Student raises $1,600 from ‘funny’ shirt sales at Giant Tiger

Composite image of Giant Tiger store owner and grade 4 student

A student at Terry Fox Elementary School in Barrie raised $1,600 after successfully pitching an unusual business idea to a local store.

Grade four student Tristin Holliwell was given an assignment in Dec. 2025; he and his classmates were asked to pitch an idea to local business of their choice, for a product to put on their shelves.

Holliwell selected the Giant Tiger located on Cundles Road in north Barrie. He wrote to the manager, suggesting the store sell shirts with a design on them of an angel fish wearing a cowboy hat, because he thought “it would be funny.”

In March, Holliwell’s suggestion became a reality, when store owner Jamal Jarboua came across his letter and decided to give the idea a chance.

With the help of artificial intelligence, the final logo was designed and 1,000 shirts were printed with the design on them and put up for sale at the store.

On Thursday, the Simcoe County District School Board announced that Jarboua returned to Holliwell’s class, to present him and his peers with a cheque.

The shirt sales had raised $1,640 in donations for the school. The school board says the money will go toward supporting field trips and activities for students.

“It’s such a great feeling to see how something like this can come together and give back to the community in a meaningful way,” said Jarboua, in a statement shared with CTV.

Jarboua added that he hopes to stay connected with Holliwell and his classmates, hoping to invite them for a visit to the store.