EXCERPTS:
October 24 marks the 12th anniversary of the Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educators Appreciation Day in Ontario.
Ottawa (23 Oct. 2012) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is joining with communities and organizations across Ontario in recognizing the valuable contributions made by child care workers and early childhood educators to the development of children, families and communities.
In 2011, approximately 130 municipalites proclaimed the day and over 20,000 child care staff and more than 300 child care centres and other organizations celebrated the day. Sponsored by Ontario's labour movement, the day also calls attention to the fact that child care staff are underpaid and undervalued for their work and that Ontario families need more affordable child care to be able to work.
The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC) has developed a package of materials for use in marking October 24 as the 2012 Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day.
The material includes an electronically editable Certificate of Appreciation. The certificate states: "In recognition of all child care workers who provide quality care to children and families and allow parents the opportunity to improve their quality of life and contribute to Canadian Society. Your daily efforts in the delivery of quality care is appreciated by familes and communities province wide."
As well children and families can fill out sheets stating why their educator is special. NUPGE is encouraging people to print out the certificate or sheet and present it to a child care worker or early childhood educator as a way of saying thank you for all they do and the difference they make in children's lives.