Community is not always the first thing that springs to mind when people think about running a franchise, but if you want to engage with a local customer base, it can really help.
Lorelei Burgess, owner of Oxford Learning centres in Halifax and Bedford, Nova Scotia, believes it is central to the business. Her connection to the education franchise started, not with a business plan, but with a family experience.
“My connection to Oxford Learning began when my sister was in Grade 3 and a struggling reader,” she explains. “She attended the very first location in London, Ontario, so my family knew about Oxford Learning long before we became involved in the business.”
The connection became more significant when her family moved to Nova Scotia and opened a franchise alongside an existing business.
“When my family relocated to Nova Scotia to take over our family business, Maritime Business College, my parents saw an opportunity to open an Oxford Learning franchise. Initially, the two businesses shared a space, with the college operating during the day and Oxford Learning after school.”
From an unexpected role to franchise ownership
Burgess did not intentionally set out to become a franchisee. She stepped into a job opening and discovered that the work suited her.
“I became involved when they needed someone to fill a vacant role. I often say I fell into it, but once I was here, I knew it was where I was meant to be,” says Burgess. “I discovered how much I enjoyed running the business and helping children build confidence. Seeing confidence carry into a child’s school experience and life was incredibly rewarding. What began as helping my parents became a career and eventually led to owning centres in Halifax and Bedford.”
As she got to know families and the neighbourhood, community involvement became part of the job rather than an extra activity on the side.
“I don’t think I had a fully formed idea of that when I started. The community involvement grew naturally as I got to know our families and became more connected to the neighbourhood.”
Confidence is part of learning
Burgess believes education is about more than just qualifications. It affects confidence, friendships, and life goals. That wider impact has shaped how she approaches the work.
“When you work with children, you quickly see how connected everything is. A child’s confidence affects their friendships, their classroom experience and life at home. As I became more involved, I wanted to contribute beyond what happened inside the centre. That led to school advisory councils, community events, youth sports sponsorships and my work with the Quinpool Road business community.”
The education is practical in approach. Alongside core subjects, students develop skills that help them become more independent learners.
Taking the franchise beyond its doors
Burgess’s community involvement takes different forms in Halifax and Bedford, but the underlying approach is consistent: relationships are built by showing up, being consistent, and being intentional.
“With families, it started with listening,” she says. “Parents need to know that we understand their concerns and see their child as an individual. From there, we build trust through consistent communication, progress meetings and following through on what needs to be done to support each student.
“Beyond the centres, I’ve been involved with School Advisory Councils at the elementary, junior high and high school levels, as well as local events and youth sports. Those experiences help me understand what matters to families in our communities.
“In Halifax, my involvement with the Quinpool Road business association has created strong connections with neighbouring businesses and community initiatives. In Bedford, activities such as Bedford Days and local sports sponsorships provide other ways to connect. Showing up consistently and taking an interest in the families we’re supporting and the community is how we continue to build relationships.”
Her nine years as chair of the Quinpool Road Mainstreet District Association reinforced the value of cooperation among independent businesses, even when their aims differ.
“Serving as Chair of the Quinpool Road Mainstreet District Association taught me how much can be accomplished when people work together. Independent businesses have different priorities and pressures, but we all benefit from a neighbourhood where people want to spend more time.
“Community events and seasonal activities require listening, cooperation and people willing to do the work. It also taught me that relationships need attention between big projects. You build trust by being available and following through.
“I bring those lessons into our centres. Our teachers need to feel heard, families need to feel comfortable raising concerns, and everyone needs to understand what we’re working toward together. My role is to help bring those people together for the best interest of our students.”
Sharing experience across the franchise network
Burgess’s commitment to collaboration extends beyond her own centres. She has also served on Oxford Learning’s Franchisee Advisory Council for more than 20 years, including stints as chair and vice chair.
“The Franchisee Advisory Council has been an important part of my experience with Oxford Learning. Owning a business comes with a lot of responsibility, and it helps to have people around you who understand the challenges.
“I particularly enjoy supporting fellow franchisees. Sometimes that means sharing something that has worked well, and sometimes it means being honest about something that hasn’t. We have a great deal of experience across our system, and we all benefit when people are willing to share and work collaboratively.”
Recognition built on shared effort
In something of a career highlight (so far), this year Burgess was named the Canadian Franchise Association’s Silver Franchisee of the Year. She sees the award as recognition of work shared with a much wider group.
“Receiving the Canadian Franchise Association’s Silver Franchisee of the Year award was a very proud moment and such an honour. It was meaningful to have years of work recognized first by the team at Head Office for the nomination and then by the Canadian Franchise Association.
“Although an individual award, it reflects the efforts of so many people who have helped me get here. None of what I’ve accomplished would have been possible without their dedication, care and belief in what we do. I’m proud of what we’ve built together and grateful to everyone who has been part of that journey, including my parents, my family, our team, the families we’re privileged to work with and our community partners.”
Her advice to new franchisees comes back to listening, investing in people and taking responsibility beyond the business itself.
“I think community leadership comes from taking responsibility for something beyond your own business. It means listening, contributing your time and being willing to help, including when there is no immediate benefit to you.
“My advice to a new franchisee would be to get to know the people around you. Listen carefully to families, invest in your team, connect with fellow franchisees and choose community activities you care about enough to stay involved in.
“Inside the centre, keep your attention on each individual child. A student becoming more confident may seem like a small change, but it can affect their family, their classroom and the way they see their future. Seeing that ripple effect is what has been so meaningful for me.”
