• by Fern Siegel , December 14, 2022

Restaurant chain Tim Hortons is launching its holiday campaign with a 60-second TV spot and a children’s book called “A Nest in the North.”

Both were created in partnership with agency GUT Toronto.

The holiday campaign features a story about leaving home under difficult circumstances and finding a new life in a foreign land. The campaign includes a Canadian goose who takes in newcomers, no matter their flock.

Brynna Aylward, executive creative director at GUT Toronto, told Agency Daily: “Canada is known for being a welcoming and inclusive country in a time when not everyone is. This project was a way to celebrate that kindness and to encourage more of it. And with locations in almost every airport, Tim's is intrinsically tied to welcoming newcomers to Canada so it felt like the right story for the brand to tell.”

To accompany the spot, entitled “KindNest,” Tim Hortons co-developed “A Nest in the North” with Veronika Kotyk, an illustrator and graphic designer who came to Canada from Ukraine in June. Kotyk said the story reflects her personal experience.

“A Nest in the North'' is available to purchase as a hard-copy book or eBook at anestinthenorth.ca.  All proceeds from book sales are being donated to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

In September, GoodLife Fitness selected Gut Toronto as its creative agency of record.