WESTLOCK – Five Westlock Elementary School (WES) staffers will make their nation-wide television debut later this month after they were chosen from over 200 applicants to appear on the popular game show Family Feud Canada.
Grade 5 teacher and team captain Kass Roberts, Grade 6 teacher Jensen Biberdorf, 3/4 French Immersion teacher Jenna Thompson, Grade 3 program-assistant Lena Evans and Grade 6 teacher Bailey Johnston will appear on the game show when their episode airs Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m. on CBC television.
“It was so cool. I think it’s awesome because we were one of very few teams that were from such a small town,” said Roberts. “We didn’t think we would get chosen.”
Family Feud Canada kicks off its fifth season with its first Teachers’ Week Sept. 18-21 and will air four specials featuring eight schools from across the country, including WES. They’re the only elementary school chosen for the game show while the second Alberta team is from Salisbury Composite High School in Sherwood Park.
The opportunity came when producers from the game show reached out to Roberts via TikTok and encouraged her to apply.
“I was so excited. They asked us to put together an audition tape (where) we had to show our personalities, what we do and what we’re about,” said Roberts. “We tried to make it funny and they liked it so they offered us an interview.”
That audition video, showcasing the energetic, fun-loving group, was sent to the show in May and the end of June they were interviewed via Zoom before being chosen in July. Following, they flew to Toronto for a live taping in August.
The short two-day trip was an unforgettable experience with Roberts noting it was hers and several teammates first time to Toronto.
“After (the interview) they did a mock round with us where they would ask us questions and we had to come up with quick answers. We learned quickly that it was a tough game to play,” Roberts said with a chuckle, noting the excitement surrounding their first trip to Toronto. “We went out for a nice dinner, we got to spend a little time on the town so it was a really cool experience that way. It was like a nice girls trip just to go experience Toronto together. We had a blast.”
Roberts said they had a lot of fun preparing for the show, doing a rehearsal, then meeting the other teams and filming the episode, which lasted close to three hours.
“We had a blast and Gerry loved our team,” said Roberts. “You are panicked and you answer very quickly … but it was super fun and we were all just nervous, excited and there was adrenaline.”
As part of the episodes, two teams go head-to-head for a chance to win $10,000 towards equipment and supplies for the school. Roberts said they could not disclose if they won prior to the Sept. 18 airing but is excited for the community and school staff and students to see them on the show.
“I think it’s going to be cool for them to watch it and it’ll be really cool for us too,” she concluded.
