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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is joining with communities and organizations across Ontario in recognizing the valuable contributions made by child care workers and early childhood educators (ECEs) in building strong and supported children, families and communities.
Ottawa (24 Oct. 2017) — October 25 marks the 17th anniversary of the Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. The Appreciation Day was developed by the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), with support from national and provincial child care groups, parents, grandparents and unions.
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is joining with communities and organizations across Ontario in recognizing the valuable contributions made by child care workers and early childhood educators (ECEs) in building strong and supported children, families and communities.
This year’s theme is “we create a brighter future,” which recognizes the hard work, meaningful care and continuous learning these educators provide children every day.
You can show your appreciation for child care workers and ECEs at child care centres by
- giving educators opportunities to relax by turning the staff room into a spa lounge, with tea, coffee, snacks and other goodies
- having every staff in the centre vote on one child care champion of the year
- setting up a board near the entrance of the centre where parents may write thank you notes
- having a sign on the door of the centre saying, “Today is the 17th annual Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day.”
You can show ECEs and child care workers your appreciation on social media by
- sharing photos of how you’re celebrating Child Care Worker and ECE Appreciation Day
- using the hashtags #CCWAD or #ECEappreciation
- writing a kind message about a child care provider you know
The National Union also strongly supports the OCBCC’s “3 Big Ideas” to build a better future for child care in Ontario. The 3 ideas are:
- Affordable Fee Scale: Ontario has the highest child care fees in Canada and long waiting lists for fee subsidy. The solution to affordability is base funding programs and setting an affordable, geared to income, sliding fee scale with a cap.
- Decent Work Educators: Professional pay and decent work are a priority to ensure the retention and recruiting of staff.
- Limiting For-Profit Child Care: The Ontario government should ensure that none of the new 100,000 child care spaces be in for-profit centres.