Trish McPhail won the 2016 Local Hero – Above and Beyond award for her work improving the healthy food choices at the Queneesh Breakfast and Lunch Club program.
Photo by Karen McKinnon Photography
As PAC treasurer at Queneesh Elementary School (where her three children attend), this year she saw a need to improve the Breakfast and Lunch Club program, and fulfilled the need.
“We have quite a few high-needs, at-risk children attending the school. Rather than complain about the food they were giving them I just stepped in and changed it.
“We started serving healthier choices – mainly whole fruits and vegetables – what they were lacking from home.” McPhail said the change went over huge with the kids and added, “The support staff that works with them said the children were happier…and of course not getting a big sugar crash. They saw an improvement in behaviour, and that was exciting.”
McPhail, who was born in Nanaimo and moved to the Comox Valley with her family in 1986, is a member of the Kumugwe Cultural Society and was one of the Kumugwe dancers who recently entertained and educated all the Grade 4 classes in School District 71 at the Komox Big House.
The next day she was part of a conference call (along with other PACs she has networked with) to B.C. Minister of Education Mike Bernier to discuss “how to get forward momentum going on how we can help our failing education funding system.”
Weekends are also busy for McPhail as for the past four years she has coached her children’s house league teams in the Comox Valley United Soccer Club.
But there is time to relax. “I like yoga, and our family’s just getting back into the cycling scene. And there’s always time to go to the beach,” she said.
Anything else? “My plate’s pretty full,” she laughed. “But you do it for the kids. As soon as you see them light up, then it’s worth it.”
Age: 41
Workplace: Part-time at Tria Fine Catering & Gourmet Eats, and Lush Valley Food Action Society
Lives In: Courtenay
Family: Husband James 44, children A.J. 9, Oliver 7, Serina Joy 4
Quotable: “You do it for the kids. As soon as you see them light up, then it’s worth it.”
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