Schools team up for Whoop-Up breakfast

By Lethbridge Herald on August 23, 2025.

Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge Polytechnic and the University of Lethbridge joined forces once again to offer a free pancake breakfast, games and entertainment for the community on Friday. 

For the third year in a row, staff members, mascots and volunteers from both institutions gathered at Casa’s Rotary Square to provide a free breakfast for members of the community and took the opportunity to showcase what each institution has to offer. 

Brad Donaldson, president and CEO of Lethbridge Polytechnic shared that before the event started, they already had a long lineup that wrapped around the block. 

“This breakfast event has become more that we ever hoped for. It really shows the spirit of collaboration between two outstanding post-secondary institutions in the city, and it’s an opportunity to show that we are working together,” said Donaldson. 

He said the event also provided an opportunity for the community to stop by and meet them, and learn about them, which was great for promoting who they are and what they do. 

Donaldson said that even though the pancake breakfast was celebrating Whoop-Up Days, it also served as an official start of the school year, as the first day is only a couple of weeks away. 

“Things are looking fantastic. Our domestic enrollment is up, indigenous enrollment is up, apprentice numbers are the highest they’ve ever been, we are set for a very strong start for the year and looking forward to getting it going,” said Donaldson. 

Digvir Jayas, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Lethbridge echoed Donaldson words by saying that both institutions work well together, and the breakfast was one way to showcase it. 

“Both post-secondary institutions work together on many things including joined programs, collaborative programs, collaborative research programs, and we are developing talent to serve the needs of the community,” said Jayas.  

He added that the event also helped to make people aware about the university of Lethbridge being in their hometown and aware of the programs they offer. 

“Students who are considering post-secondary education, they can consider that if they are aware of the institution, then they can consider it in their planning and decision making,” said Jayas. 

During the event, some community members took the opportunity to set up booths to ask attendees if they would like to sign a petition for Alberta to remain a province of Canada. 

Many dignitaries attended the event, not only to eat but also to mingle with members of the community. Among them were Mayor Blaine Hyggen, MP Rachel Thomas, MLA for Lethbridge-West Rob Miyashiro, MLA for Lethbridge-East Nathan Neudorf and Police Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh.