Family of late Emma Meekis, Tim Hortons Sioux Lookout, invite community to celebrate her life with a free cup of coffee or tea

Tim Brody - Editor

Emma Meekis worked at Tim Hortons in Sioux Lookout from 2015 to 2017. It was her first job and she rose to the position of supervisor. She was joined in working at the restaurant by her mother Joanne Meekis and sisters Veronica Meekis and Montana Meekis. 
Emma passed away on June 18, 2022. She was 23-years-old and leaves behind a son, Emmerson Meekis.
On June 18, Emma’s family is holding a private family memorial to remember her, but they also want to honour her in the community. And so, this Sunday, Father’s Day, a year to the day she passed away, starting at 9 a.m., members of Emma’s family will be giving away 200 gift cards for a large coffee or tea in Emma’s memory at the Sioux Lookout Tim Hortons drive-thru. Tim Hortons in Sioux Lookout is matching this display of generosity by providing an additional 200 gift cards for a large coffee or tea.
Emma’s father Gino Meekis said honouring loved ones in the community and celebrating their lives over a cup of coffee or tea on the day of their memorial is commonly done on his reserve of Sandy Lake First Nation.
“They post on Facebook to say someone’s memorial is coming up, so they say they’ll be giving away free coffees, steeped teas,” he said.
Tim Hortons Sioux Lookout General Manager Asmara Aftab commented, “Emma’s dad approached me and told me he wanted to do that. When I discussed it with my owner, she was very happy they were doing it.” And so Aftab informed the family Tim Hortons wanted to match their display of generosity.
Gino Meekis said he was surprised by Tim Hortons support, “It made me very happy… It just melted my heart.”