October 22, 2020 is the 20th annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. Each year the day is proclaimed by municipalities and school boards across Ontario and marked in hundreds of child care centres.

This year’s theme is “Rising Up!” to acknowledge the importance of collective action in creating a just, publicly funded, not-for-profit, and accessible child care system for all. Collectively, we are all rising up to take action, find common cause with workers in child care and early childhood educators, and work together to create a sustainable, high-quality child care system for all.

On Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, we recognize the dedication, expertise, and hard work of workers in child care, especially now during the COVID-19. The pandemic has exposed just how important child care is to our lives, the economy, and the participation of women in the workplace.

Together, we’re rising up to stem the tide, and demand adequate funding to child care, improved wages and working conditions for workers, and for a real commitment from our government to invest in a publicly funded, not-for-profit child care system.

Together, we’re rising up to protect child care and resound our commitment to ensure that every single family across the province has access to safe, affordable, and high-quality child care year-round, regardless of background, hours of work, or location.

This Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, take a moment to tell a child care worker that you appreciate the care, education, and service they provide to our kids, our families, and our communities.

CUPE Ontario would like to thank all the Child Care Workers and Early Childhood Educators for their dedication and commitment to our kids.