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NO DOGS LEFT BEHIND ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF ITS NEW SAFE HOUSE LOCATED IN TORONTO, CANADA

No Dogs Left Behind

No Dogs Left Behind (NDLB), a global animal welfare organization dedicated to ending the reckless slaughtering of animals in East Asia, is proud to announce its presence in Canada with the opening of its first Safe House in Toronto for dogs rescued from the illegal dog meat trade. This is the first expansion of its kind for NDLB outside of East Asia. NDLB, a United States based nonprofit organization, operates boots on the ground in East Asia fighting on the front lines to end the reckless slaughtering of all animals. With help from hundreds of local activists, Jeff Beri, the Founder and President of the organization, rescues dogs from slaughterhouses, dog meat trucks, wet markets, the Yulin Dog Meat “Festival” and illegal dog traffickers. He then transports them to one of NDLB’s three sanctuaries in East Asia where they receive medical care, nutritional support, and rehabilitation on an ongoing basis. These survivors stay in NDLB’s sanctuaries until they are adopted into loving homes in the United States, Canada and the U.K. Primarily located in East Asia, with its headquarters in New York, NDLB recently expanded its presence into Canada in order to continue its lifesaving work after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indefinitely suspended the importation of dogs into the United States from 113 countries. “This suspension was a complete surprise to all international rescues, and at the time, we had 112 dogs that had American adopters waiting to welcome them home” says Jacqueline Finnegan, NDLB Vice President and CEO of USA Operations. “We recognized that this suspension would likely remain in place for the foreseeable future and we took immediate steps to grow the foundation so that we could continue to adopt out the dogs that we rescue.” “Failure is not an option” says Beri. “Our mission is to end the reckless slaughtering of animals. The CDC’s import ban forced us to rethink our operations because we must have the ability to adopt our dogs out in order to make room for new survivors. We have always adopted dogs to Canadian citizens, so choosing Canada as the location for our first Safe House in North America was an easy decision.” Beri arrived in Toronto today to personally open the Safe House and ensure it operates according to all the same protocols NDLB employs in the other three sanctuaries it operates. The Safe House will include kennels, indoor and outdoor play areas, and large parks for the dogs to play in throughout the day. A key part of the operations will focus on socializing the dogs so that they are fully adjusted and ready to become part of a family when they are finally united with their adopters. “The welcome we have received from everyone in Canada has been overwhelming,” says Beri. “We are so grateful to all of the amazing Canadians who have opened up their homes and their hearts to our survivors, whether as fosters or adopters, and to all of the new volunteers who have joined the NDLB family in the recent months to help us with transports and our Safe House.” Through the unwavering support of donors, volunteers and activists, NDLB is leading the efforts in fighting for global animal welfare reform. Beri looks forward to growing NDLB’s presence in Canada and getting more people involved in NDLB’s fight against animal cruelty and demanding global animal welfare laws. If you would like to donate to support NDLB’s mission or its new Canadian Safe House, click here. About No Dogs Left Behind: No Dogs Left Behind operates boots on the ground in East Asia, fighting on the frontlines to rescue dogs from the illegal dogmeat trade. We work hands-on with local activists through emergency response, pulling dogs directly from slaughterhouses, dogmeat trucks, wet markets and traffickers. Our mission extends beyond borders, advocating for the creation and enforcement of animal welfare laws, and raising awareness for a cruelty-free, sustainable world in which no animal is violated, exploited, tortured or slaughtered for commercial goods or profit. With nearly 500 survivors in our care, No Dogs Left Behind operates sanctuaries in Dayi and Gongyi in East Asia. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok. Contact Details No Dogs Left Behind Sherry Chen +1 855-665-0888 sherry@nodogsleftbehind.com Company Website http://www.nodogsleftbehind.com

November 11, 2021 05:30 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Adore Stories announces Closed Beta for Adore Romance Stories in the hot Interactive Story Games Mobile Gaming Category

Adore Stories

Adore Stories, a woman-owned business focused on strengthening women’s voices at the intersection of literature and gaming, is pleased to announce the imminent launch of Adore Romance Stories, in Closed Beta. Sign up here to take part in this exclusive mobile gaming experience! In our competitive research, we have found that gaming companies are largely run by men, while the readership and audience for these story games is primarily women. The lack of gender equity in the gaming industry has long been established by articles in Forbes, The Guardian and many others, and we are here to help balance the scales. We also find that this genre calls for higher quality writing and so we are adopting best practices long-since established in the screenwriting industry that create better emotional engagement with our audience to craft captivating interactive stories. Similarly, we are focused on greater diversity in our characters, stories, and character customization, to provide important representation for the diverse gaming community that plays these games. With a background in literature and a passion for interactive experiences, it only made sense to take our abilities to the mobile gaming world, and create a better literary experience for all readers, whether male or female. Our stories contain a more diverse mix of characters, and are written to higher standards, with award-winning authors signed on and a 100% female editing staff ensuring that women’s voices are heard and supported, and that our stories feel as authentic as possible to lived experience, while retaining a fun, fantasy feel. About Interactive Story Games: Interactive story games allow you, the player, to step into the shoes of the protagonist in a story, choosing how you look, what your name is, and what actions you choose to take in the story. In our stories, you can choose who you want to date, what activities you take part in, and experience the life of a character in a story, whose actions and reactions are written to exacting literary standards. We feel that interactive story games are fundamentally a new category of media consumption, located somewhere between a book, a traditional gaming experience and a movie. The ability to have a choose-your-own-adventure type experience while having additional music, audio cues, and visual experiences create something that’s not quite a book, not quite a movie, and a fundamentally different experience from other mobile, console or desktop gaming experiences. About Adore Stories: Adore Stories has found acclaim for its writing tools like our Character Template, which helps aspiring and established authors provide more color and meaning behind their written characters. Adore Stories is building a writer community, starting with online writing contests, coming soon! The Adore Stories blog also reviews popular books and authors, and features writing tips and tricks to help you write the stories of your dreams, and the next bestseller! If you would like to learn more about Adore Stories or the mobile experience that we are crafting, please reach out to hello@adorestories.com - we will be happy to talk! Contact Details Adore Stories Media Contact hello@adorestories.com Company Website https://adorestories.com/

November 11, 2021 09:03 AM Pacific Standard Time

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Skyscanner’s Guide to Holiday Travel Tips, Trends, and Ways to Save

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/0ZioIW8kiuM It's that time of year again. The holiday travel season. Flying to be with family and loved ones, trying to squeeze in a vacation after a long year. So, how do you travel safe and get the best deals? Everyone knows planning a trip can be complicated even under the best of circumstances so now is the time to turn to an expert for trends, insights, tips, and ways to save. Travel looks a little different this year, and it’s worth considering new ways to shop for your next trip and get out into the world safely and at the best price. Travel is all about freedom. So, it makes sense that planning and booking your trip should be simple, not a chore. Skyscanner harnesses a powerful search of thousands of providers for the best prices, flexible fares, exact departure and return times, most direct routes and more. Customizing your trip can often provide the best value for money. This is why Skyscanner develop new tools for their app and website to ensure that travelers’ booking experience is straightforward and efficient. Feeling flexible? Search ‘Everywhere’ to see where you can go for a great price. Got a destination in mind? Use Skyscanner Price Alerts to be alerted when the price drops. Simply looking for the best price? Use Skyscanner’s “cheapest month” search function to see the lowest fare for your desired route. Unsure of the rules for travel abroad? Use Skycanner’s interactive map which features a country-by-country breakdown of international travel rules and guidance. Now available with different views for vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. And once you know when and where you’re going, book in just a few quick steps, whether on the Skyscanner app (which has over 110 million downloads) or website -- both of which are available in more than 30 languages. About Skyscanner: Founded in 2003, Skyscanner is a leading travel marketplace dedicated to putting travelers first. Skyscanner helps millions of people in 52 countries and over 30 languages find the best travel options for flights, hotels and car rental every month. Skyscanner is available on desktop, mobile web and its highly rated app has 110 million downloads. Working with 1200 travel partners, Skyscanner’s mission is to lead the global transformation to modern and sustainable travel. For more information, visit: https://www.skyscanner.com/about-us About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 10, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Helping Seniors Feel Less Isolated and More Connected

YourUpdateTV

The ongoing pandemic has increased the likelihood that seniors feel more isolated, making tech-savviness both essential and a determinant of health. Recently, Senior Director at Care.com, Jill McNamara, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss the importance of getting seniors actively engaged online through technology. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/nNHYsVdQjZY The COVID-19 pandemic continues to challenge our aging population in numerous ways. They are feeling more isolated than ever and helping them stay engaged and socially connected has never been more important. According to Care.com’s 2021 Senior Care Outlook Survey, while aging in place remains their preference, the prolonged crisis has increased their desire to have more help at home. This results in a dire need to hire help with tasks within the home, such as meal preparation and light housekeeping. Both of these pandemic challenges are making tech-savviness essential and a key determinant of our seniors’ emotional and physical health going forward. This is why Care.com, the world’s leading online platform for finding family care, and GetSetUp, the largest social learning platform that helps older adults learn new skills and have new experiences, are collaborating to offer live online caregiving classes, such as how to find and pay for the care they need. Through this partnership, GetSetUp and Care.com will help older adults overcome any fears and reluctance they have in using tech to enhance their overall well-being. For those interested in learning more, please visit www.getsetup.org and search ‘ Care.com ’. About Jill McNamara: Jill McNamara is the Senior Director of Care@Work for Care.co m, the world’s largest online destination for finding and managing high-quality family care. Since joining Care.com in 2011, Jill has expanded the company’s senior care services nationally, and has assisted in growing the Senior Care Planning program for Care.com ’s enterprise arm Care@Work, which builds customized family care benefits packages for employers supporting the caregiving responsibilities of their employees. The program provides families with customized and comprehensive guidance, strategies, and local resources to meet individual needs. Jill started her social work career working with adults with mental and physical disabilities and continued to provide in-home counseling in and around the Boston area to families facing an array of complex challenges. Guided by her professional and personal experiences in senior care, she is extremely passionate about helping families and individuals navigate their own journey in senior care. Jill has her Masters in Social Work, is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, and a Certified Advanced Social Work Case Manager. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Gordon College and obtained her Master of Social Work from Simmons College School of Social Work. About GetSetUp: GetSetUp is on a mission to help those over 55 learn new skills, connect with others and unlock new life experiences. The social learning platform helps over 3 million older adults in 160 countries stay mentally and physically fit, creates economic opportunities through jobs and reskilling, and provides a community where people find meaning and purpose by sharing their knowledge and passions and forming new connections. Classes are taught by older adults on a highly interactive, custom-built video platform where older adults can connect during and in between classes. Classes are taught in English, Spanish, Hindi, and Mandarin. Learn more at https://www.getsetup.org About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 10, 2021 05:00 PM Eastern Standard Time

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Home Maintenance Tips for the Winter: How to Know if You Need to Call an Expert

YourUpdateTV

A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/2UPtX1CdE1s Ready or not, winter is on its way. Depending on where you live, you might've already felt the temperature drop, which means it's a good time to start preparing your home for the coldest months ahead. But if you’re not an expert in DIY home maintenance, knowing where to look and knowing what to look for can be difficult. It may be time to call in the real experts. On Thursday, November 4 th, Chief Operating Officer of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and Mister Sparky Electric, Mark Dawson conducted a nationwide media tour to share helpful tips on preparing your home for winter and for the influx of family and friends this holiday season. For more information, expert and licensed professionals at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning and Mister Sparky are ready to assist and service homeowners across the country. To request a service, visit: https://www.mistersparky.com/ https://www.benjaminfranklinplumbing.com/ https://www.onehourheatandair.com / About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

November 10, 2021 04:54 PM Eastern Standard Time

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SURVEY FROM FARM FORWARD SHOWS WHOLE FOODS MARKET SHOPPERS ARE BEING MISLED BY GLOBAL ANIMAL PARTNERSHIP “WELFARE” LABEL

Farm Forward

Think you can buy a humanely raised turkey at Whole Foods? Think again. With Thanksgiving menus in mind, consumers looking for the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) label in Whole Foods Market may be misled about the animal welfare standards within the grocers’ marquee certification program. A new survey by Farm Forward shows the vast majority (88%) of respondents were incorrect about or didn’t know whether GAP means that animals are raised on pasture (of the 88%, 58% were wrong, and 30% responded that they didn’t know). Most chickens and turkeys raised under GAP are not required to have outdoor access. “Whole Foods’ GAP label creates more confusion than clarity,” said Ben Goldsmith, chief strategist for Farm Forward. “GAP is the largest third-party animal welfare certification in the US, yet it deceives shoppers into paying more for meat, poultry, and eggs that appear more humane and sustainable, when, in reality, many are still factory farmed.” A Desire for Consistent Outdoor Access Previous survey work has demonstrated at least 79% of Americans expect humane labels to guarantee broad welfare improvements, including outdoor access. Virtually all respondents (91%) in Farm Forward’s new survey were incorrect about or didn’t know whether GAP labels mean that animals are given consistent access to the outdoors (of those 91%, 62% were wrong, and 29% didn’t know). Thirty-nine percent of respondents believed that the GAP certification mark meant that animals were given consistent access to the outdoors. In comparison, 60% of respondents said that this should be the case. Nearly half (45%) of US shoppers expect welfare labels to guarantee that animals are raised continuously on pasture. Unfortunately, only the most stringent labels achieve this standard, and those labels are often difficult to find, let alone distinguish. GAP Allows Genetic Modification American shoppers do not understand that GAP certification allows genetic modification for extremely fast-growing birds, who often suffer heart and lung ailments and struggle to walk by the time they reach slaughter age. Nearly 40% of survey respondents replied incorrectly that the generic GAP certification means that animals were not genetically modified to grow unnaturally quickly, with 55% believing that it should be a requirement. Halo Effect Humanewashing benefits the lowest welfare meat producers at the expense of the highest welfare meat producers. Moreover, this “halo effect” helps not only Whole Foods’ own worst meat producers, but also brands at other retailers that use certifications with even lower standards. This would be like a coal company with LEED-certified headquarters; the halo of the company’s eco-friendly headquarters creates a false sense that all of the company's activities are eco-friendly, which in turn casts the entire coal industry in a more positive light. Humanewashing makes it impossible for consumers to make good, fully-informed choices when it comes to purchasing high welfare animal products, even at trusted retailers like Whole Foods, and impossible for highest-welfare farmers to distinguish their products on store shelves. Be Prepared to Pay Consuming higher welfare turkey will cost you, which may be especially difficult for American shoppers to stomach this year because of higher food prices across the board due to supply chain issues. The average price of a Step 1 turkey from a modified factory farm at Whole Foods Market is $1.49 per pound, and a Step 5 turkey (which actually meets most consumers’ expectations about welfare) could cost five times as much per pound. The National Turkey Federation reports that 88% of Americans – nearly 293 million – say they will be eating Thanksgiving turkey this year. That equates to more than 46 million turkeys being eaten at Thanksgiving and an additional 22 million consumed at Christmas. Test Your Humane IQ To help consumers test their knowledge about animal welfare certifications, Farm Forward has created a short Humane IQ quiz. Survey Methodology All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 1219 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 3rd - 7th September 2021. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+). ### About Farm Forward Farm Forward works to improve the lives of more than 400 million farmed animals annually. Since 2007, its mission has been to end factory farming by changing farming, changing policy, and changing the stories told about animal agriculture. Contact Details Farm Forward Susan Peters +1 708-759-7175 susan@farmforward.com Company Website https://www.farmforward.com

November 10, 2021 10:51 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Fine Fragrance House LilaNur Parfums Launches in US Market

LilaNur Parfums

India is alive with scent; from the aromatic rose fields of Aligarh, to the jasmine fields of Tamil Nadu and the peppery spice gardens of Kerala, dozens of exquisite ingredients used in fine fragrances are cultivated in these regions, stretching over centuries, back to the time when India was famed for its art and sophisticated use of perfumery. Still, there has yet to be an exceptional fine fragrance line from India; until now. The launch of LilaNur Parfums as India’s first luxury fragrance house, celebrates the country’s abundant flora and olfactory riches, expressed through the lens of French master perfumery. Born in Madurai and crafted in Grasse, LilaNur Parfums is India’s scented love letter to the world. The story begins with Anita Lal and her deep fascination with the vivid colors and heady scents that punctuate everyday life across the subcontinent. She founded Good Earth, India’s leading design house in 1996 to celebrate the designs and stories of India. It has been Anita’s dream to create a fine fragrance brand based on the authenticity of Indian ingredients, modern perfumery expertise and the reintroduction of the sensual tradition of scenting with Attars; perfumed-oils. In Paul Austin - who Anita commissioned to help her create LilaNur Parfums - she found a kindred spirit with a love for Indian flora and deep expertise in international perfumery and brand development. Formerly the Senior Vice President for the Fine Fragrances division at Givaudan, he founded Austin Advisory Group, an award-winning creative agency focused on storytelling and the senses, while on a research trip to India in 2009. LilaNur Parfums embodies his dedication to spotlighting the terroir of natural ingredients, and his admiration for the beauty, craft, and cultural traditions of India. The story of LilaNur Parfums began in the fragrant flower fields of Southern India, where the house soon forged a deep relationship with the proprietors of Jasmine C.E., India’s largest source of floral absolutes for the international fine fragrance industry. These Indian flowers - distilled and extracted for use by the world’s most renowned master perfumers - are grown and harvested by a community of 5000 women. Propelled by Anita’s belief that community is at the heart of culture, and at the heart of India’s floriculture are the communities of flower growers and harvesters, she established the Rosabagh Foundation. Its mission is to help sustain the livelihoods of this community by initiating various social impact programs aimed at enhancing the quality of their lives and providing access to social enterprise. By pairing agricultural expertise and extraction know-how at the source, along with perfumery expertise from Grasse, LilaNur Parfums was able to develop each scent with an unbroken and traceable line from cultivation to creation. The LilaNur Parfums range includes seven Eau de Parfums and three alcohol-free, oil-based scents, called Attar Absolus. For the Eau de Parfums, four of France's most revered perfumers - Honorine Blanc, Olivier Cresp, Fabrice Pellegrin, and Clément Gavarry - each with a shared passion for the fragrance culture of India - were invited to compose a scent using iconic Indian ingredients as their muse and starting point. Six of the Eau de Parfums have been composed around Indian ingredients such as Jasmine Sambac, Tuberose, Rose Centiolfia, Vetiver, Davana, and Agarwood. The seventh Eau de Parfum - named Incarnation - embodies the design dialogue between India and France. Attars are a uniquely Indian scenting tradition used for centuries to scent the body and enrich the soul. LilaNur Parfums has collaborated with the Firmenich Naturals Innovation Group in Grasse to develop a modern attar formulation using a proprietary infusion process in which pure floral absolutes and sustainably sourced sandalwood are macerated together for over 100 days. The result is a collection of Attar Absolu oils that are unparalleled in their purity, intensity, and luminosity when glossed onto the skin. LilaNur Parfums is available exclusively at Bergdorf Goodman and lilanur.com. Prices range from $275 (100ml Eau de Parfums) to $420 (30ml Attar Absolus). “True luxury is in the details of everyday living. It is in being surrounded by pure and natural scents and materials that have been handcrafted and thoughtfully designed to engage the spirit.” - Anita Lal, Founder LilaNur Parfums For more information on LilaNur Parfums, visit lilanur.com or find them on Instagram @lilanurparfums ### CONTACT: Laura Schroeder; BPCM lschroeder@bpcm.com M: 631-885-2464 Contact Details BPCM Laura Schroeder +1 631-885-2464 lschroeder@bpcm.com Company Website https://www.lilanur.com/

November 10, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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NYC's Fashionistas Open Their Closets to Benefit Youth Arts Nonprofit viBe Theater Experience

viBe Theater Experience

Contact Details viBe Theater Experience Cheryl Overton +1 917-373-3514 cheryl@cheryloverton.com Company Website https://www.vibetheater.org

November 10, 2021 08:03 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Justin Bieber and Tim Hortons® announce collaboration to bring new menu and merch items to restaurants in Canada and the U.S., starting with limited-edition Timbiebs Timbits®

Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons and Justin Bieber are proud to announce a partnership to collaborate on menu innovations and co-branded merchandise, all inspired by Justin’s fanatical love of the Tims brand. Tim Hortons guests in Canada and the United States will get their first taste of the collaboration on Nov. 29, with the launch of a limited-edition selection of Timbiebs Timbits in Chocolate White Fudge, Sour Cream Chocolate Chip, and Birthday Cake Waffle flavours. Justin shared with the Tims team that Timbits are his favourite item on the menu, which led to a multi-stage, iterative journey with Chef Tallis Voakes, Tim Hortons Director of Culinary Innovation, to experiment with different flavour combinations and collaborate on the recipes that guests can soon try for themselves. "Doing a Tim Hortons collab has always been a dream of mine,” said Justin. “I grew up on Tim Hortons and it’s always been something close to my heart." Tim Hortons is thrilled with how Justin has been all-in on this partnership, said Hope Bagozzi, Chief Marketing Officer for Tim Hortons, including filming a fun TV commercial for the Timbiebs launch. “What’s amazing about working with Justin is he has an authentic, lifelong relationship with Tims and he was so invested in working on Timbiebs and our future plans together,” said Bagozzi. “He knows exactly what our guests already love about the Tims brand and he’s helping us deliver new menu innovations that we know they’re going to love. We’re really looking forward to what’s next.” A lineup of Timbiebs merch will also be available in participating restaurants in Canada and the United States on Nov. 29 – more details will be announced soon. Tim Hortons® is one of North America's largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of guest tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos, espresso, teas and our famous Iced Capps™), fresh baked goods, hot breakfast sandwiches, breakfast snacking items, and other food products. Tim Hortons has more than 4,800 system wide restaurants located in Canada, the United States and around the world. More information about the company is available at www.timhortons.com. Contact Details Alison Brod Marketing & Communications Adrianna Lauricella +1 212-230-1800 tims@abmc-us.com Company Website https://www.timhortons.com/

November 10, 2021 06:02 AM Eastern Standard Time

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