Bloom where you're planted
How a 30-year teaching career, a global pandemic, and one woman's passion for play became Busy Bees Early Childhood Learning.
Joanne McMahon has been a pillar in early childhood education in Flagstaff and Paintearth Counties for over 30 years. A former Kindergarten teacher, she spent decades helping children take their very first steps into learning — and then helping their parents understand why every step mattered.
"Bloom where you're planted, and help kids grow — one song, story, and pair of scissors at a time."
When the pandemic hit, Joanne tried something new: she brought her enthusiasm, experience, and spark to the screen. What started as a way to stay connected during COVID became Busy Bees Early Childhood Learning — an online program connecting families across Canada through playful, developmentally rich sessions for preschoolers and their parents.
With the support of Flagstaff County's Entrepreneur Empowerment and Mastermind programs, Joanne built Busy Bees from the ground up — overcoming the business fears of pricing and structure while staying rooted in her true passion: helping kids thrive through play.
Her vision is expansive: to bring Busy Bees across Canada — from farming communities in Alberta to living rooms in Newfoundland — and to help every family feel connected, supported, and ready for kindergarten.
Hear Joanne's story
Featured on the Rural Unrecognized Podcast, Joanne shares how she built Busy Bees — the science of play, the magic of nursery rhymes, and her dream to reach every corner of Canada.
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