This year’s Pancake Breakfast saw over 250 participants come out to support surrounding communities
The morning of 8 November was colder than usual, with frost collecting atop the greenery outside of the Curtiss Dining Hall in CFB Borden where over 250 members and civilians were welcomed into the building by the smell of hot pancakes and maple syrup for the annual Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) Pancake Breakfast.
Between 0700 and 0900 hrs, breakfast was served up by cooks and kitchen staff including Base Commander, Colonel Jonathan Michaud.
This year’s Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) charity event marks Warrant Officer David Rodney’s third year overseeing the Pancake Breakfast where all proceeds go to families in need through local charities.
“[The Pancake Breakfast] allows me to be a part of something that is bigger than myself and bigger than what most people have… It allows us to contribute in our own way,” said WO Rodney.
“The public supports the military and it’s now the military supporting the public,” he said.
As per usual, Curtiss Dining Hall staff and cooks arrived onsite at 0500 hrs to set up for the event, with vats of pancake mix and sticks of butter at the ready to feed a hungry crowd.
“There’s a lot of people involved,” WO Rodney said. “As you can see, we have the Command Team here as well. All of Base Borden is involved, from the very top to the day-in-day-out workers.”
In the kitchen, Base Commander Col Michaud was stationed between the hot flat-top griddle and the steam tables where pancakes were poured and flipped until golden brown.
Each breakfast plate included options of pancakes with maple syrup, hashbrowns and breakfast sausage for participants to enjoy.
According to the Government of Canada website, the GCWCC is the largest workplace campaign in Canada and calls upon federal public service members, in and out of the workforce, to raise donation funds for their communities.
“Through the GCWCC, public servants come together, build team spirit, create a sense of belonging and give back to our communities,” the website reads. “The campaign offers the opportunity for federal employees to understand how our charitable efforts make a difference across the country.”
In 2022, the GCWCC raised almost $28.3 million to help communities across the country.
To learn more about the GCWCC and how you can contribute, click here.
A big thank you goes out to those who came out and supported the Pancake Breakfast this year. We hope to see you again next time!
By: Caleb Hooper
