Image: Unsworth Elementary Shawn McLeod braces as he kisses a fish as part of a promise he made if students there gave over 2,022 food items. The "Eagles Ending Empty Tummies" food drive generated 3,331 food items and/or equivalents.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Unsworth Elementary food drive

Unsworth Elementary principal kisses a fish for a great cause

Dec 7, 2022 | 8:29 AM

CHILLIWACK — A promise made is a promise kept.

Unsworth Elementary principal Shawn McLeod found a way to help persuade students and parents of the primary school to give back to the community in what was billed as the “Eagles Ending Empty Tummies” food drive from November 1 to December 5.

Students at Unsworth in Sardis were encouraged to give 2,022 food items or more so that they could see their principal pucker up and plant a wet one on a fish.

McLeod, whose colourful personality manifests by dressing up as a Star Wars stormtrooper on the Fourth of May, delighted students, parents and grandparents alike at the start of Tuesday’s (Dec. 6) Christmas concert by donning a Christmassy jacket that almost resembled a superhero cape.

“The goal of 2022 was obliterated,” McLeod told the concert audience Tuesday afternoon. “A big thank you to parents and grandparents and others. If the kids reached their target, I was tasked with having to kiss a fish.” Grinning and smiling, McLeod added, “Much to my chagrin, the kids met their goal.”

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He first pulled out a paper fish, a toy fish, and Goldfish crackers, as if those would satisfy the requirement to kiss a fish, before students erupted into raucous chants of “kiss the fish, kiss the fish!”

McLeod subsequently pulled out a flash light and began inspecting the mouth of the fish prior to planting a smooch on the fish, which brought a hearty round of applause and laughter from the audience.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / PML / Shawn McLeod inspects the mouth of a fish with a flashlight.

McLeod happily announced that Mrs. Tracy Ball’s Grade 5 class at Unsworth exceeded expectations and then some by singlehandedly donating over 1,000 food items. One student in Mrs. Ball’s class reportedly donated approximately 700 food items.

School secretary Lori Gross reported that the food drive generated 3,331 food items.

McLeod similarly thanked parents who dashed off to the supermarket late at night in an effort to support the Unsworth food drive.