Chesterfield Inlet (Feb 22/06) - Bad weather couldn't dampen the spirits of more than 150 students and community members who came out for the fourth annual pancake breakfast at Victor Sammurtok school in Chesterfield Inlet earlier this month.

Food items such as pancake mix, bacon and syrup were donated for the event by the Northern store and the local Co-op, with other items being provided by the Chesterfield Inlet Development Corp.

The mouth-watering aroma of sizzling bacon and fluffing pancakes filled the hallways early, as teacher Glen Brocklebank says staff members arrived at the school before 7 a.m. to stoke the fires.

Brocklebank says the volunteers started cooking early so the group could be ready to serve hamlet employees and others who start work by 8:30 or 9 a.m.

"Our senior administrative officer, most of the hamlet staff, nursing staff, wildlife officer and housing corporation staff were among the first to arrive for the event," says Brocklebank.

"We set up tables in the hallway for the people to enjoy their breakfast and share some conversation before starting their busy days."

The breakfast was followed by a movie morning at the school and a giant broomball tournament in the afternoon.

Brocklebank says the students absolutely love the event and eagerly look forward to putting away their share of cooked goodies.

"People in the community were also asking about the breakfast this year, and everyone was pretty excited when we announced we were holding it again."

Brocklebank says there's other positive benefits to the breakfast, such as parents getting the chance to come and see their kids at school.

"Holding a special breakfast opens the school and gives parents the chance to see the various projects their kids have done, as well as everything we have on the walls and things of that nature.

"It's nice to see the parents take their kids to school, share a nice breakfast and see some of the students' work before heading off to their jobs."