Toronto, October 25, 2006

In a year that saw the cancellation of dedicated federal funding for childcare, parents and advocates supporting child care workers and early childhood educators vowed to keep publicly funded child care at the top of political agendas at all government levels.

“This is an important day for child care workers and early childhood educators,” said Sid Ryan, President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) that represents childcare workers and early childhood educators. Speaking at the 6th Annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day at Toronto City Hall, Ryan said, “It’s an opportunity to honour them and the vitally important work they do, and the best way we can honour them is to fund the child care system properly.”

“It is crucial for all of us to insist on a child care system dedicated to quality, universality, accessibility, inclusiveness and developmental care and education,” said Elizabeth Ablett, Executive Director of the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC). “Trained and knowledgeable child care staff are the cornerstone of quality child care.”

“Child care workers play a key role in shaping children’s social, physical, emotional and cognitive development. It is simply not acceptable to allow publicly funded, quality child care to languish; we need to build child care through a new law similar to the Canadian Health Act,” added Ryan. “We and our coalition partners in child care are dedicated to keeping pressure on all three levels of government as we move into municipal and provincial elections and a possible federal election.”

Despite the Harper government’s cancellation of dedicated child care funding, the City of Toronto, working with the provincial government, has opened 57 new child care centres across the city this year.

This day of recognition and appreciation for the importance of the work of child care workers and early childhood educators was founded six years ago by CUPE Ontario and the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), and has been proclaimed by municipalities across the province, including the Toronto City Council.

Sponsors now include the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the United Steelworkers, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, the Canadian Auto Workers, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, the Ontario Federation of Labour, and the National Union of Public and General Employees.

This year’s celebrations come just weeks before municipal elections are held across Ontario. The OCBCC and CUPE see this as an opportunity for the community and candidates to show their appreciation for the important role child care plays in the lives and well-being of all children.

Ottawa, October 24, 2006

The city of Ottawa will join more than 120 other municipalities celebrating and recognizing the contribution of child care workers on Wednesday Oct. 25 2006.

Candidates in the 2006 municipal elections have been invited to join city councillor Peter Hume as he presents the 6th Annual Early Childhood Educator – Child Care Worker Appreciation Day proclamation to the staff at Aladin Child Care Services’ Hawthorne Public School kindergarten and school age program.

More than 120 municipalities across Ontario have officially proclaimed Oct. 25 as Early Childhood Educator – Child Care Worker Appreciation Day. The day gives parents, boards of directors, the public and elected representatives the opportunity to show their appreciation to the dedicated professionals who provide care and education to the youngest members of our society.

Date: Wednesday October 25th 2006
Time: 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Location: Aladin Child Care Services – Hawthorne Public School kindergarten and school age program – 2185 St. Laurent Blvd

“This is a very special day for us,” says Diane O’Neill, Aladin’s executive director. “Our new program opened as part of the provincial government’s Best Start plan. I’m glad our councillor, Peter Hume, will join us in acknowledging our staff’s hard work and dedication in getting the program up and running.”

“The Aladin board is happy our new centre is where the proclamation will officially be presented,” says board president Colleen Stack. “We’re proud to invite local candidates and politicians to see our staff’s contributions to the kindergarten and school age program, which is providing desperately-needed services for 50 children and their families”.

For further information contact Shellie Bird 613-233-0228 cupe2204@on.aibn.com or Diane O’Neill 613-733-0553 or email diane@aladinchildcare.com

Sponsoring Groups: Child Care Action Network, Ottawa Child Care Association, Child Care Council Ottawa, CUPE Local 2204, Association of Early Childhood Educators Ottawa Valley Branch, Aladin Child Care Services.

Sudbury, October 24, 2006

On October 25th, the Greater Sudbury community will officially appreciate the Child Care worker and Early Childhood Educator. At 10:30 am, during a celebration at the Walden Day Care Centre, Mayor David Courtemanche will pass the resolution declaring October 25th Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. Celebrations will also be held in early learning and child care program across our city and province.

The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care, along with Labour organization, Teachers Federations and local child care centres will be celebrating the valuable role and contributions of Early Childhood Educators and child care workers across the province. With over 90 early learning and child care sites in Greater Sudbury, it is important to recognize the influence, dedication and commitment of Greater Sudbury child care workers to children and their families.

Trained and knowledgeable child care staff is the most important element in quality child care. Further, recent studies show that child care providers play a key role in shaping children’s social, physical, emotional and cognitive development.

Anyone interested in celebrating and recognizing the 6th Annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day can contact Tracy Saarikoski at (705) 693-5282.

Toronto, October 24, 2006

Showing appreciation for child care, staff, parents, children and advocates will gather in a celebration of the 6th annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day on Wednesday, October 25.

WHO:
- Elizabeth Ablett, Executive Director Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC)
- Sid Ryan, President, CUPE Ontario
- Irene Harris, Secretary-Treasurer, Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL)
- Barbara Burkett, Vice-President, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO)
- Councillor Janet Davis, Council Lead on Children’s Issues. City of Toronto

WHAT: 6th annual Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day

WHERE: Hester How Child Care Centre, Toronto City Hall

WHEN: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 — 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

This day of recognition and appreciation for the importance of the work of child care workers and early childhood educators was founded six years ago by CUPE Ontario and the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), and has been proclaimed by municipalities across the province, including the Toronto City Council.

Sponsors now include the Canadian Union of Public Employees, the United Steelworkers, the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, the Canadian Auto Workers, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation, the Ontario Federation of Labour and the National Union of Public and General Employees.

Toronto, October 18, 2006

MEDIA ADVISORY

The Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC) is launching the newly revised version of its Guide to Child Care in Ontario, a resource for parents, students, teachers, researchers and the media on Ontario’s child care system, child and family policies. The Guide, part of a project sponsored by the Laidlaw Foundation, includes a review of current child care and related policy, barriers to quality care, benefits of child care, legislation, existing services, parental involvement, financing and subsidies, advocacy and the responsibilities of all three levels of government. Input, opinions and perspectives of currently excluded communities and designated groups have helped ensure that the Guide addresses sources of exclusion in current child care policy, and identifies some possible solutions that are inclusive for future policy development.

This important resource was developed with the generous support of the Laidlaw Foundation, and with the invaluable input and assistance from individuals, communities and organizations from across the province. Space for the event has been generously provided by Ryerson University and the Ryerson University Child Care Centre.

Who:
- Elizabeth Ablett, Executive Director, Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care
- Usha George, Dean, Faculty of Community Service, Ryerson University
- Melissa Hays, CMAS Consultant, CMAS and LINC Child Care Program

What:
Launch of the new Guide to Child Care in Ontario

Where:
Ryerson Early Learning Centre, Toronto

When:
Thursday, October 19, 2006 from 11:00 AM to 12:15 PM