The event was hosted at The Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF), and organized by Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO), Toronto Community for Better Child Care (TCBCC), Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC), and Building Blocks for Child Care (B2C2). Many of the attendees were from the LEF community, including educators and supervisors, parents, and other staff from across the organization.
The evening started with Carolyn Ferns from the OCBCC introducing the event as one of many “Child Care Challenge” events held by the OCBCC. She shared that these events are held “to talk about the realities we’re facing, the progress we’ve made, and the real challenges that are in front of us”.
She says one of the main challenges is the child care work force crisis which can’t be solved “without decent work and decent pay for every Early Childhood Educator and child care staff in Ontario.”
LEF’s Executive Director Peter Frampton spoke about the importance of ECEs and ECAs, calling them “the most important building block for our community.”
"To come to work worrying about [paying] your own rent, you can’t do the job. To come to work stressed about your own children and your own future, you’re not bringing joy to your work, you can’t do the job."
“It’s really basic. If we’re going to have healthy children and we’re going to have a healthy next generation, then we better be paying to make sure that these incredible people are actually able to give the love and attention that is needed.”
Parents of children in LEF’s child care program spoke about the impact child care has not only on their lives, but the community as a whole. Alicia Lam, spoke about an experience with her child at an LEF centre during which the child had a severe reaction to a peanut allergy.
“It’s one of the worst days of our lives as parents. The staff, the supervisor, they were incredible. They worked with us to make sure we had all the information we needed. … They have walked with us every single step of the way.”
They deserve our gratitude. They deserve our respect. But above all, they deserve fair compensation.
Several RECEs spoke about the impact fair compensation has on their lives, mentioning the difficulties with rising rent, and the opportunities to enjoy life outside of work, such as travel.
“With the talks of CWELCC, Child Care was finally being prioritized within our government, and it was a recognition we were all looking for as educators” said Lasheka Packkiyarajah, RECE and supervisor at one of LEF’s centres.
But the reality hit us all. CWELCC [in Ontario] does not cover the cost of living. Our fees are frozen at the rate of 2022 but everything around us increased.
“I have seen many families advocating for us. This is no longer our battle in silence. It is a battle of the community who will be advocating for the children of our future.”
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The evening ended with some calls to action for those in the room and a chance for the attendees to mingle and discuss the impacts of what they had just heard.
Attendees were able to sign a petition which will be sent to Todd Smith, Minister of Education. If you would like to sign, you can do so here.
For ways to get involved, templates for contacting MPPs, and upcoming events, visit the advocacy page on our website here.
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