Aryne Tavares, MScPT’15, began her work life in two different streams at about the same time. A paying job allowed her to see firsthand that some parents must forgo nutrition to feed their families, while a volunteer position that soon turned into a paying job started her on a path to working with children in need. Her passions and experience have come together in her leadership of the , which she co-founded with her husband, Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares.
I never imagined that my first job at Tim Hortons in Whitby, Ont., back in 2006 would plant the seed for the work I do today. At the time, it was one of the few places that hired young employees, so I applied and quickly thrived in the fast-paced environment, juggling multiple tasks, managing customers, and learning how to adapt on the fly. In many ways, that experience wasn’t so different from my role today as chief executive officer of the John Tavares Foundation.
What really stayed with me was something much deeper than just the hustle: I saw parents struggling to afford healthy meals for their families and forced to prioritize cost over nutrition. That was an eye-opener. Food insecurity wasn’t just something I read about; it was playing out right in front of me. And even though I was young, I knew this wasn’t how it should be.
Around the same time, I took on another job, one that would shape my future just as profoundly. I started as a lunchroom supervisor for children with disabilities, first as a volunteer and then in a paid role, where I eventually managed volunteers myself. That’s also where I first met John. He was playing for the Oshawa Generals at the time and completing a temporary placement at my high school. He would stop by my lunchroom group, chatting with the kids and lending a hand whenever he could. Our connection was built on a shared desire to help others.
My career as a physiotherapist reinforced that even further. I spent my days teaching people how to care for their bodies and fuel themselves properly, but my passion for working with children and underserved communities never faded. I knew I wanted to do more and that’s why John and I made it our Ñý¼§Ö±²¥ to empower kids to reach their full potential when we founded the John Tavares Foundation. We focus on access to nutritious food, physical activity, education, and economic development, because every child deserves a fair chance.
Looking back, it’s incredible how those early jobs shaped my path. What started as a high school job at Tim Hortons and a lunchroom role has turned into a lifelong commitment to making a difference. Today, through our foundation, we’re helping children and families build stronger, healthier futures, and that’s the most rewarding job of all.
