Conestoga’s Culinary and Hospitality students volunteered their time on Saturday, October 8 at the 35th annual Oktoberfest Family Breakfast. The free event, held at Bingemans Conference Centre, supported the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Donations collected throughout the morning will provide more than 15,000 meals to those in need.
In exchange for their donations, guests enjoyed sausages and pancakes prepared by Conestoga students. Despite inclement weather early Saturday morning, faculty member Chef Philippe Saraiva said the team of 36 student volunteers arrived at the portable cooking tents at 4:00 AM to start preparations.
Gates opened to the public at 7:30 AM and within the first hour 1,700 people had been served. Saraiva said he estimated another 6,000 people would arrive before the end of the service. Students coordinated and shared duties that included preparing batter, greasing grills, pancake flipping and delivering pancakes to the servers.
Breakfast was served by radio personalities from CHYM FM, Country 106.7 and 570 News. Inside Bingemans’ Oktoberfest tent a group of Hospitality students hosted guests in the VIP lounge.
Conestoga’s School of Business and Hospitality provides a broad range of Culinary and Hospitality programs to prepare students for successful careers in the growing hospitality industry. For more information, visit the School’s website