Kumon Math and Reading Centre opens in the Glebe

By Kate McGregor

Parents in the Glebe seeking help for their children in math and reading have a brand new Kumon Centre. The world’s largest educational learning program specializing in after-school support for students ages 3–18 opened its doors on Bank Street between David’s Tea and Nicastro in September 2015.

The driving force behind the centre is business owner and instructor Sanjit Kaur. Kaur is building on 10 years of experience as the owner of a successful Kumon Centre in Kanata. She continues to spread her passion for childhood learning in a market where academic learning must compete with other after-school activities for youth such as sports, music and dance. To parents who decide they must do something about their children’s grades, Kaur offers comprehensive math and reading programs that are customized to the needs of each student. She also offers words of encouragement.

 “When your child is suffering, when your child is not doing well, when your child is struggling, every parent is feeling the pain…Is there hope? Of course, there’s always hope. You can’t give up as a parent and I’m not about to give up as an instructor.” She speaks eloquently about holding the bar high for herself and her centre and about the importance of building relationships with parents and students.

Tenacity is a word that comes to mind when Kaur tells her story about how her journey began. She left her home in Nairobi, Kenya ten years ago to start a new life in Canada. Ottawa was her first choice as a safe city in which to raise children and find a good job.

She arrived in Ottawa as a single parent with three children ages 5, 7 and 13, in winter with no job prospects. She looked for work after settling her children in school. Following two contracts with travel companies, she began to think that her best option might be to seek self-employment as a franchise owner. Compared to Nairobi where businesses are mostly family-run affairs, she realized that the franchise-model works well for entrepreneurs in Canada who are willing to work hard.

Kaur researched franchise opportunities, eventually stumbling upon the Kumon model. Although she was acquainted with Kumon because her own children had studied with them in Kenya, she was surprised to learn that it was a franchise. With her background as a successful business owner with marketing and tourism expertise, it was not long before she was offered an opportunity to take over a Kumon Centre in Kanata.

The opportunity enabled her to hit the ground running with an established centre, complete with a student roster. Her Kanata centre has been recognized for the past three years as one of the top three Kumon franchises in Canada.

Now, Kaur is the proud owner of a second Kumon Centre in the Glebe. She received the keys in June 2015. Three months of construction and renovations began in the space previously occupied by a dental practice. She had the floors reinforced. Solid lighting conducive to a learning environment was installed. Walls, carpets, furniture and shelving, all in Kumon-brand yellows and chocolate browns, were carefully considered in the overall interior design.

The smell of fresh paint greets visitors to Kaur’s new quarters where she speaks enthusiastically about the Glebe. She loves the individual feel of the local specialty stores and was moved by the warm welcome she received from her new neighbours during the construction phase.

Now, supported by a small team of classroom assistants, Kaur is already helping a growing number of students strengthen their critical thinking and problem solving abilities. Parents are helping their children develop the self-confidence to grow and the hope to achieve whatever their heart desires by investing in a strong academic foundation.

Over 60 years ago, a Japanese father named Toru Kumon designed a program for his young son to improve his grades. Combining a unique step-by-step self-learning method with short, daily incremental assignments, his child was soon studying far beyond his grade-level. Today, the Kumon method continues to help millions of students in 49 countries, including Canada.

Kate McGregor is a certified Integral Master Coach™. To inquire about her services: 613-884-1864; kate@kmcommunications.ca;  www.kmcoaching.ca.  

Kumon Math and Reading Centre
802 Bank Street, Unit 792
www.kumon.com/the-glebe
613-319-8080
sanjitkaur@ikumon.com