With Labour Day comes a beloved Cochrane tradition: the Cochrane Activettes’ annual pancake breakfast. The local charity group invites the community to gather for food, fun, fellowship and, of course, pancakes.
On Monday, Sept. 1, the Activettes will host the event, serving coffee, hot chocolate, pancakes and sausages. The breakfast, a staple in the community for about two decades, kicks off the town’s Labour Day festivities.
“The Activettes are a service group that has been in Cochrane for about 47 years,” said Sue Lunnin, president of the group. “The pancake breakfast is just a way of thanking the community.”
While the breakfast has been held outside local businesses such as the Ford dealership and Rexall in past years, this year’s event will be special. For the first time, it will be hosted outside the group’s newly established office.
“We’re proud to have the pancake breakfast in front of our new Cochrane Activettes office,” said Lunnin. “We’ve never had our own location, so we’re happy to have it now.”
As in years past, the breakfast also celebrates the group’s contributions to the community. Recently, the Activettes have supported Big Hill Lodge, the SLS Centre, Cochrane Public Library, and the Cochrane and Area Events Society, among others.
“We’re involved in many different areas in town,” Lunnin said. “This is my third year as president, and I’m pretty proud of this group.”
The group’s work is made possible through donations to Clothesline, the second-hand store it operates.
“The breakfast is our way of saying thank you for all the clothing donations from the community,” said Lunnin. “That’s our main source of income.”
With the breakfast keeping attendees full, music played by DJ Jurassic Mark will keep them entertained, all leading to the big parade, starting at 10 a.m., just steps from the breakfast site.
“Come out, enjoy the breakfast, the music and the parade,” said Lunnin. “Bring lawn chairs, eating utensils and mugs to help reduce waste and let’s have a good time.”
The pancake breakfast will take place at 60 Railway Street E. Admission is free, but donations of $3 per child or $10 per family are encouraged.
Following the breakfast, the Activettes will turn their focus to their annual Share Your Christmas campaign, to be announced later this year.
