Tim Hortons

Tim Horton's is a typical Canadian coffee shop. By observing and interpreting this setting, we can understand Canadian culture as it's expressed in that setting. Understanding this small part of Canadian culture can then be applied, in a broader way, to the culture of Canadian society. A certain language that is special to customers of Tim Horton's serves a purpose that most are not aware of, big business is changing and confusing our traditional culture with a new culture that is run and concerned with money by large corporations. Canadians are generally friendly and polite to one another but are not community oriented, they are more individualistic.

The coffee business has developed, through relationships with customers, a language that is exclusive to coffee drinkers and regulars of Tim Horton's. Examples included while ordering are "double double" which means coffee with double cream and sugar, or "ice cap" which means ice cappuccino. The main purpose of this language seems to have evolved through convenience, but its existence is very beneficial to the business. This language speeds up the ordering process and goes well with their greeting of "how can I help you" while a large smile is on the employees face. The greeting is friendly, but not too friendly in that it does not open up any other conversation other than ordering. The language is quick and to the point, wasting no time.

Inside the coffee shop, a great deal of thought has been put into spatial distribution. The space is small, but every square centimeter is utilized for sitting, ordering and preparing and displaying food. The floor plan allows customers to move in a structured way to order and then sit down or leave. The floor plan is similar to a continuous circular flow of costumers, that starts when you walk in the door and ends when you leave. Like an assembly line, this suggests that Canadian culture is very rigid and structured. The sitting area consists of small tables that let only three people sit comfortably at one time. The sitting chairs are upright with a hard surface; they're not comfortable and relaxing in the least bit. Upbeat easy rock music plays in the background, this music is very safe in that all ages can identify and accept it while still loud enough to not hear the noisy kitchen in the back. Bright lights, along with the chairs, tables and music create an atmosphere and mood that does not allow people to get too comfortable. The major events that take place during visiting a Tim Horton's shop is first ordering and paying then second receiving your order. The employees try their best to make as less time pass between these two events as possible, they rush to make sure of this. In Canadian culture we expect good service but very fast; this could be compared to how Canadians have learned at a young age to compete with one another for success, along our time line. The spatial distribution seems, on the surface to be created for a friendly, happy atmosphere where people can have their favorite beverage and snack while relaxing and talking with others. But there's a hidden agenda that most people are not aware of, this is what is changing our culture, Tim Horton's wants you to think they want you to stay and relax, but in reality everything suggests otherwise, the lighting, chairs, music all creates a setting that allows you to get comfortable, but not too comfortable. Tim Horton's