New Heritage Minute to Feature Tim Hortons Fight Over Last Boston Cream

📝 By Juno Moose – Montreal, Quebec

CANADA – Historica Canada has announced that the next official Heritage Minute will dramatize one of the most defining moments in modern Canadian culture: a heated 2014 argument at a Tim Hortons in North Bay, Ontario, over the last Boston Cream donut.

The incident, long whispered about in Timbit lore, is now being given full cinematic treatment, joining other iconic moments in Canadian history such as Viola Desmond’s protest, the invention of insulin, and that time we all collectively apologized for bumping into each other at the grocery store.

“Some moments define a people. This one defines a nation,” said director Élodie Thibault, whose previous work includes ‘Poutine: A Love Story’ and ‘The Tragically Hip: A Very Loud Whisper.’

The 60-second spot is expected to air nationally this fall during Hockey Night in Canada, the Weather Network’s hourly forecast, and reruns of Corner Gas.

The Incident That Changed Tim Hortons Forever

The altercation occurred just after 8:47 AM on October 17, 2014, when two customers—later identified as Marjorie “Marge” Fournier, 68, and Brent Deacon, 42—reached for the last remaining Boston Cream at the exact same time.

Security footage shows the two staring at the donut in tense silence for 14 seconds before Marge utters the now-immortal words:

“Back off, Brent. You know damn well I was here first.”

Eyewitnesses claim the ensuing debate lasted over nine minutes, drawing a small crowd and briefly halting production of breakfast sandwiches.

A compromise was eventually reached when an employee cut the donut in half, but gave Marge the half with more icing, prompting Brent to storm out muttering, “This country’s gone soft.”

The Tim Hortons location later mounted the donut box in a shadow frame labeled “The Boston Cream Incident.”

A Nation Divided (But Polite About It)

The event became a lightning rod for larger questions about Canadian values, dessert hierarchy, and passive-aggressive conflict resolution.

🗣️ “You can’t just take the last Boston Cream if someone’s clearly eyeing it. That’s a social contract,” said cultural etiquette expert Doug Laramie.
🗣️ “Frankly, I think this would’ve never happened if it was a Honey Cruller. Nobody fights over those,” added food historian Danielle Bouchard.

Online debates continue to this day, with Reddit threads like “Who was right in North Bay?” and “Is it still a Boston Cream if you cut it in half?” garnering thousands of comments.

The Heritage Minute: What to Expect

The dramatization will include:
🎬 Sweeping orchestral music as the camera zooms in on the final donut.
🎬 Slow-motion reach sequence with voiceover narration by Gordon Pinsent’s ghost.
🎬 Authentic dialogue recreated from witness statements, including the line, “It’s just a donut, but it’s OUR donut.”

🎬 A proud child whispering, “I remember that day,” even though they were clearly not born yet.

The final shot features Marge and Brent sharing a tense half-donut, followed by a patriotic montage of beavers, curling stones, and a single tear rolling down a Mountie’s cheek.

Mixed Reactions from Canadians

While some celebrate the upcoming Minute as long overdue recognition of modern Canadiana, others feel it trivializes the Heritage Minute brand.

“Next they’ll do one about someone forgetting their Scene card,” grumbled one critic.

Still, Historica Canada remains committed to expanding the definition of “heritage.”

“It’s not just about the past. It’s about the moments that shape us—whether it’s standing up for civil rights or standing in line at Tim’s.”At press time, Marge and Brent had reportedly been invited to ride together on a float during North Bay’s Heritage Day Parade, with a replica donut suspended above them. Both are considering it—pending donut equity negotiations.