Every year, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority and White Buffalo Youth Lodge partner with volunteers from the community to put on a charity pancake breakfast for the people of Saskatoon.

SIGA’s Director of Corporate Social Responsibility Lillian Denton says the event raises funds for White Buffalo Youth Lodge, located on 20th Street West in Saskatoon. The Lodge provides programming and services to the families, youth, and elders in the community.

“Community dinners, cultural programming, youth programming, education, health. It just covers so many different aspects of wellbeing for that community, and it’s so core to that community.”

Denton says this year’s fundraising goal is $25,000, which may seem like a lot for a pancake breakfast, but last year, the arrangement of pancakes, fruit and sausage raised $28,000 for the Lodge.

“This event’s just gotten bigger and bigger. Last year we sat over 740 people, and this year we expect that number to grow a bit.”

Denton says it’s not just a fundraiser; it’s a way to engage with fellow community members.

“We have a lot of the volunteers from the community coming out. We have some City councilors. We have the Police Chief, the Fire Chief, other great community volunteers come out, flipping pancakes and serving everybody.”

Six years ago, SIGA started holding the event in its parking lot, but later determined that White Buffalo Youth Lodge was a better setting.

“So many comments we’ve heard are “we’ve driven past this place, but we’ve never come in.’ So, it’s a really good opportunity for the community to see what they do, and the programs that are so vital… It’s nice to have everybody come in and see the place, see the people.”

The breakfast of pancakes, fruit and sausage takes place at 602, 20th Street West from 8:00am to 10:30am on Friday.