Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence Reviews

Gain exclusive insight into life at Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence from our carefully curated video and written reviews that deliver in-depth insider info from parents, alumni and students.

Our Perspective on Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence

Schools are founded for a range of reasons, though a few are founded out of a very acute need, and that’s the case with Heritage. Louise Brazeau-Ward’s son had dyslexia, and she had watched him struggle in traditional academic settings, something which inspired her to make a difference in his life and the lives of others like him. Today she’s a world renowned expert in dyslexia, and a proponent of the Orton-Gillingham multi-sensory approach to instruction which she then adapted. All of that forms the foundation of Heritage Academy, the school that Brazeau-Ward created in 1989. Today the school is run by her daughter, and the program, though having grown over the years, remains consistent to its founding mission. The school provides support for students with dyslexia as well as other challenges. The environment—one that is created to address the needs of the students—can itself be transformative. For many students, that’s what Heritage principally offers.

Video reviews

Get crucial behind-the-scenes information about Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence from video interviews with probing questions that we recorded live with parents, current students, and recent alumni.

All (3) Parent (1) Alum (2) Roundtable Q&A (0)


Parent, Robin Stout (2023) Watch our parent interview with Robin Stout to get the inside scoop on what it’s like to have a child attend Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence.	all_videos parent_videos	,
Alum, Shannon Hall (2021) Watch our alum interview with Shannon Hall to learn about the unique experience of attending Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence.	all_videos alumnus_videos	,
Alum, Matt Diotte (2020) Watch our alum interview with Matt Diotte to learn about the unique experience of attending Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence.	all_videos alumnus_videos	,

Written reviews

Dive deeply into the real culture of Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence with reviews we’ve structured to highlight only the most valuable insights and opinions submitted by parents, students, and alumni.

All (4) Parent (4) Alum (0) Student (0)


(4.5) Parent, Stephanie Machel (2020) My daughter went from hating going to school and feeling 'stupid' to enjoying school and improv... The whole experience was positive. When there were behavioural issues with students they were dealt with swiftly and appropriately. That said this was seldom an issue. I am writing this years after leaving the school so my mem... Teachers were fabulous and each deserves awards for how they handle the kids who can be challenging at times. They were always kind and patient and really showed they cared about the kids and this was not just a job for them. ... The reason I am submitting this review four years after my daughter left Heritage is because I wanted to report back. Charlotte went from reading at a grade 1/2 level in grade 4 to have an 85% average at Canterbury High School... Extracurricular activities were great and always enjoyed by the kids. The challenge is team sports because there are not enough kids to do that. But they focused on individual sports. In fact, Mike started a Ju-Jitsu program t... The class sizes were obviously great - you always had confidence your child was getting all of the help they needed. The homework fights were gone. It improved our family life immeasurably learning new techniques and having su... Our daughter loved Heritage - she really enjoyed the teachers and it was a positive experience for her. Having left a negative experience in the public school system we were happy to be able to send her to a place where she go... Overall I think the school did a lot to engage parents. Not all of us participated to the same degree (we didn't due to work issues) but certainly, when I did, I felt welcomed and enjoyed the other parents. Parents were inclu... The kids participated in many extracurricular activities that got them out and walking in the neighbourhood. Fishing in Dow's Lake, for example, was always a fun trip. The neighbourhood is nice, there is ample parking and it i...	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,
(4.9) Parent, Susan Ward (2018) My daughter transferred mid-year. She likes the small classroom setting and the teaching staff.... School admin are very responsive. They provide excellent up to date information of school activities and events by email. I also use their app. They really seem to understand that each child is unique, with unique needs. They... As a parent, I really like the level of academic follow up with her and me to keep her on track of her assignments and tests since she has ADHD. Class notes, practice tests, morning lunch or after school extra time are all off... The smaller size classrooms leads to better exchange of information, explanation of concepts and engagement with the teacher and peers. My daughter is doing so much better than she had been at her previous school. It is such ... My daughter is enrolled in martial arts which is not something she would have ever considered in the past so it is making her a much more rounder person. They offer many socially conscious programs such as Me to We that are fo... There is a variety of personality types- like at every other school. The difference here is that these differences are viewed as gifts and strengths. The is value to being different. My daughter would describe some students a... My daughter likes the more intimate setting. She has social anxiety and ADHD and the school setting has helped her tremendously. Admin and teaching staff keep parents up to date so there are no surprises. Communication is eas... The students come from a wide range of abilities and backgrounds. There is no judgement; there is acceptance of everyone's needs and strengths while showing compassion and patience when it comes to a students limitations. Fam... My daughter loves that she can go out for lunch or a cafe. She feels more independent. It is a very safe neighbourhood. It is walking distance to train and buses. Location for us was a bit our of the way from our work which d... The responsiveness from the admin is excellent. When we found that my daughter was doing poorly in her previous school, we were given a tour. We took the opportunity to do a one day trial. It was a good fit. The admissions pr...	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,
(4.1) Parent, Kim Bridgeman (2018) Our son had many difficulties in the regular school system due to a number of learning disabili... They are very hands on. All issues identified are brought to the parents attention for a collaborative response. We were pleased to learn that they do not permit bullying, foul, abusive language from the students, promote ac... The teachers have all been exceptional in my opinion. They teach in different methods which help the kids to learn the material and test in a fair way to truly judge the learning. They communicate regularly through email and... Due to the low number of students the selection of courses is a little compressed from that which you might experience elsewhere, but options are always available. As they reach the higher grades, this can mean that there are... There is a martial arts program after school and there are competitions with other schools in various sports, however, I feel that there is not enough of an emphasis on truly being competitive within any given sport. Most of ... This is awesome. The students openly acknowledge and accept the differences among the student body and don't make anyone feel that they don't belong. There is a common respect between the students not only within a given grad... Prior to Heritage Academy our son dreaded school. It was a consistent battle to get him going in the morning and to be enthusiast about attending. That all changed. He truly enjoys going and meeting with his friends. He enj... There are numerous events throughout the year from teacher parent interviews, school celebrations and events to school trips which involve parents to as much as they prefer to be involved. I have had the opportunity to atten... At first I was surprised at the school as it is obviously an older facility. Since it is rented from the Catholic school board it does not receive the full support of that board. The independent grounds keeper however keeps ... As it was a large step with the cost and not really knowing what to expect, we did a little research as you are doing. The school offered a trial day which enabled our son to attend what would be his class for a full day of e...	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,
(3.9) Parent, Lisa Gomes (2018) My child appreciates the individual attention afforded by small class sizes as well as the flex... The school's administration has responded to problems and disciplinary issues appropriately and with compassion and empathy. Communication is frequently good, but at times, has been spotty. This is partly because they are pla... Overall, we are happy with the quality of instruction. Teachers are generally passionate, knowledgeable, and creative. One of the most amazing teachers in the school (a math teacher) unfortunately left the school last year. ... The focus on practical and experiential learning is excellent. Students are encouraged to think about their future and plan their academics accordingly. In later years, they are encouraged to advocate for themselves, which w... I am not aware of many extracurricular activities (e.g. clubs, teams, etc.), but that could be because my child is not particularly interested in organized activities. Additionally, because most students require transportatio... The students seem happy, polite, and respectful. When we first stepped foot in Heritage for our child's trial day, we were struck by how friendly and welcoming the students were. They were smiling, holding open doors for us, ... My child likes it some days, doesn't like it other days, and is indifferent most of the time. School is school. She/he doesn't really remember what it was like in the public system, and sometimes wonders if the pastures woul... I always feel welcome when I go into to the school, and I'm sure other parents feel the same way. The staff and teachers always smile and know who I am. It feels like a family. I don't have much experience with the broader ... The school is in a vibrant residential part of town, and there is access to parks and places where the students can get a sandwich at lunch if they choose. A few streets over, they can access Little Italy, where there are rest... The application process was simple and welcoming. It was not stressful at all. We were never made to feel like our child might not be "accepted". The trial day is a very effective way of letting students and parents find ou...	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,

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Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence Reviews

Our Perspective on Heritage Academy of Learning Excellence

Video reviews

Parent, Robin Stout (2023)

Alum, Shannon Hall (2021)

Alum, Matt Diotte (2020)

Written reviews

(4.5)

Parent, Stephanie Machel (2020)

(4.9)

Parent, Susan Ward (2018)

(4.1)

Parent, Kim Bridgeman (2018)

(3.9)

Parent, Lisa Gomes (2018)

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