The Rotary Club of Sarnia's annual pancake breakfast, served during the Bayview Mackinac Boat Race, will not be held this year.
The club made the difficult decision late Thursday night to cancel the event, scheduled for Saturday, July 18, due to poor air quality caused by wildfires in northern Ontario.
“The Rotary Club of Sarnia is committed to service above self and to the well-being of our community," said Club President Joe Cebulski in a statement. "Out of an abundance of caution, we have chosen to protect the health of the public and our volunteers and cancel this year’s Mackinac Race Pancake breakfast."
The club also said many people are feeling adverse health and respiratory symptoms caused by the wildfire smoke.
"Our greatest concern is of those who attend and dine on pancakes and sausages and our 80+ volunteers, many of whom put in a six to 10 hour day to put this great event on," read a media release.
The Mackinac Race Pancake Breakfast is a major fundraiser for the Rotary Club.
Rotary Spokesperson Myles Vanni previously said they typically serve more than 2,000 breakfasts and raise $10,000 to $15,000.
"We'll donate $100,000 to $200,000 every year back into the community, and this is one of the fundraisers that we use to raise money for charities," Vanni said.
Advance tickets were available to purchase. Those who would like a refund are asked to return to the location or the rotary member from whom they bought the ticket(s).
Meanwhile, the club thanked the event sponsors: Bluewater Power, ServiceMaster, McDonald's, Haines Printing, and Kern Water.
The Rotary Club plans to hold the breakfast fundraiser next year.
Vanni called it a great community tradition.
"People love to come down, have pancakes for breakfast, and then watch all the boats," Vanni said.
Now in its 102nd year, the nautical competition is known as the longest running long distance freshwater yacht race in the world, travelling from Port Huron, Michigan to Mackinac.
*Editor's note: The story was updated at 10:17 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, after the event cancellation was announced.
