Climbing to Success: Celebrating Peak Beauty Academy
Every October, Small Business Week occurs across Canada, with the intention of celebrating the success of small businesses, recognizing their hard work and persistence, and creating opportunities for small business owners to connect, learn, and reflect. In Grande Prairie, the Chamber of Commerce hosts three primary Small Business Week events annually, where they proudly present local entrepreneurs with their Business Awards of Distinction.
This year, we are pleased to report that three of the winning businesses were Members from downtown Grande Prairie! Please join us in congratulating Peak Beauty Academy (Small Business of the Year, 15+ employees), The Liminal Place Cafe Inc. (Best New Business Award), and The Work Place (Legacy Business Award).
Peak Beauty Academy offers hands-on training and accreditation for aspiring beauty professionals. They have courses for nails, hair, makeup, and a Full Cosmetology Program that covers it all! You can also visit their student salon, and become a vital part of their student’s education while receiving some pampering. See what owner and CEO, Danielle, had to say about the business!
Congratulations on your win of Small Business of the Year (15+ Employees)! What does winning an award like this mean to you and your team?
We are so proud of this one! Our team puts so much into our students, and a lot of that work happens in little moments that nobody outside the school ever sees. Helping someone through a hard day. Teaching a technique a few different ways until it clicks. Watching a student go from “I don’t think I can do this” to confidently taking care of a client. When the Chamber recognizes this and says, “We see what you’re building.” That feels pretty incredible.
For me, it’s also recognition that beauty is a serious career path. Our students can become skilled tradespeople, business owners, educators, and employers. Getting to help them see those possibilities for themselves? That’s something worth celebrating!
What does it take to run a successful small business?
You need passion, absolutely. But you also need to know your numbers, build systems that actually work, and give your team the tools and trust to do their jobs.
Being busy doesn’t automatically mean your business is successful. You have to step back and ask: Are we delivering what we promised? Is our team supported? Is this financially sustainable? Are we building something that gives people opportunities?
I’ve learned that I can’t be the answer to every question or the solution to every problem. That limits everyone. My job is to build a business where people can grow, take ownership, and bring their strengths to the table. That takes intention, and a willingness to admit when something needs to change.
What makes the Grande Prairie—and more specifically, the Downtown GP—business community so great to be a part of?
There are people here who have big ideas and are willing to roll up their sleeves to figure it out. I love that energy. And when you’re building something yourself, you really appreciate the people who show up, refer someone, collaborate with you, or simply cheer you on.
The Downtown Association brings so many of those people together. You have independent businesses, arts, services, and people who care deeply about what they’re creating.
For our students, those connections open doors. Working with Grande Prairie Live Theatre and participating in events like Victoria’s Attic Support the Girls fundraiser gives our students a chance to use their skills, meet people, and contribute. They get to see that they already have something valuable to offer this community, even while they’re learning.
Why did you choose downtown as the home for your business?
When we purchased One Beauty, downtown was already its home, and I saw so much value in being here. Our rebrand to Peak Beauty Academy gave us an opportunity to really lean in to our neighbourhood and we appreciate it so much! We’re teaching people a career that is built on relationships, so being part of an established business community makes sense.
Our students come downtown to learn, our clients come in to support their learning, and those connections reach beyond our doors. Someone booking an appointment in our student salon is also helping a future beauty professional build confidence and experience. I love that.
We want Peak Beauty Academy to be part of a downtown that people have reasons to visit, spend time in, and feel connected to. Education, creativity, and a steady stream of people coming through the doors means we have something to contribute!
Downtowns are often hubs of creativity and culture in their communities—how does creativity play into your business’ success?
Well, spend a day in a beauty school and you’ll see plenty of it! Our students arrive with different styles, ideas, backgrounds, and visions for where they want this career to take them. We get to help them develop the skills to bring those ideas to life.
There is a lot of creativity in understanding what someone wants, figuring out what will work for them, and making them feel great about the result. It takes technical knowledge, listening, and problem-solving, too.
Then we get opportunities like theatre productions, fundraisers and fashion shows, where students can stretch themselves and try something completely different. Those experiences can really open their eyes. Suddenly a skill they’re learning in class becomes part of a character, a performance, or a community event. That’s exciting to be part of.
Is there anything new and exciting on the horizon for your business?
Yes, always!
For salon owners: I’ve put together some fabulous on-location and remote trainings for you! As a Little Voice Mastery Facilitator, Salon Profit Mastery Coach, and High Performance Salon Academy Mentor, I am available for one-on-one coaching for salon owners. My partners and lead educators from both Peak Beauty Academy and The Headroom Salon Co. are also available for in-salon education as well, covering hands-on topics to elevate stylists everywhere. When we elevate the salon industry, we can work together to provide more opportunities for new graduates!
For students and the community: We have students competing in Skills events this Spring – provincial competition is in Edmonton and Skills Canada is in Calgary this year, so we’re hoping to have a strong presence! Each year, more than 550 competitors from all regions of Canada come to SCNC to participate in over 40 skilled trade and technology competitions. Peak Beauty Academy is excited to be a part of the action again!
Additionally…
We’ve been putting a lot of energy into making it easier for people to get started and giving them a great experience once they’re here. Our trade programs now have intakes every six weeks. When someone is ready to make a change in their life, having another opportunity to start just around the corner matters. We’ve also added standalone makeup artistry education for people who want to explore that path or add to their existing skills.
Behind the scenes, we’ve invested in stations, chairs, shampoo sinks, student kits, and better digital systems. It all contributes to the experience our students and clients have here.
What I’m most excited about is helping more people see what a career in beauty can make possible. There are so many directions you can take it. If you or someone you know is considering a career including aesthetics of any type, please connect with us.
Congratulations again to Danielle and the whole team at Peak Beauty Academy, on the recognition of all your hard work in shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs in the beauty industry!
For more information on Peak Beauty Academy, visit their website: https://www.peakbeauty.ca/
