He worked a number of odd jobs until eventually enlisting in the Royal Canadian Navy, in 1951, where he was trained as a wireless operator.

Once, while on patrol with Colin Millar[2] (who would later become Chief Constable of the Hamilton Police Service), he responded to a distress call and delivered a baby.

Joyce decided to get involved in the newly emerging food-service industry and, in 1963, purchased a Dairy Queen franchise in Hamilton.

Joyce's efforts on behalf of the Foundation earned him the Gary Wright Humanitarian Award in 1991, in recognition of the outstanding contributions to the betterment of community life throughout Canada.

Largely for his work with the Tim Horton Children's Camps, he received an appointment to the Order of Canada on October 21, 1992, in Ottawa.

Ron Joyce was honoured at a celebration in May 2017 for his combined gifts to Atlantic Canada colleges and universities amounting to over $52 million.

In November 1996, Ron Joyce became only the second person to ever receive the Canadian Franchise Association's Lifetime Achievement Award.

In November 2005, Joyce was the 2005 Humanitarian Award Recipient by the Canadian Red Cross, Nova Scotia Region for his work with the Tim Horton Children's Foundation and for his continued support of education and health organizations across the world.

[11] On November 11, 2007, the Bombardier Global 5000 business jet in which Joyce was travelling crashed short of the runway at his Fox Harb'r Resort's airport.

The alleged incident occurred when the woman, who is representing herself in court, spent the night at Joyce's home in Burlington, Ont., so she could drive him to a medical appointment the following day.