When Anita Mushitsi, who was born in Rwanda, arrived in Canada, she had no idea her career path would go from being a university student to a federal government employee to a small business owner.
Anita’s passion for swimming was born out of a terrifying experience when her daughter suffered a near-drowning as a young child. Determined to prevent other families from facing the same fear, Anita became a fierce advocate for drowning prevention, spreading awareness about the importance of swim lessons and water survival skills. In a country surrounded by oceans, lakes, and rivers, she believes swimming is as fundamental to childhood as learning to read.
Anita’s children felt equally passionate about swimming. Her son trained up to six times a week for a competitive Ottawa Swim club, while Anita immersed herself in the sport as a volunteer and swimming official, working hard to marshal swim meets. After years of working in the government, she felt burnt out and sought to turn her passion into a full-time career – that’s when she discovered British Swim School. What stood out was their unique curriculum, which emphasizes a survival-first approach and critical water safety skills.
Anita shares her advice for those considering the move from being an employee to franchise business owner, “Don’t believe the naysayers, trust your gut and go for it!” Anita opened her business in the Spring of 2019, unaware of the challenges COVID-19 would present. But through resilience and determination, she not only survived, she thrived. Today, Anita operates three locations and attributes her success to choosing a franchise business over starting from scratch. The franchise model offered the perfect balance where Anita could turn her passion for swimming into a thriving business while benefiting from a proven franchise system. The Canadian Franchise Association states, “Franchising is about being in business for yourself, but not by yourself.”
Owning a small business is not without its challenges. Recruiting and retaining high-quality lifeguards and swim instructors remains a hurdle. Teaching swimming requires patience, intelligence, strong communication skills, and adaptability. Fortunately, British Swim School’s low student-to-instructor ratio allows instructors to provide individualized attention, creating a better learning environment. And with Ottawa’s two universities nearby, Anita has a steady pool of potential employees to draw from.
Like all entrepreneurs, Anita is also looking for ways to grow her business. Anita is passionate about expanding access to swim lessons for newcomers to Canada, many of whom are unfamiliar with the importance of water safety or unable to shoulder the cost of a private swim school. Anita hopes to find a partnership which might subsidize or entirely cover the cost of swimming lessons for families who might otherwise not have the opportunity. In addition, Anita also sees opportunities to expand her business further east and west, reaching more families. Anita is proud to see her students grow from beginners to confident swimmers and takes pride in the impact her business has had. What started as a personal mission has transformed into a thriving career – one that saves lives, builds confidence, and ensures every child has the skills to stay safe in the water.
The post Turning a passion for water safety into a thriving business first appeared on CanadianSME Small Business Magazine.