For Victoria Sommerville, a trip to camp became something much bigger than a summer adventure.
The former Tim Hortons Foundation Camps camper, known to campers as “Trooper” after returning as a counsellor, says camp gave her the confidence to embrace new experiences and realize her future wasn’t defined by the circumstances she grew up in.
Her story is one of thousands behind Wednesday’s Tim Hortons Camp Day, when proceeds from every hot and iced coffee sold support Tim Hortons Foundation Camps. The charitable organization helps young people from underserved communities develop leadership skills, build resilience and gain confidence through year-round camp-based programs.
Sommerville says camp changed the direction of her life.
After attending camp for five summers, Sommerville returned as a counsellor, where she saw firsthand the challenges many young campers carried with them and the difference a supportive community could make.
Those experiences didn’t end when camp was over.
Years later, Sommerville still keeps in touch with campers and counsellors she met through the program, travelling across Canada to reconnect with friends who continue to share the values and experiences they built together.
Today, Sommerville has become one of the voices encouraging others to support Camp Day, speaking to Tim Hortons restaurant owners, sponsors and community groups about the impact their contributions have on young people. She says many supporters never get to see where their donations go, and hopes sharing her story helps connect a simple cup of coffee with the opportunities it creates.
Every hot and iced coffee purchased on Camp Day helps Tim Hortons Foundation Camps continue providing life-changing experiences that empower young people to discover their strengths, build meaningful relationships and realize their full potential.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
