Part 1: Story & Connection

Bringing “Japanese School Lunch” to an Elementary School in Canada

— How One Couple Transformed Children’s Futures Through Food —

A place where “thank you” grows.

In the hallway. In handwritten notes. In the small, everyday gestures children use to express their gratitude.

*Japanese version available here.

1. The Shock of “No School Lunch”: The Beginning of a Quiet Revolution

Among the G7 countries, Canada long stood out as the only one without a national school food program.

In 2017, after returning from Japan, Shawn and Masako Thir were struck by a simple but profound reality: their children’s school did not provide a warm lunch.

“Why is something so ordinary in Japan not available here?”

That question marked the beginning of their journey.

Working through the Courtenay Elementary Community School Society (CECSS), they set out to create a program inspired by their experiences in Japan — while adapting it to the local context. Their goal was simple yet ambitious: to provide affordable, warm meals every day.

At its core, this initiative is not just about feeding children. It redefines school meals as something more: a form of education — what is known in Japan as shokuiku, or food education.

（Shawn & Masako Thir)

2. A Diverse Menu and the “Adventure of Taste”

For the Thirs, the most important starting point is having a clear vision of what school meals should be.

Rather than simply filling stomachs with pizza or hot dogs, they begin with a different question: what does a meaningful, nourishing meal look like?

Their program sets a benchmark — daily, warm meals provided at low cost — drawing from their experiences in Japan. At the same time, it introduces children to foods they might not otherwise encounter at home, such as natto or sushi, expanding their palate and reducing the chances that a child grows up having “never tried” something.

The program is carefully designed:

• Variety: Over 30 menu items, ensuring meals are not repeated more than once a week
• Introduction to new foods: Children who were initially hesitant gradually come to enjoy flavors like miso soup
• Experiential learning: Activities such as making salted cherry blossoms from the school’s Kanzan trees or trying natto as part of a taste test

The school community is highly diverse, with about half of the students coming from immigrant backgrounds, particularly from South Asia. For many children, the program offers a rare opportunity to encounter unfamiliar ingredients and cuisines.

There are small but meaningful moments:

A boy trying pierogi for the first time and loving it.

An Indonesian Muslim student, who usually does not ask for seconds, returning for more pasta or pierogi.

Through these “adventures of taste,” children develop curiosity, openness, and the ability to embrace cultural diversity.

3. “Thank You” as a Daily Practice

Building Connections with Children and Families

Masako places great importance on creating an environment where children can directly say “thank you” to the people who prepare their meals.

This is, quite literally, a place where gratitude grows.

Children often share their thoughts in the hallway. In one instance, an Indigenous student who tried a chicken Caesar wrap for the first time was so moved that they went all the way to the kitchen to express their appreciation.

The program is also designed with families in mind. While it uses a convenient online ordering system (MunchaLunch), paper order forms are also available. This ensures accessibility for families who may not be comfortable with digital tools or online payments.

On the back of these forms, parents frequently leave messages:

“We’ve been moving from place to place, and this program has been a huge support for us.”

“The food is always so good.”

The program fosters not only children’s well-being, but also trust, relief, and gratitude among families. In many cases, it complements forms of food education that may be difficult to provide at home due to various circumstances.

4. School Meals as a “Regulator”

“Food is a powerful regulator,” says Catherine Manson, former principal and now a board member of CECSS.

“School meals help stabilize children’s emotions and behavior.”

It is widely recognized in educational settings that warm, nutritious meals support children’s concentration and emotional well-being.

At this school, the impact has been tangible:

• Reduced irritability and fewer behavioral issues in the classroom
• Improved attendance, as students feel secure knowing meals are available at school
• Greater ability to focus on learning

It reflects a simple but essential truth. Children cannot learn well when they are hungry. School meals, in this sense, are not peripheral to education, they are foundational to it.

5. From a Bowl of Soup to the Future

What Shawn and Masako Thir have demonstrated is that school meals are not merely a form of welfare.

They can function as vital social infrastructure — supporting children’s emotional stability, learning, and connections to the community.

At the same time, challenges remain.

• Moving beyond a “craft-based” model: The program currently relies heavily on individual expertise and cooking skills
• Building systems: Developing structures that ensure consistent quality regardless of who runs the program

Some students, after moving on to middle school, have even expressed that they preferred the meals at their elementary school, asking why the same quality is not available elsewhere.

Scaling this model will require more than funding — it will require systems, processes, and institutional support. The question now is whether this “quiet revolution” will remain dependent on individual dedication, or evolve into a sustainable social system.

If we consider eating to be part of education,

What, then, should we expect from our schools?

Coming Next

In the next installment, we will explore how this vision was realized — focusing on operations, infrastructure, and funding behind the program.

SchoolLunch#FoodEducation#Shokuiku#Education#ChildNutrition#Community#Canada#JapaneseCulture#SocialImpact

References & Cited Resources

In writing this article, we referenced personal accounts from Shawn and Masako Thir, as well as the following official documents, news articles, and communications from the operating organizations.

1. Official Websites & News Articles

• **Courtenay Elementary Community School Society (CECSS) Official Website **Information page by the program’s operating body.
• **What People Think: Opinions about the Hot Lunch Program** (Results of the program satisfaction survey)
• **Edible Cherry Blossoms** (Food education initiative utilizing the school’s cherry blossoms)
• **Comox Valley Schools (SD71) News Release **Access to healthy food in schools is increasing thanks to provincial and federal funds (Report on program expansion via provincial and federal budgeting).
• **Comox Valley Record (Local Newspaper) **Breakfast club at Courtenay Elementary gives kids good start (An article from 2020 covering the breakfast program and the beginning of kitchen renovations).

2. Cited Videos

• **Courtenay Elementary School Lunch Program 24 **A documentary video in which Shawn and Masako discuss the program’s vision, the Japanese “Kyushoku” model, and their five-year journey.
• **The Natto Taste Test **A look at students trying fermented soybeans (Natto) as part of a food education challenge to explore new tastes and textures.

3. Official Guidelines & Federal Resources

• **Feeding Futures: School Food Programs (B.C. Government Official Site) **The official portal for British Columbia’s initiative providing dedicated funding to school food programs.
• **Getting Started: A Guide to Sourcing B.C. Food in K-12 School Food Programs **(BC Government Official PDF) A guide to promoting local consumption in school food programs. Shawn Thir served as an editorial contributor.
• **National School Food Policy (Government of Canada) **Official policy page detailing the vision and roadmap for the school food program across Canada.
• **A National School Food Program to set kids up for success (Prime Minister of Canada Office) **Official press release regarding the 2024 budget announcement for the national program
• **National School Food Program Act (March 2026) **The legislative foundation providing permanent federal support for school food programs in Canada.

4. Official Social Media

• Instagram: @courtenay_elementary_community Follow this account for real-time updates on the nutritious, colorful menus prepared daily by Masako, as well as behind-the-scenes looks at the kitchen in action.

5. The photos were all provided by Shawn Thir.