October is Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Month and October 24 is Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day. Dufferin County calls on the community to join us in recognizing and appreciating all that Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) offer, every day. 

On October 10, Dufferin County Council proclaimed October Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Month in Dufferin County. This month seeks to highlight the importance of ECEs and the overall essential nature of quality childhood education in Dufferin County and beyond.  

On October 4, in celebration of Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Month, Dufferin County hosted the Early Learning Professional Symposium. The theme of this year’s symposium was “Leading with the heart of belonging, equity, diversity and inclusion”.  

Attendees enjoyed a day of collaboration, learning and reflection, and together, tackled some of the issues that early childhood educators are facing, including equality and justice and recognition and retention. 

“At the heart of Dufferin County’s quality initiatives and this year’s Early Learning Professional Symposium was the desire to cultivate an environment embracing diversity and promoting inclusion for all beings—human, species, and land,” says Lisa Taylor, Community Pedagogist, Early Years and Child Care Division, Dufferin County.   

“As early childhood professionals, we honor and celebrate differences, ensuring everyone feels a sense of belonging. We thank the families of Dufferin County for their flexibility, the educators and child care workers for their dedication and the early learning committee and community partners for their collaboration. The County also extends a special thank you to the Ministry of Education for funding. We were honoured to have the Honourable Jenna Sudds, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, join us at the Symposium to recognize the importance of early childhood educators and child care workers.” 

Child care workers and early childhood educators are competent and capable, curious and rich in experience. They are knowledgeable, caring, reflective and resourceful professionals, bringing diverse social, cultural and linguistic perspectives.  

Child care workers and ECEs collaborate with children, families and the community to create engaging environments and experiences to foster children’s learning, development and health and wellbeing, supporting their potential as individuals and family and community members. 

Dufferin County ECEs are dedicated to hard work, reflective practice, leadership and continuous professional learning, and consistently provide quality care for children and families, every day. With a shared dedication to providing high quality services for the Dufferin community, ECEs foster a diverse, equitable and inclusive community for all children, families and other early childhood educators. 

Dufferin County is committed to being a community that grows together. As the community continues to evolve, the County knows that it must work to ensure its programs, services and resources are responsive to the needs of our community’s children and families.  

“Our youngest citizens are the future of our community, and for them to thrive, we all must create spaces where they, and those dedicated to their education and care, feel safe, respected and appreciated for who they are,” says Lisa. “Diversity, equity and inclusion are essential for creating these welcoming spaces for all.” 

Learn more about how the County is working to support high-quality, licensed child care here.

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 MEDIA CONTACT:  

Megan Ball, Manager of Communications 

mball@dufferincounty.ca