TransCanada’s Scott Bone  helps a student with syrup – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C.- While a breakfast program is not something new at Ron Brent Elementary,  having one that is free,  is.

With a donation from TransCanada Pipeline,  Ron Brent is one of four schools in  Northern B.C.  which is receiving  the  breakfast from Breakfast Club of Canada, a non profit organization dedicated to  giving  kids a  positive start to the day.

In the past the breakfast program  had to be subsidized by parents,  but under this new, three year  program,  breakfast for  any child in the school is free of charge.

Breakfast Club  has also supplied a new stove to the school for its after school program.

“TransCanada  is supporting four schools in Northern B.C,” says Kiel Giddens,  TransCanada’s Land, Community, Aboriginal Relations Liaison.  ” We have been  working with  communities  in Northern B.C. for the past two years and we’ve been consistently hearing  how important education and literacy are to the communities” says Giddens, “So we’ve decided to set up an education legacy program to help support education initiatives and to  build support for  literacy in the region.”  he says breakfast helps the kids  get a good start “and get on with their learning”.  The  commitment is valued at $100 thousand dollars over three years.

Breakfast Club Canada rep, Robin  Ryan says  the organization is bringing 21  schools   in BC  into the  Breakfast Club this year,  from the Okanagan, to Pouce Coupe and west to Port Edward.  Having the  corporate sponsorship makes the program sustainable,  but  the program also requires volunteer involvement to  have people to prepare the food .  Ryan says there is so much more to the Breakfast Club that just  starting the day with a  balanced  breakfast  “Students get to meet with teachers which  helps them develop positive relationships with adults, they  get to socialize with other students which reduces bullying,  they get to learn  healthy eating habits.  It’s a holistic approach to helping student success.”

Last year, in B.C. the  Breakfast  Club served 6,500 breakfasts  each school day.  This year, that number is expected to  be  in the 7,000 range.

Ron Brent Principal Carmen Eberle says  the program  is  having a positive effect.  “What the teachers are reporting back from the classroom is that  students can concentrate longer on their academics,  also, some of the behaviors in the children have gone down, and the children are more focused and ready to learn.”