Ron Joyce facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ron Joyce
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Joyce in 2009
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| Born |
Ronald Vaughan Joyce
October 19, 1930 Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, Canada
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| Died | January 31, 2019 (aged 88) Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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| Occupation | Entrepreneur and Philanthropist |
| Known for | Co-founding Tim Hortons |
| Children | 7 |
Ronald Vaughan Joyce (born October 19, 1930 – died January 31, 2019) was a very successful Canadian businessman. He helped start the famous Tim Hortons doughnut and coffee chain. He was Tim Horton's business partner and opened the very first Tim Hortons restaurant in 1964.
After Tim Horton passed away, Ron Joyce played a big part in creating the Tim Horton Children's Camps and the Tim Horton Children's Foundation. These organizations help kids have amazing experiences. He won many awards for his business success and for being very generous. In 1992, he was given the Order of Canada, a high honour, because he helped many young people who needed support.
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Ron Joyce's Early Life and Work
Ron Joyce was born in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, on October 19, 1930. When he was 16, he moved to Hamilton, Ontario. He was looking for more opportunities after the war. He worked many different jobs.
In 1951, he joined the Royal Canadian Navy. He was trained to be a wireless operator, sending and receiving messages. In 1956, Joyce became a police officer with the Hamilton Police Service. He served as a police officer until 1965. Once, he even helped deliver a baby while on patrol!
Starting in the Food Business
Joyce decided to try the food service business. In 1963, he bought a Dairy Queen restaurant in Hamilton. He wanted to open a second Dairy Queen, but the city said no. Then, he saw a "For Sale" sign on a store. He decided to open a coffee shop instead.
In 1967, Joyce became a partner with Tim Horton. After Tim Horton died in a car accident in 1974, Ron Joyce bought Tim's share of the company. He paid about $1 million and took control of the entire Tim Hortons business.
Growing the Tim Hortons Chain
Joyce hired a team to help him manage the company. He started to open many more Tim Hortons restaurants as franchises. This means other people could open their own Tim Hortons using the brand name. This happened throughout the 1970s and 1990s.
In the early 1990s, a franchise owner named Danny Murphy had both Tim Hortons and Wendy's restaurants. He wanted to put both under one roof in Montague, Prince Edward Island. Murphy asked Ron Joyce and Wendy's founder, Dave Thomas, to be there for the opening.
In 1995, Tim Hortons and Wendy's joined together. Ron Joyce became the biggest shareholder in the new combined company. Later, the companies separated again.
Retirement and New Ventures
Eventually, Ron Joyce sold his shares in Wendy's. He retired from managing the company. However, he stayed active in his own company, Jetport Inc. This company owns real estate, airplanes, and other businesses.
In 2000, Joyce opened Fox Harb'r Golf Resort & Spa. This is a fancy resort and private community. He also built an airport as part of the resort. This new airport replaced an older one nearby.
In 2006, Ron Joyce wrote a book about his time with Tim Hortons. It was called Always Fresh: The Untold Story of Tim Hortons by the Man Who Created a Canadian Empire.
Helping Others: Charitable Work and Awards
Ron Joyce faced challenges when he was young. Because of this, he always focused on helping young people in Canada. He especially wanted to help those who did not have much money.
He started the Tim Horton Children's Foundation. This foundation sends kids who are less fortunate to camp every year. For his work with the Foundation, he won the Gary Wright Humanitarian Award in 1991. This award recognized his great contributions to communities across Canada.
Major Honours and Philanthropy
Mostly for his work with the Tim Horton Children's Camps, he was given the Order of Canada on October 21, 1992. This is one of Canada's highest honours. After selling his part of Tim Hortons, Joyce started his own foundation. It is called The Joyce Family Foundation. This foundation helps children with their social, economic, and emotional well-being.
In May 2017, Ron Joyce was celebrated for giving over $52 million to colleges and universities in Atlantic Canada. The Joyce Family Foundation has also given large amounts of money across Canada. Ron Joyce has received several awards for his generous giving.
Academic and Business Recognition
Joyce received honorary degrees from seven Canadian universities. These include Mount Allison University and McMaster University. In 1994, he received an award from McGill University for his achievements in management.
In 1996, Ron Joyce was only the second person to get the Canadian Franchise Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1999, he was added to the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. In the same year, he was named Entrepreneur of the Year for Ontario and Canada. In 2005, the Canadian Red Cross gave him the Humanitarian Award. This was for his work with the Tim Horton Children's Foundation and his support for education and health around the world.
Personal Life
Ron Joyce had seven children. His son, Ron Jr., married Tim Horton's oldest daughter, Jeri-Lyn. They own four Tim Hortons restaurants in southern Ontario.
On November 11, 2007, the business jet Ron Joyce was flying in had an accident. It crashed near the runway at his Fox Harb'r Resort's airport. Joyce was injured and broke two bones in his back.
Ron Joyce was very wealthy. In 2017, he was worth about US$1.4 billion. He passed away at his home in Burlington on January 31, 2019, at 88 years old.
Images for kids
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Joyce in 2009
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Bronze Sculpture at McMaster Children's Hospital
