Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Barb Drummond. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Barb thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

For me, business has never just been about profit—it’s about purpose. Whether I’m serving coffee, speaking at a keynote, or signing my book, there’s a mission behind it: to give back, raise awareness, and create space for voices that too often go unheard.

That mission is deeply personal. I’ve watched Alzheimer’s slowly rewrite the story of someone I loved—my mom. I’ve witnessed the world underestimate individuals with Down syndrome—our son, Clark. Only to watch him (and others) exceed expectations time and time again. These experiences don’t sit on the sidelines of my work; they drive it.

That’s why 10% of sales from my book, I Finally Have the Smoking Hot Body I have Always Wanted (having been cremated), go directly to the Alzheimer’s Society. It’s why I speak openly and often about aging, identity, and caregiving. Interact with caregivers and advocates online. It’s why our Tim Hortons locations proudly support Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, host local charity campaigns, and champion inclusive hiring—because every job should be a door, not a barrier.

I’ve had the honour of sharing our story on stage, advocating for inclusion, and hopefully reminding people that even the smallest everyday choices—where you work, where you eat, what you support—can be part of something bigger.

In everything I do—personally and professionally—I ask: What’s the mission behind this? Sometimes it’s raising funds. Sometimes it’s raising eyebrows. Sometimes it’s about creating a sense of community.

But always, it’s about raising each other up. If you’re going to build something, make sure it’s building someone else, too.

Because at the end of the day, you don’t just want to run good businesses, you want to do good through them.

Barb, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Thanks so much for the opportunity to share a bit about who I am and what drives our work!

I’m a former educator turned entrepreneur, author, and advocate. My husband Gordon and I co-own four Tim Hortons restaurants and an office complex in northern Alberta. Working together is something I’m incredibly proud of (we can even wallpaper together, LOL), but even more so, we’re proud of the amazing management teams and team members who show up every day with heart and hustle. They’re the heartbeat of our business. And if it weren’t for all our amazing guests, we wouldn’t be able to give back the way we currently do. So grateful!

We’ve always tried to build businesses that are about more than just great coffee—they’re about inclusion, opportunity, and community. Our youngest son, Clark, has Down syndrome, and his journey has inspired much of what we do. We’ve made inclusive hiring a priority, and we’ve been honoured to receive incredible recognition, including the Premier’s Council Award for Employment Excellence and a Lifetime Achievement Award from TDL, for our work supporting community groups and in employing people with diverse abilities.

We’re also tackling ongoing labour challenges by investing in training, creating workplaces people actually want to stay in, and leaning into innovative solutions. And we couldn’t do any of it without our incredibly supportive guests, who champion what we stand for and make all the difference.

I also sit on the board for Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, it’s another way I get to champion equity and opportunity for young people across Canada, and I recently wrote a memoir about my mom’s Alzheimer’s journey. It’s a story full of humour and heart—and 10% of sales go to the Alzheimer’s Society, because even storytelling can have a mission behind it.

At the end of the day, we just want to do good work, include others in the journey, and build something that matters—with a little laughter and a lot of coffee along the way.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

One of the most rewarding parts of being both an author and a business owner is the chance to create meaningful connections—whether it’s through a cup of coffee, a book that makes someone laugh-cry, or a workplace that gives someone their very first job. Witnessing the change in them from nervous and unsure to being fast, efficient, and confident! Letting them know where they start is not where they finish!

It’s about impact—on our team, our community, and even globally through the causes we support.

I’ve watched team members grow from their first shift behind the counter to becoming managers, and even co-owners alongside us.

I get messages from readers who tell me they laughed out loud at situations that should have been gut-wrenching—and how, in doing so, they finally felt seen in the hard, often heartbreaking work of caring for a loved one.

Seeing that ripple effect—how one small, heartfelt idea can grow into something that lifts others—makes my heart happy!

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in our life—and one that still shapes our lives today—came when our youngest son was born with Down syndrome, needed open-heart surgery at just seven months old, and then was diagnosed with leukemia at eighteen months and is non-verbal even now at 21.
At the time, we were only a few years into our first Tim Hortons, homeschooling our three other children, and trying to find our footing as new business owners. Life suddenly became a juggling act of hospital stays, business responsibilities, parenting, and survival. I stayed in the hospital full-time, paying bills and planning homeschool lessons from a chair beside his crib, while Gord ran the business during the week and drove the kids back and forth from Peace River to Edmonton every weekend.
That was the moment we had to pivot-as parents, as business owners, and as people.
We had to let go of any illusion of control and realized we had to build a team that was strong and trustworthy. We learned quickly that asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.
That journey taught us the power of community, resilience, and living under pressure. And it’s why, to this day, everything we do—whether it’s how we hire, how we lead, or how we give back—is grounded in compassion, inclusion, and purpose. So, we’ve built our business and our lives around being the kind of people who show up when it matters most

Contact Info:

• Website: https://barbdrummondwrites.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hicksdrummond/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bjdrummond
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbdrummond/

Image Credits

Amanda Monette