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This year will mark the 13th Anniversary of our Awareness Day which recognizes the education, skills, commitment and dedication of Early Childhood Educators and Child Care Staff. The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and our other labour partners representing child care workers across Ontario are asking that Wednesday, October 30, 2013 be proclaimed as Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day in accordance with the attached resolution. Many groups are recognized by way of Municipal Resolution.
Such a day allows the community to recognize the important work of child care workers and to acknowledge the contributions that child care workers make in the lives of community members. Children, families and communities benefit from the work of child care workers. Child care also contributes to the economic life of communities. Research shows the many economic benefits accrued from affordable, accessible, licensed, high quality child care.
The “Rethink Child Care” campaign is the result of an enthusiastic group effort of Canadian unions and child care advocates. Many families are struggling to find child care and to piece together child care they can afford. Many child care workers struggle to make ends meet. Municipalities, as you well aware, suffer from a lack of funding for child care from both the federal and provincial levels of government. This lack of funding for early learning and child care has forced several centers to close, and others remain at risk.
The objective of the national campaign is to put child care on the agenda for the federal election in 2015. The first phase of the campaign is a “Kitchen Table conversation”. Kitchen Table conversations are taking place in communities across the country. Campaign materials have been developed to assist child care advocates with hosting a Kitchen Table conversation in their community
Want to order materials like buttons and posters for the Appreciation Day? Fill out this form and send it by October 21st (English) (French)
Want some ideas on how to recognize the Appreciation Day? Click Here for some suggestions (English) (French)
View the Motion sent to Mayors and Councilors across Ontario to celebrate the Appreciation Day (English) (French)
Want to pass a motion in your organization? Take a look at the Appreciation Day Resolution for 2013 (English) (French)
