FSJ franchisee says community support was ‘unbelievable’ for McHappy Day

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Fort St. John and Dawson Creek McDonald’s locations raised more than $30,000 in support of McHappy Day 2026. 

McDonald’s across the country hosted McHappy Day on May 6th, 2026, an annual event raising funds to support families of children who are critically sick or injured which rely on the Ronald McDonald House British Columbia and Yukon. 

According to McDonald’s, support for McHappy Day goes towards 37 Ronald McDonald House Programs across Canada, as well as other local children’s charities. 

It said the ‘long-standing tradition’ has raised more than $111 million for Ronald McDonald House and other charities in the 30 years it has been running. 

Brian Boresky is an owner/operator of McDonald’s stores in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Vanderhoof and Prince George, opening his first location in Fort St. John in 2002.

“It [McHappy Day] started back in 1977,” he said. “I was a part of that first McHappy Day as a crew person. This is actually our 32nd McHappy Day.”

According to Boresky, Fort St. John raised a total of $18,711 this year, with 50 per cent of the proceeds going to the Ronald McDonald House and 50 per cent going to the Child Development Centre in Fort St. John. 

“The Child Development Centre has done a lot for the learning of children and support of kids, with needs and it’s just a great cause,” he said. “They do a lot of good work in the community, and I wanted to keep some funds locally here too.” 

Boreskys’ Dawson Creek location raised $13,878 while the Prince George and Vanderhoof locations raised $75,431 and $10,044, respectively.  

In total, restaurants in Dawson Creek and Fort St. John raised $32,589. 

Boresky said the community’s support for McHappy Day is “unbelievable.”

“The community has always been so generous up here,” he said. “They come out, it’s our record day in sales, that day.”

According to Boresky, the Ronald McDonald House is a local charity for families outside the Lower Mainland who rely on it. 

“Some people think that Ronald McDonald House is not a local charity, but it is a local charity because the people that use the house are from out of town,” he said. “The people in Vancouver and Burnaby and the Lower Mainland, they don’t need the Ronald McDonald House. The people that use it the most are in the areas up north and the Okanagan and the island.” 

In 2025, McDonald’s restaurants in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek raised $40,758 for McHappy Day.

For more information on McHappy Day, visit the Ronald McDonald House website.