Amid the patriotic fervour whipped up by tariff and annexation threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, the debate over whether Tim Hortons is Canadian is as hot as a double double.

If the cultural ubiquity of the Timbit isn't evidence enough of Canadians' connection to Tim Hortons, it's worth noting that the restaurant's branding even includes Canada's red maple leaf.

It's as Canadian as hockey, the maple leaf and Canada geese. Or is it? In the past, Tim Hortons rightfully earned its place as a Canadian icon, starting with one coffee shop in Ontario and ...