Toronto, Ont. - Wednesday, October 26 is the annual day of appreciation for child care staff and a celebration of all public initiatives that are helping lay the foundations of a quality, universal and accessible developmental early learning and care system.
Over 120 municipalities in Ontario have already officially proclaimed the day during which thousands of child care graduates across the province will be showing their appreciation for their child care teachers by sharing memories and stories, wearing buttons and displaying Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC) posters, produced for the celebration.
“Wednesday is the opportunity to think about our children and the importance of Early Childhood Educators and child care workers in their lives, in the lives of their families and in the broader community,” says Kira Heineck, Executive Director, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care.
It is the time to celebrate the achievements of regulated, high quality child care,” says CUPE Ontario President Sid Ryan, who will be at Windsor’s Glengarry Child Care Centre (Thompson Towers, 495 Glengarry Avenue) for a 10:30 a.m. event and presentation with City Councillor Ron Jones, CUPE 543 child care workers and children.
“CUPE members and our allies in the child care sector have made early childhood care and education a key issue in our province and in our country, and have continued to play an important supporting role in achieving positive, later-life outcomes for children,” Ryan says.
In Ottawa, the Minister of Social Development Ken Dryden and Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli will join early childhood educators, CUPE child care workers, children and parents at the Nepean Sportsplex, (Salon A & B, 1701 Woodroffe Avenue, Nepean) from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
This year’s celebrations come at a time when most provinces and territories have signed agreements with Ottawa committing a total of $5 billion over the next five years to early childhood education and care,” Heineck says.
“The events celebrate the policy and funding initiative to lay the foundation for a system dedicated to quality, universality, accessibility, inclusivity and developmental care and education.”
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For more information, please contact:
Sid Ryan
President CUPE Ontario
416-209-0066 (cell)
Kira Heineck
Executive Director, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care
416-538-0628 ext 3
Catherine Macleod
CUPE Communications
416-299-9739 ext 264; 519-524-3340 (cell)