Pancake breakfast for community turns 40; supporting hospital merger

Saturday is the 40th anniversary of the Oktoberfest Family Pancake Breakfast and the community is invited to come out and get free pancakes while celebrating the annual Bavarian festival.

The event runs Oct. 5 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Bingemans.

Get a hot stack of fluffy pancakes, maple syrup, Piller’s sausages, Wellesley fresh apple cider, Tim Horton’s coffee or tea while supporting the new hospital merger happening locally.

“Last year I think multiple thousands came out for the free breakfast. It’s just a great time,” said Paul McIntyre Royston, CEO of Grand River Hospital Foundation on The Mike Farwell Show Oct. 4.

“We have so much food – we welcome everyone, it’s completely free. We are absolutely accepting donations for the hospital and food bank. Great opportunity to just be part of the community and just have fun with the whole family.”

All proceeds are going to the Grand River Hospital Foundation.

Another event coming up that supports them is Roktoberfest from Oct. 11 to 12 at the KoolHaus venue inside Bingemans. It runs from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. both days and will bring German band, Dorfrocker, to the region.

Dorfrocker will be joined by the Golden Keys to help the Haus with closing celebrations during the Thanksgiving weekend.

“All of the ticket proceeds support the hospital, and its hospitals right, because we are becoming one in our community. It’s just incredible for healthcare. It’s going to be a great night,” said McIntyre Royston.

Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital are set to merge following approval of a report that went to the Ministry of Health this week. If approved, it would become one single organization in April 2025.

McIntyre Royston mentioned that they have yet to choose a name for the hospital entity yet.

“It’ll be 7,000 employees, massive organization, but really interested in the care of everybody in the region and beyond.”

People can also support the Grand River Hospital Foundation by entering the Oktoberfest 50/50 draw. The grand prize deadline for that is Oct. 20 at midnight. The estimated take-home prize for that is over $15,000.

McIntyre Royston added that 10 per cent of money needed to support Grand River Hospital has to be locally funded along with every piece of hospital equipment, but it also gets donations and funding from parking at the hospital.