The CFA’s Recognition Awards celebrate individuals and franchise systems for their outstanding achievements, philanthropic endeavours, and contributions to the franchise community.
There are six categories to this award. CFA members can enter or can be nominated.
“Franchising is a collaborative effort involving the support of one another. Our prestigious CFA Recognition Awards honour individuals and companies for their significant achievements and continuous contributions to the franchise community. We congratulate all the winners on their outstanding achievements. These awards honour their commitment to Growing Together®).”
Sherry McNeil, CFE, President & CEO of the Canadian Franchise Association
The awards will be presented during the Recognition Awards Luncheon on Sunday, April 19 at the CFA National Convention at The Westin, Ottawa, Ontario.
Here are the 2026 CFA Recognition Award Winners
Hall of Fame Award | Recipient: BeaverTails Canada Inc
In recognition of BeaverTails’ outstanding performance, significant business presence, and exceptional service. Founded in 1978 in Killaloe, Ontario, BeaverTails Canada Inc. has grown from a single family-run pastry stand into one of Canada’s most iconic and recognizable franchise brands. Renowned for its signature hand-stretched BeaverTails® pastries, the company has expanded to nearly 200 locations across Canada and internationally. With locations in popular tourist destinations and community hubs, as well as standalone stores in cities across the country, this brand has become a part of Canadian life. Over nearly five decades, BeaverTails has demonstrated sustained growth, brand resilience, and cultural relevance, adapting its offerings to evolving consumer tastes while maintaining an unwavering commitment to quality and franchisee success. Its enduring presence at landmark locations and major events has helped define a uniquely Canadian franchise experience, making BeaverTails a standout example of homegrown entrepreneurial excellence.
About the CFA Hall of Fame Award:
Presented in recognition of outstanding performance by a franchise company over a significant period. Winners typically will have high brand recognition (on either a regional or national scope) and will generally be recognized for their solid business performance. They will exhibit leadership in the franchise community in many ways including helping to encourage excellence by sharing best practices, participating in speaking engagements, being willing to mentor new franchisors, and raising the profile of the franchise business model.
Lifetime Achievement Award | Recipient: Sam Osmow, Osmow’s Shawarma
In recognition of Sam Osmow’s outstanding contributions, leadership, and impact on the franchise industry. Sam Osmow, founder of Osmow’s Shawarma, exemplifies the entrepreneurial vision, leadership, and community commitment that define the Lifetime Achievement Award. Arriving in Canada over 20 years ago with limited local experience, Sam transformed a struggling sub shop in Streetsville, Ontario into what is now one of North America’s fastest-growing QSR brands, taking extraordinary personal risk—including a second mortgage on his family home—to introduce Middle Eastern cuisine to the Canadian mainstream. Under his leadership, Osmow’s has grown to 219 locations across the country. Giving back is built into the system, with franchisees reinvesting roughly 1% of earnings into their local communities, and the Osmow’s Hope Fund has funding wells in Zambia to benefit more than 1,000 families, with further expansion planned. Through decades of dedication and hard work, Sam has built a family-run franchise system where most partners are multi-unit operators, showing the power of franchising to foster shared success.
About the CFA Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recognizes exceptional achievement and contribution to Canadian franchising and the community at large through demonstrated excellence throughout one’s lifetime and career in franchising. This award typically honours an individual who may be a franchisor, franchisee, or a support services provider. Hallmarks of excellence include a significant level of profile and leadership recognition within the franchise community, speaking engagements, published articles, mentorship, and being an ambassador for franchising.
Outstanding Corporate Citizen Award | Recipient: Wendy’s Restaurants of Canada Inc.
In recognition of Wendy’s Restaurants’ system-wide commitment to community and measurable social impact for more than two decades. Through its partnership with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption-Canada, Wendy’s supports foster care adoption as its signature cause. Brand founder Dave Thomas, himself adopted, founded the organization to raise awareness and fund social care initiatives to place foster children in loving adoptive homes. Wendy’s integrates this purpose into both its operations and franchise culture. Through innovative national fundraising initiatives— including Frosty Key Tags, Boo! Books, and the annual DTFA Golf Tournament—Wendy’s Canada and its franchisees have raised nearly $26 million over 20 years, helping secure permanent, loving homes for more than 650 children. This sustained, collaborative, and life-changing impact underscores the brand’s dedication to philanthropy, franchisee engagement, and community well-being across the country.
About the CFA Outstanding Corporate Citizen Award
Given to a franchise system that has demonstrated genuine and ongoing concern and support for a community or social service group(s). Award recipients are selected based on their philanthropic innovation, support, and impact to the community whether on a local, regional, national, or global scale. Elements taken into consideration include involvement throughout the franchise system and integration into the corporate culture, profile given to the support recipient organization(s), sustainability, innovation in fundraising, demonstrated benefit to the community, and amount of funds raised.
Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award | Recipient: A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.
In recognition of A&W’s meaningful leadership in fostering diversity, inclusion, and belonging across its workplace, franchise network, and guest experiences. Central to its people first culture is a commitment to celebrating unique backgrounds and perspectives and creating spaces where employees and guests feel respected and heard. The company has embraced the Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Benchmarks (GDEIB) to guide its internal policies and external community engagement and has adopted a formal diversity policy that considers representation and inclusion in leadership and governance decisions. Additionally, A&W partners with accessibility focused platforms like Magnusmode to enhance dining experiences for guests with developmental or cognitive disabilities, reflecting an innovative approach to eliminating barriers. Beyond the workplace, the brand’s nationwide partnerships—such as expanding food rescue efforts with Second Harvest that have delivered over 1.24 million meals to Canadians facing food insecurity—illustrate how inclusive community support can be operationalized across a franchise system. A&W’s deliberate focus on equity, accessibility, and community involvement underscores its role as a diversity and inclusion champion within Canadian franchising.
About the CFA Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award
Recognizes a company or individual for extraordinary leadership and contribution towards improving and promoting diversity and inclusion within their workplace and the franchise community in Canada.
Distinguished Franchise Support Services/Supplier Award | Recipient: Sotos LLP
In recognition of Soto LLP’s 40 years of dedicated service in franchise law, Sotos LLP has consistently provided indispensable legal guidance to franchisors and franchisees at every stage of their business life cycle, from launch through growth and expansion, both domestically and internationally. Along with a high standard of excellence in support offered to CFA member systems, Sotos LLP has demonstrated influential thought leadership in franchise law. The firm has demonstrated longstanding commitment to strengthening legal standards, advocating on issues concerning franchise legislation, and sharing best practices with the franchising community.
About the CFA Distinguished Franchise Support Services/Supplier Award
Recognizes a person or company for their efforts and contributions in supporting the franchise industry and the Canadian Franchise Association at large.
Volunteer Leadership Excellence Award | Recipient: David Druker – The UPS Store Canada
In recognition of David Druker’s exceptional dedication, leadership, and service. David Druker has long been a champion of the Canadian Franchise Association, and in his work with the CFA has truly epitomized excellence in volunteer leadership. David has served on the organization’s Board of Directors since 2012, including as Chair. He has served as chair and participated actively on numerous CFA committees, including the Executive, Government Relations, Brand Awareness, Strategic Planning Committee, and the World Franchise Day subcommittee. Through his sustained engagement, he has advanced CFA’s mission by leading initiatives at National Conventions, mentoring emerging franchise leaders, and advocating for industry-wide priorities. David’s contributions have enhanced member engagement, and amplified the association’s influence, while his generous willingness to share his extensive franchising expertise through public speaking and event participation has helped foster learning, connection, and growth across the Canadian franchise community.
About the CFA Volunteer Leadership Excellence Award
In the spirit of passion for franchising and the Association, this award is given to an individual who, through their volunteer activities and work as an ambassador for franchising, helps the CFA grow, evolve, and deliver on its Purpose and Mission.