These award-winning childhood education franchises emphasize support for their franchisees and the children they impact every day
By Kym Wolfe
From daily childcare to extracurricular enrichment programs, the children’s education industry is booming, and that’s great news for franchises operating in that sector. The satisfaction of their franchisees is tied to more than profitability, though. It’s also about the culture of the brand, meaningful impact, and other factors that are never fully captured in a financial statement.
Two such childhood education franchises, Willowbrae Childcare Academy and Stagecoach Performing Arts, received Gold at the CFA Awards of Excellence this year, as determined by input from their franchisees. Franchise Canada spoke to both companies about the exceptional qualities that led to this level of franchisee satisfaction.
Stagecoach Performing Arts
Families these days are looking for programs that help children disconnect from screens to build real-world social and communication skills, and there is growing awareness around the importance of belonging and self-expression related to children’s mental wellness. All this is coupled with a growing trend toward experiential learning and skill building outside traditional classrooms, says Kristi Wenaus, CEO of Stagecoach Performing Arts Canada. “Our mission is ‘Creative Courage for Life’—we’re using the performing arts to build confidence, resilience, and life skills, not just performers.”
Founded in 1988, Stagecoach is an iconic brand in the U.K. and one of the world’s largest extra-curricular performing arts schools. Wenaus opened her first location in Halifax in 2019, became master franchisor for all of Canada in 2024, and was named Stagecoach global franchisee of the year in 2025.
Wenaus was a corporate VP before stepping away to open her own business. She had been involved in performing arts throughout her childhood and youth, so returning to those roots made sense. But the most successful franchisees, she says, “don’t necessarily need performing arts experience, just an understanding or passion for the arts. They are relationship builders with an entrepreneurial mindset and a willingness to follow systems. They are passionate about people and community—and they must love children!”
You’ll find Stagecoach in cities across Canada, delivering weekly dance, drama, and singing classes for 4- to 18-year-olds, as well as summer camps at select locations. It’s a small but growing brand, says Wenaus, with opportunities for new franchise owner-operators in every province and territory. “Our expansion is slow but steady. We’re a unique group, and it’s important that new franchisees are the right fit. Ideally, I want every theatre kid across the country [to] be able to find their tribe at a local Stagecoach school.”
“Collaboration is a huge part of our culture. We love and encourage innovation and entrepreneurial thinking within the framework of the brand. Franchisees are encouraged to contribute ideas and help shape initiatives—we have some very smart and creative franchisees, and their ideas make us all stronger,” says Wenaus. “Most of us are or were artists and we understand the value of the collective cast—owners support one another rather than compete. Here in Nova Scotia we say a rising tide floats all boats!”
One of the advantages of the Stagecoach system is low overhead costs, says Wenaus. “We look for space to rent that is unused evenings and weekends, usually churches and private schools.” That gives franchise owners flexibility to scale up quickly as needed. There is also flexibility within the franchise’s educational framework. “We hire teachers who are discipline-specific—song, drama, or dance—and let them lead with their strengths.”
All of those pieces: the collaborative team approach, encouragement of franchise-driven initiatives, flexibility within the business model, and open and transparent communication, contribute to a high level of franchisee satisfaction. Additionally, the franchise offers comprehensive onboarding and training for new franchisees, ongoing operational and marketing support, national marketing initiatives, local business coaching, and leadership development opportunities, and continually invests in marketing systems, technology, and franchisee support tools.
“Winning gold reinforces that our franchisees feel supported, valued, and empowered,” says Wenaus. “It reflects our franchisees’ satisfaction beyond their business performance, and validates the culture, trust, and shared success that we’ve worked hard to build across Canada.”
Willowbrae Childcare Academy
Willowbrae Childcare Academy offers top-tier, comprehensive early childhood education within a highly structured and scalable business system. After opening its first franchise in Nova Scotia in 2011, the company experienced steady expansion into Ontario, Alberta, and B.C., and more rapid growth after 2021 when Canada’s nationally funded program to offer parents an average $10 per day childcare cost was launched.
CEO Shawn Pattison joined Willowbrae in 2014 as VP Development for Western Canada, became a franchise owner himself in 2017, and stepped into his current role as part of the ownership group that took over the franchise in 2023. Experiencing Willowbrae from three different perspectives has only increased his appreciation for the brand that he calls “one of North America’s most respected childcare franchise systems.”
Early learning plays a critical role in a child’s long-term success and development, says Pattison. “Families are looking for trusted providers that can deliver both exceptional care and meaningful educational outcomes,” and Willowbrae meets those expectations in its daily childcare, school-age PD (professional development) day, and vacation day camp programs.
Franchisees benefit from operating in a recession-resistant industry that provides an essential service to families, he adds. “Childcare is a critical component of communities and economies, creating consistent demand and predictable revenue streams.”
Pattison is proud to note that every Willowbrae academy is operating successfully, and many current franchise owners are seeking additional locations. Currently there are 41 locations across Canada, with 45 more in development. Two years ago, the company started to expand into the U.S. market, presenting opportunities for Canadian franchise owners to purchase locations south of the border.
Franchisees are investors (non-operators) who rely on Willowbrae to set up the turnkey location. An Academy Director provides operational oversight on a daily basis. “We take a long-term approach to franchisee development. Our support begins before an Academy opens and continues throughout the entire lifecycle of the business,” says Pattison. “Franchisees receive comprehensive onboarding, operational training, leadership development, and access to proven systems designed to maximize performance. We provide data-driven insights through our Braeview platform, regular business reviews, benchmarking tools, marketing support, and operational coaching.” The comprehensive approach enables a franchisee to own a successful business that requires their attention, on average, for 15 hours a week.
Throughout Willowbrae there is a commitment to provide exceptional early learning experiences. “These are human beings, and we are early childhood educators, not child minders,” says Pattison. That means building a team and a culture of caring. “Don’t think about the profits, stay focused on your families and children, do everything right, and the profits will be a natural by-product.”
Willowbrae has built a system that focuses on both child development and business development, and does both well. The proof is in the franchise receiving the CFA Award of Excellence for seven years in a row, a truly remarkable and telling achievement.
“The CFA Awards of Excellence represent one of the most meaningful recognitions a franchise system can receive because the award is determined by franchisee feedback. For us, the designation validates the strength of our franchise relationship model and confirms that our franchisees believe in the support, systems, and culture we have built together. The educators, directors, and corporate team members make it happen every day in a very hands-on way,” says Pattison. “The award demonstrates that our commitment to continuous improvement and franchisee success is being felt at the Academy level every day.”
