Entrepreneur:
Deanna Collarile

Business:
Monkey See Monkey Do
Childcare and Development Centres
www.monkeybizz.ca

Monkey See Monkey Do

They say that sometimes pieces just fall together to form something wonderful. Back in 2001, many pieces did come together, and along with lots of research and hard work, I opened the first Monkey See Monkey Do Childcare and Development Centre.

As many parents are after the birth of their children, I was at a crossroad in my life. My second daughter had just been born and I was madly trying to figure out a way to both work and be with my children. At the same time, I did the rounds and visited local daycares to try and find suitable childcare for my girls. Each time I left a daycare, I felt disappointed, as none of the facilities even came close to what I wanted for my daughters and many had long waitlists. I knew that I wanted an environment that would nurture my children and help them to flourish not only academically, but also physically, emotionally and socially. I knew that I also wanted an arts focused atmosphere where they could express their creativity, be it in music, drama, yoga or even cooking. Bingo! If I opened my own daycare, I could have it all. I could offer my children and others the programs that I envisioned and, the best part - I could have my children by my side.

Little did I know that my previous careers would come in so handy when the time came to start my own daycare centre. My years as a flight attendant included taking care of people; ensuring their comfort, safety, happiness, and in many cases, calming their fears. My other career working at the Hospital for Sick Children afforded me amazing planning and coordinating skills, as I oversaw many events, conferences and meetings over the years; in effect, juggling several different balls all at the same time. I used all of these skills and more as I brought Monkey See Monkey Do to life.

In July of 2001, I opened the door to the first Monkey See Monkey Do location in Glen Abbey with the centre already at 75% capacity. I had been advertising in local papers and hosting open houses at a nearby recreation centre in the months prior, and also used good old fashioned word of mouth to let the community know that a new quality daycare was opening. Buoyed with the success of the centre and the many families who told me over and over again how difficult is was to find good full time daycare; I decided to open another Monkey See Monkey Do in east Oakville. In April 2003, the Winston Park location of Monkey See Monkey Do opened, and I haven’t looked back since.

I’m proud to say that the years of hard work and learning a new business have paid off. Monkey See Monkey Do has been voted Oakville’s Top Children’s Centre by Oakville Beaver readers, as well as by Oakville Today. And in January 2008, I’m opening the third Monkey See Monkey Do in Burlington, with plans to open more centres in other communities that are growing with young families. I believe the success of Monkey See Monkey Do has much to do with our philosophy: that a child is continually learning at work or at play, and we can enhance that educational experience with interactive programs such as visual arts, French, music, yoga, science, and yes, even cooking!

There were certainly challenges to starting my own business; especially one where I had limited knowledge of the industry and not a lot of resources to help with the leg work. Amidst visiting numerous daycare centres in several communities, researching policies, procedures, and regulations, and meeting with insurance agents, real estate agents and architects, I was introduced to someone who later became my most valuable resource. She had solid knowledge of the industry and guided me through all the ins and outs of what the ministry would look for in order to get licensed; one of the biggest obstacles in opening a daycare centre. She was truly a wonderful help and continually inspired me to build the centre and the programs as I had envisioned. If I could give one piece of advice to anyone looking to start their own business, it would be to find a mentor, or several, in the chosen field.

Now that my daughters are in school full-time, the flexibility of being self-employed allows me the time to volunteer at their schools and be involved with their activities. It also allows me to participate in community events, such as sponsoring the Alliance Healthcare Health and Wellness Fair for families as well as organizing gifts for the Angel Toy Drive and various food drives. It is tremendously rewarding to be able to give back to the communities that have helped to build my business, and I particularly love being involved in activities that foster the wellness of families and children.

I have learned a lot in starting this business, both professionally and personally. The skills that I’ve learned to help children learn, laugh, and express themselves have helped me with my own children. I know that I have built a recipe for success with the Monkey See Monkey Do centres. The daycare stands out for its quality arts and educational programs and our commitment to offering a family atmosphere where parental involvement and partnership is encouraged to help each child thrive.

Through all of this, the ultimate reward has been to achieve my first goal: to be with my kids. Not only did I start my own business, but I was successful at having my children by my side every day, enjoying the programs and activities that I had envisioned for them. In effect, I was a full-time mom and a full-time business person.

Childcare and Development Centres
www.monkeybizz.ca

HEAD OFFICE - 1395 Abbeywood Drive - Unit 16, Oakville, Ontario, L6M 3B2 (905) 469-2944 Winston Park Campus, 2640 Bristol Circle Suite 100 Oakville, 905-829-1954