Region Recognizes Early Childhood Educator and Child Care Worker Appreciation Day

Waterloo Region – The Region of Waterloo is recognizing Early Childhood Educator and Child Care Worker Appreciation Day today with events at child care centres across Waterloo Region. The day celebrates the commitment, hard work, and dedication of Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) and child care staff who work with young children.

“ECEs and child care workers are essential in providing high quality early years education and care,” said Barb Cardow, Director of Children’s Services. “Thousands of families across Waterloo Region rely on Early Years professionals working in child care and early years programs every day. This year’s theme, WorthMORE!, highlights the importance of their work as we continue to implement our Early Years and Child Care System Plan, as well as the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program.”

Each year, the Early Childhood Educator and Child Care Worker Appreciation Day is proclaimed by The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), municipalities, and school boards across Ontario. It is marked by hundreds of early years and child care programs to thank ECEs and child care workers for their support each day in supporting children in communities across Ontario.

A Professional Development day on October 23 is also planned to bring together staff from the Early Years System across the Region to learn and network through workshops and keynote speakers.

Last year, Children’s Services launched the 2022-2026 Early Years and Child Care (EYCC) Service System Plan to guide the system through transformative change, strengthen the EYCC system, and provide direction on how the Region will improve the early years and child care system.

For more information about the many ways ECEs benefit children, families, and the growth of the economy in Waterloo Region at regionofwaterloo.ca/earlyyears.

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