Close to 200 people started their day with a full belly and a broad smile thanks to the return of the annual Valentine’s Pancake Breakfast at Victor Sammurtok School (VSS) in Chesterfield Inlet this past Friday, Feb. 14.
The Valentine’s Pancake Breakfast, which began in 2002, could not be held at the school in 2019 due to the hepatitis outbreak that affected the community.
VSS teacher Glen Brocklebank said the return of the event went quite well this past Friday.
He said there were at least 100 students and VSS staff members at the breakfast, as well as about 80 people from the community.
“Our breakfast program cook, Rina Issaluk, helped make a lot of the food and others who pitched-in were Ana Leishman and Mary Makpah, while all of our staff members helped serve,” said Brocklebank.
“Everyone had a good time and seemed to be really happy the pancake breakfast was back.”
The event was open from about 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.
“Our high school students in the aulajaaqtut program helped set-up the gym, did some decorating and then helped clean-up, so it worked pretty well for them to be able to help out and, at the same time, get credit for some service hours as part of the aulajaaqtut program requirements.”
Brocklebank said it's always nice to see students and people from the community having a good time together at the school.
He said although now about 20 years old, the students still look forward to the Valentine's Pancake Breakfast every year at VSS.
“It's always nice to see families getting to sit together and enjoying a special breakfast like this.
“You see the smiling faces and everyone enjoying the time together and you know the Valentine's Pancake Breakfast has a lot of years ahead of it yet at VSS.
“It's something the students still look forward to and something every staff member enjoys being a part of.”