20 Years of Milestones: The Maple Bear Story
The Maple Bear Global Schools history begins with a bold idea: bring the very best of Canadian education to families around the world. In 2004, the first school opened in Delhi, India. Twenty years later, that idea has grown into a global network of 500+ schools across 35+ countries, serving over 70,000 students. Here are the milestones that made it happen.
Maple Bear Global Schools History: The Beginning (2004–2010)
In 2004, Maple Bear Global Schools was founded with a bold vision: bring the best of Canadian education to children around the world. The first school opened in Delhi, India in 2004 — and the momentum didn’t stop there.
- 2006 – Brazil and South Korea join the network
- 2008 – Expansion into Morocco
- 2009 – Schools open in China and Vietnam
- 2011 – Mexico welcomes its first Maple Bear school
What started as an idea was becoming a movement.
Going Global: How Maple Bear Expanded Worldwide (2011–2019)
The next decade brought rapid expansion. In 2014 alone, Maple Bear reached the Philippines, Singapore, the UAE, and the United States — marking a pivotal year of growth across continents.
- 2015 – 1st ever Faculty Symposium held in Winnipeg, a gathering of all 200 Canadian trainers
- 2017
- Grupo SEB acquires Maple Bear LATAM operations
- Schools open in Sri Lanka and Türkiye
- 2018 – Global Terry Fox fundraising initiative launched
- 2019
- The Bear Care program was introduced as a brand-new program
- Expansion continues into Hong Kong (SAR), Malaysia, Nepal, Romania, and Bulgaria
By the end of the decade, Maple Bear had become a truly international network.
Building Momentum: Maple Bear Global Schools Today (2020–Present)
Maple Bear entered a new era of innovation and record growth.
- 2020
- First-ever Maple Bear high school students graduate in Brazil
- Grupo SEB acquires Maple Bear Global operations
- The Maple Bear mascot is officially named Chinook
- 2021 – A landmark year:
- 11 countries join the network, including Albania, Angola, Kenya, Portugal, Guatemala, Oman, Peru, Serbia, Thailand, and Ukraine
- Global BEAR Magazine launches
- 2022
- Maple Bear Global Head Office opens in Toronto
- 1st Global Symposium held to unite school owners, regional partners and educators
- 2023 – Expansion into the Czech Republic, Kazakhstan, Poland, Paraguay, and Uzbekistan
- 2024
- 20th anniversary of Maple Bear
- Inaugural Annual Global Conference held in Niagara Falls, Ontario
- 2025
- Dual Diploma, Global Connections Program, and MyMapleBear launch
- Australia and Ghana join the network
- 2nd Annual Global Conference held in Whistler, BC
- 2026
- 500 Maple Bear Global School Milestone
Today, Maple Bear serves over 70,000 students in 500+ schools across 35+ countries. And the momentum continues with new schools set to open in Costa Rica, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Greece and Iraq in the coming months, bringing Canadian bilingual education to even more students worldwide.
Every milestone reflects the dedication of our global community, and the journey is just beginning.
Twenty Years Strong — And Growing
Whether you’re a parent looking for the best start for your child, or an entrepreneur ready to invest in education, Maple Bear Global Schools has a place for you.
