Will that be eggs with your pancakes?

The new year ushered in change to the St. Joseph Island Lion’s Club monthly breakfast.

A record-setting January event saw an estimated increase of 40 percent more guests sit down for a hearty, all-you-can eat breakfast hosted by the St. Joseph Island Lion’s Club.

Sunday’s breakfast at the Hilton Community Hall kicked off the first monthly pancake breakfast of 2016.

On a trial basis, the expanded menu presently includes scrambled eggs to its pancake and sausage meal.

St. Joseph Island Lion’s Club President Robert Kerr said among the reasons for expanding the menu was the hope of attracting new people to the event and see the return of former clientele.

“The biggest months are after the tourists have arrived on the Island,” Kerr said. “So we wanted to try it the first of the year and if they appreciated it, or liked it (menu) it would become a regular menu.”

At its first pancake breakfast of the year, Kerr said the members expected a small turn out, results were far better than expected.

“Some said they came particularly to try the eggs,” he added.

An ad and number of posters were distributed throughout the area which could have contributed to the steady flow of customers.

The Lion’s Club was asked to prepare a pancake breakfast last summer for a private gathering, including scrambled eggs, Kerr said.

Afterwards, the membership discussed the idea and agreed to see what the response would be at a regular breakfast beginning in January and for the next couple of months.

Event organizers Colin and Debra Gowlett received numerous compliments.

The membership also discussed, Kerr said, raising the adult meal price due to the increased cost of food supplies.  

The price increase took effect Sunday as well.

The cost rose from $8 to $10 for adults, children under 12 remains the same at $5, and breakfast is free for children under five.

The Lion’s Club hosts 11 monthly pancake breakfast per year on the fourth Sunday of each month.

There is no pancake breakfast in December.

Its next breakfast is February 28 and runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

After each breakfast, any cooked left overs are delivered to a representative of the St. Joseph Island and Area Food Bank.

Monthly breakfast is the Lion’s main fundraiser, supporting a number of Island-related projects such as Lion’s Camp Kirk and the Lion’s Home for the Deaf.

The Lions Club also supports:

• Algoma University Bursary Fund
• Grade 8 and Grade 12 Graduates
• St. Joseph Island and Area Food Bank
• St. Joseph Island Horticultural Society
• Matthews Memorial Hospital Association
• William Wright Memorial Pet Cemetery
• St. Joseph Island Central School projects
• Richards Landing Children’s Library
• Richards Landing and Hilton Beach Community Nights
• Jocelyn Township Harvest Festival
• Residents in Need

In December 2015, the St. Joseph Island Lions Club joined the social media world.

Follow them on Facebook.