Ottawa—Today, parents, children and municipal leaders across Ontario joined in community celebrations marking the second annual Child Care Worker Appreciation Day.
In Ottawa, the staff at St. Lukes Child Care Centre were honoured with certificates of recognition and heartfelt appreciation from parents who told personal stories of how the staff at the centre have helped their children and their family. The parents also stressed the need for increased funding for regulated child care to alleviate the growing waiting list for spaces.
Working parents and local governments understand how valuable quality, accessible, regulated child care is for families in our communities. Throughout Ontario municipalities are allying with parents, workers and community activists in getting the message out to the federal and provincial governments that increased funding for child care must be a priority.
“Each day, workers are dealing with the impacts of a child care system that is under threat and chronically under-funded. I know first hand that Ottawa child care workers are dealing with more children with special needs and the waiting list for spaces is increasing,” said Shellie Bird, a child care worker for the past 20 years and a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2204.
A CUPE/OSBCC study of child care service plans found that local governments are struggling with immense funding pressures but are committed to providing Ontario families with access to affordable, high quality child care.
“The special day,” said Bird “gives us the opportunity to recognize the important contribution made to the well-being and health of our children, families and communities. It also gives advocates of child care, whether they be municipal politicians, parents or workers the chance to tell the provincial government it has to pay its fair share of child care costs.”
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For more information please contact:
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications
(416) 578-8774
Shellie Bird, CUPE Local 2204
(613) 233-0228
In Ottawa, the staff at St. Lukes Child Care Centre were honoured with certificates of recognition and heartfelt appreciation from parents who told personal stories of how the staff at the centre have helped their children and their family. The parents also stressed the need for increased funding for regulated child care to alleviate the growing waiting list for spaces.
Working parents and local governments understand how valuable quality, accessible, regulated child care is for families in our communities. Throughout Ontario municipalities are allying with parents, workers and community activists in getting the message out to the federal and provincial governments that increased funding for child care must be a priority.
“Each day, workers are dealing with the impacts of a child care system that is under threat and chronically under-funded. I know first hand that Ottawa child care workers are dealing with more children with special needs and the waiting list for spaces is increasing,” said Shellie Bird, a child care worker for the past 20 years and a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2204.
A CUPE/OSBCC study of child care service plans found that local governments are struggling with immense funding pressures but are committed to providing Ontario families with access to affordable, high quality child care.
“The special day,” said Bird “gives us the opportunity to recognize the important contribution made to the well-being and health of our children, families and communities. It also gives advocates of child care, whether they be municipal politicians, parents or workers the chance to tell the provincial government it has to pay its fair share of child care costs.”
-30-
For more information please contact:
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications
(416) 578-8774
Shellie Bird, CUPE Local 2204
(613) 233-0228