HOW IT STARTED
It Started With A Connection
Every great movement begins somewhere. Ours began with Tim Hortons Franchise Owner Sharolta Sandoval and OVOT Founder Orlando Bowen, two people who believed that business and community don’t have to be separate. That belief sparked something bigger than either of them imagined.
The Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Campaign gave OVOT a platform to do what we do best: show up for young people, rally community, and turn everyday moments into something meaningful. Smile Cookie proceeds from participating Brampton Tim Hortons locations supported youth leadership programming, the kind that changes lives.
THE WEEK IN ACTION
One Week. One City. One Team.
True OVOT Energy
Communities gathered together to support Tim Horton Locations
Cookie Box Drop Offs
Cookies delivered and smiles made across the GTA
Youth Participation
Live mural painting by OVOT Leaders in Brampton
Community Support
Community Leaders gathered for a greater purpose
The Energy was Everywhere
Throughout the entire week, OVOT staff, volunteers, and students from schools across the GTA flooded Tim Hortons locations, pumping up the energy, helping customers, and bringing the OVOT spirit to every cup and cookie served.
These weren’t just volunteers showing up to fill a shift. These were young people, mentors, and community members who believed in something, and showed up every single day to prove it. From early morning rushes to afternoon crowds, they brought laughter, enthusiasm, and heart to every location they walked into. Customers didn’t just buy a cookie. They felt the energy. They felt the community. They felt One Voice One Team.
From one end of the city to the other, the message was clear: when we move together, we move mountains.
This is what it looks like when a community moves as one.
Watch the recap from Day 1 of the campaign below.
A full campaign recap video coming soon. Stay tuned.
Community Deliveries
We kicked things off by bringing Smile Cookie orders directly to the people doing the work. From the Pinball Foundation to community schools across Brampton, this campaign wasn’t just about selling cookies. It was about sharing them with the partners who help us build a better city every single day.
Classrooms That Smiled
Young people across Brampton and beyond got in on the action. Students in classrooms from multiple schools and grade levels decorated their own Smile Cookies, turning a simple icing-and-sprinkles moment into a lesson in creativity, community, and joy.
When a classroom comes together over something as simple as a cookie, you see what One Voice One Team sees every day: kids who are ready to lead when given the chance.
A Mural Worth a Thousand Words
One of the most powerful moments of the week happened not inside a Tim Hortons, but on the wall outside one. One Voice One Team youth leaders painted a one-of-a-kind mural at the Queen & Goreway Tim Hortons in Brampton. Every brushstroke was a statement: young people have something to say, and this city is listening.
Leaders Who Showed Up
This campaign brought out leaders who understand that community isn’t built from the top down, it’s built together. We were honoured to welcome:
- Minister Charmaine Williams
- Councillor Rowena Santos
- Councillor Rod Power
- Brampton Fire Fighters
- Bargaining Committee Chair Brent Robillard
- Fire Chief Andy Glynn
Each of them came to Brampton Tim Hortons locations to decorate Smile Cookies and hand them out to customers int their community. They truly believe in what we’re building together.
Why This Matters Matters To Us
At One Voice One Team, we don’t just talk about community, we build it. This campaign was proof that when values align, something real happens. Tim Hortons has always been woven into the fabric of Canadian life. OVOT has always been woven into the lives of young people who need someone in their corner.
When those two worlds came together through the Smile Cookie Campaign, it wasn’t just good marketing. It was good community work.
Every $2 cookie. Every decorated sugar cookie. Every volunteer who showed up. Every student who picked up a paintbrush or a piping bag, it all added up to something we’re proud of.
Check Out the Action
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Volunteer With Us
Volunteers are a vital part of our mission. From supporting youth programs and events to helping behind the scenes with operations and community initiatives, volunteers help bring our programs to life.
If you are looking for a meaningful way to give back and make an impact in the lives of young people, we encourage you to explore our volunteer opportunities.
Careers with OVOT
Throughout the year, One Voice One Team offers Full-time, Part-time and seasonal positions in many areas:
• Youth programming
• Marketing and communications
• Administration
• Business development