Swimmer Lindsay Reimer and Tim Hortons Franchisee Glenn Isaac show off some of her medals. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Special Donut

#ChooseToInclude: Special Olympics Donut available at Tim Hortons till Feb. 2

Jan 31, 2025 | 1:32 PM

In the kitchen of one of North Battleford’s Tim Hortons, the baking was taking a sweet turn.

Lindsay Reimer, a Special Olympic athlete rolled up her sleeves and was trying her hand at creating this year’s Special Olympic Donut.

“I think it’s going to taste delicious,” said the swimmer, who has Down Syndrome, sitting at a table with a medal around her neck.

Tim Horton’s has been supporting Special Olympics Canada since 2016 and this year from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, 100 per cent of the proceeds will go back into sport programming for athletes with cognitive divergences.

Since the partnership began, the company has raised $1.5 million to SOC’s Active Start and FUNdamentals programs, while the doughnut has raised roughly $1 million.

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“Swimming is my kind of sport,” she said, noting she is always in the water and has a goal of being a professional athlete.

“It’s part of me, it’s who I am, and I’ll keep going.”

This year’s Special Olympic Donut. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW Staff)

According to Glenn Isaac, Tim Hortons franchisee, they’re hoping to increase sales this year and given the founder’s background, it was no surprise, the company has always supported the sporting life of all abilities.

“We do a lot with children, with Timbits Hockey and Soccer and this is an area that corporate found that was in need of some help,” he said.

The doughnut itself is a chocolate cake ring with white ganache and sprinkles down one side with a dollop of whip in the middle. Isaac said he hopes the community will come out and take part in the #choosetoinclude initiative.

“It raises awareness about this that there are disabled people that function and are able to contribute,” he said.

“You can watch on TV of whether there’s a swimmer or maybe a basketball player that’s got a disability, but they still are able to do what they want to do and contribute to a team effort.”

Reimer said she’s been a water baby since she was little, and it was during her initial years in swimming lessons that the instructors discovered her talent. Over the years, she has travelled to meets across North America and has a collection of nine medals all together. Since encouraging her to join a swim club, she has become proficient in all styles including butterfly, back stroke, breaststroke and free style.

As for her favourite?

“The fly,” she said, laughing.

According to Isaac, Fridays are their best day, and he said he hoped that it translates into a lot of sales.

“It helps give the people that don’t have the options, it helps fund it a little bit to reach more people and include more people in sports,” he said.

“It’s heartwarming, it’s nice to be a part of this.”

Reimer said she feels “really good” when she’s in the water and said she can’t point to a favourite part of swimming – she loves ‘All of it.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: julieslovett.bsky.social