Tim Hortons Smile Cookie Week, held from April 27 to May 3,2026 once again showed what happens when a $2 cookie gains momentum in a community that knows how to amplify kindness. Powered by volunteers, students, local businesses, and partners, this year’s event transformed 12,285 cookies into $24,570 in support of the FSJ Hospital Foundation.
Smile Cookie Week quickly grew into a city‑wide wave of generosity. Volunteers, including members of the FSJ Hospital Foundation Board, signed up for decorating shifts throughout the week. Their care and creativity ensured that every Smile Cookie delivered across Fort St. John carried not just a face, but a personal touch.
The momentum continued as local partners embraced the spirit of paying it forward. GFL Environmental made one of the week’s biggest impacts, delivering 2,500 Smile Cookies, a $5,000 act of kindness, to schools across the city.
Pembina added to the excitement by delivering 50 dozen boxes of Smile Cookies to teachers and administrative staff throughout School District 60, ensuring that educators across the region felt appreciated and supported.
Troyer Ventures continued the chain of kindness by paying it forward to both the Emergency Room staff at the Fort St. John Hospital and the students and staff at CM Finch Elementary, spreading smiles to frontline workers and young learners alike.
Students also played a meaningful role in this year’s success. Leadership classes from local schools joined the effort, helping distribute cookies throughout their schools and experiencing firsthand how small acts of kindness can create big impact.
One of the most anticipated moments of Smile Cookie Week, the auction of the giant Smile Cookie, reached new heights this year, drawing the highest number of bids ever recorded and showcasing the community’s enthusiasm for this beloved tradition.
“We saw incredible momentum this year,” said Emily Olson, Community Giving & Event Coordinator for the Fort St. John Hospital Foundation. “When one person buys a cookie, it’s a treat. When a whole community buys in, it creates something much bigger. We’re grateful to our local Tim Hortons restaurants, every volunteer, partner, student, and resident who helped make this week unforgettable.”
Smile Cookie Week was more than a fundraiser – it was a reminder of what Fort St. John does best: turning small gestures into meaningful change.