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“Today, and every day, we say thank you to our members and other ECEs and child care workers for the important work you do. We see you, we appreciate you, and we will continue to advocate for you.” — Bert Blundon, NUPGE President
Ottawa (18 Oct. 2022) — Tuesday, October 18, marks the 22nd annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day in Ontario. It is a day to recognize the hard work and dedication of early childhood educators (ECEs) and other child care staff.
“Today, and every day, we say thank you to our members and other ECEs and child care workers for the important work you do,” said Bert Blundon, President of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). “We see you, we appreciate you, and we will continue to advocate for you.”
Worth MORE!
The 2022 theme is Worth MORE! This year, the appreciation day comes amidst a worsening crisis in the child care workforce. Despite the progress on building a much-needed Canada-wide child care system, and the greater recognition of the value of child care during the pandemic, the sector continues to be under immense pressure.
ECEs and child care workers do critically important work, and yet are often underpaid and under-resourced. There are reports of growing burnout and staffing shortages.
The appreciation day is a reminder that, to expand the child care system in order to offer more accessible, high-quality child care to more families, decent work and fair pay for workers are essential.
Celebrate, show recognition
For ideas on how to mark the day, check out the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC) tip sheet. It includes showing appreciation on social media or at a centre.