Willowbrae Academy and MaidPro receive top honours at the CFA Awards Gala
The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) is pleased to announce that the Traditional (those with brick-and-mortar locations) and Non-Traditional (those that are mobile or home-based) Grand Prize winners of the 2024 CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising are Willowbrae Academy and MaidPro, respectively. The Grand Prize award was granted to two winners to reflect the range of franchise opportunities on the market.
“From childcare and early childhood education franchises like Willowbrae Academy to home-based service franchises like MaidPro, the dedication of franchisees across diverse industries powers the nation forward,” says Sherry McNeil, CFA President and Chief Executive Officer. “To reflect this diversity and to ensure participating franchise systems are being rated against their peers, the CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising program includes seven categories and two Grand Prizes.”
Considered the pinnacle of franchise achievement in Canada, the CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising are given annually to franchise systems that have demonstrated superior franchise relations, leadership, training, and communications. The Grand Prizes were presented at the Awards Gala Dinner during the 2024 CFA National Convention at Le Westin Montréal, Quebec.
“The CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising acknowledges the top achievers in the Canadian franchising industry. The winners have exemplified the significance of Growing Together® by showcasing the symbiotic relationship between franchisor and franchisees,” says McNeil. “Regardless of the size or concept, a strong relationship between the franchisor and its franchisees is fundamental to a franchise system’s success. We congratulate Willowbrae Academy and MaidPro for their outstanding achievements.”
The CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising program received overwhelming participation from CFA member franchise brands this year. Sponsored by the CFA and administered by the Portage Group, a third-party research firm, the winning franchise systems were determined based on the results of a survey completed by participating brands’ franchisees about their experiences and levels of satisfaction with the system.
Entries were separated into Traditional Franchises and Non-Traditional Franchises. Within these categories, entrants were grouped based on their number of franchisees. These categories reflect the diversity of franchising and the spectrum of franchise opportunities available in today’s market.
The CFA also presented the Franchisee of the Year Award, recognizing top-performing franchisees for their unique accomplishments and excellence in business performance, community service, and brand involvement. DermaEnvy Skincare’s Alicia Baker received the Gold in the Traditional category and MOLLY MAID Canada’s Candice Parent was the Gold winner in the Non-Traditional category.
“The Franchisee of the Year award credits a franchisee for their outstanding performance and contribution in helping the Canadian franchising community become Stronger Together,” says McNeil. “We congratulate Alicia Baker and Candice Parent for receiving this prestigious honour.”
Separated into Traditional and Non-Traditional Franchises, winners for the Franchisee of the Year Award were determined by the CFA’s Awards Committee based on the strength of the participating entrants’ award submissions.
The 2024 CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising winners are:
The 2024 CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising Grand Prize
Traditional Franchises: Willowbrae Academy | Non-Traditional Franchises: MaidPro
Traditional Franchises (i.e., brick-and-mortar locations)
6-15 Franchises
Gold: Inspiration Learning Center – Tutoring and Private School
Silver: Megamind Learning Centre
Bronze: UROSPOT
16-29 Franchises
Gold: Willowbrae Academy
Silver: MaxWell Realty Inc.
Bronze: Symposium Cafe Restaurant & Lounge
30-99 Franchises
Gold: Triple O’s
Silver: Print Three Franchising Corporation
Bronze: Edo Japan
100+ Franchises
Gold: Pizza Nova
Silver: A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.
Bronze: Mary Brown’s Chicken
Non-Traditional Franchises (i.e., mobile, home-based, etc.)
6-15 Franchises
Gold: MaidPro
Silver: Wise Cracks
Bronze: Prep’n Sell
16-29 Franchises
Gold: EverLine Coatings and Services
Silver: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK Canada
Bronze: CertaPro Painters
30+ Franchises
Gold: New Creations
Silver: Paul Davis Restoration
Bronze: Right at Home Canada
For more information about the CFA Awards of Excellence in Franchising, visit cfa.ca/blog/2024-awards-of-excellence/
The 2024 CFA Franchisee of the Year Award Winners are:
Non-Traditional Franchises
Gold: Candice Parent, MOLLY MAID Canada
Silver: Justin Callon, Andrew Jackson, and Billy Van Wyck, ServiceMaster of Canada
Bronze: Kristelle Campbell, PropertyGuys.com
Traditional Franchises
Gold: Alicia Baker, DermaEnvy Skincare
Silver: Neelam Bandali, Kumon Math & Reading Centres
Bronze: Wanda and Lawson MacEachern, Hallmark Cards Canada
For more information about the CFA Franchisee of the Year Award, visit cfa.ca/blog/2024-franchisee-of-the-year/
The 2024 Awards of Excellence sponsors are Career Canada Immigration, KMB Law, RocketBarn Marketing, Thryv, and Welch LLP, with the Awards Gala Dinner sponsored by Moneris. The 2024 Franchisee of the Year Program is sponsored by FDA Construction Inc.