Parents fear money loss after closure of Sylvan Learning Centre in Winnipeg

A Sylvan Learning Centre location in Winnipeg has closed and families are worried they will be out thousands of dollars. CTV’s Joseph Bernacki reports.

School may be in session but the Sylvan Learning Centre on Kenaston Boulevard is closed.

The tutoring company has a long history in Winnipeg, but now some parents fear that they’re out the thousands of dollars they prepaid for their kids’ learning.

“What do we do next?” asked Les Thorne, who’s been bringing his children to the centre on Kenaston for the last two years.

“I mean, there’s thousands of dollars involved here and we’re not getting a reply or no email response. They just completely walked away.”

Thorne prepaid $3,000 for private tutoring for the fall.

However, in August of this year, the centre abruptly closed.

One email sent to parents said the business was closed until Aug. 5th. But that day came and went.

“We’ve tried to send back emails and there was nothing,” Thorne said.

“We have tried to make phone calls and all of a sudden now the lines are no longer in service.”

There is a second Sylvan Learning Centre location on Henderson Highway that is also closed.

CTV News reached out to the Sylvan parent company but has not heard back and voicemails at the local companies were full.

According to the Better Business Bureau, Thorne is not alone.

“In August and early September, we were receiving a number of calls weekly about Sylvan Learning Centre,” said Marian Henry, director of program operations for the Better Business Bureau of Central Canada.

“At that time, we decided to look into what was going on. Our operations team did do an investigation.”

Henry said both Sylvan locations appear to have been closed since the middle of August, but she doesn’t know the exact date.

She said there isn’t a lot parents can do when a local company like Sylvan shuts down, even if it’s part of a chain.

“If we can’t find the company, you can’t take action against them,” Henry said.

“So, filing a complaint or filing a lawsuit or small claims court isn’t going to be particularly successful if you can’t find the individuals that you’re trying to take action against.”

Thorne said his family is in a holding pattern to see if any money can be recovered because his kids still need tutoring.

“Let’s hope we get at least some sort of reimbursement,” he said. “But let us know what’s going on. We have no idea what’s going on.”