fixed the mistake.
• People sometimes joke about Canadian Tire money, comparing it to "Monopoly money." It's a fun part of Canadian culture.
• In the mid-1990s, someone in Germany tried to make a lot of fake Canadian Tire money, but they were caught before they could use it in Canada.
• In 2012, a musician named Corin Raymond used Canadian Tire money that fans donated to help pay for his music album!

Canadian Tire Coins

Canadian Tire has also made special coins! In 2009, they gave out their first Canadian Tire coin as part of a deal if you spent a certain amount. They did something similar in 2010 with a set of three winter-themed coins. These coins work just like the paper CTM.

Electronic Canadian Tire Money

In 2012, Canadian Tire introduced a digital version of their money called Canadian Tire Money Advantage. You earned it by showing a special loyalty card. This program grew, and by 2014, it included people who had the Canadian Tire Options credit card.

In 2018, the Canadian Tire Money Advantage program changed its name to Triangle Rewards. This new program made it even easier to earn and spend digital Canadian Tire money. Now, you can earn and use it not just at Canadian Tire stores, but also at other stores owned by the company, like Mark's, Sport Chek, and PartSource.

Unlike paper Canadian Tire money, you can earn digital CTM even when you pay with a credit card. You can even earn extra digital CTM if you use a Triangle credit card.

See also

• Loyalty program
• Numismatics
• Banknote