THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2020
The Y Celebrates Child Care Workers and Early Childhood Educators
There has never been a timelier moment to highlight and recognize the outstanding commitment and dedication of our YMCA Children's Educational Service (CES) staff. This year was filled with unexpected challenges, from temporary closures due to COVID-19 and evolving changes to daily operations to meet the health and safety needs of both children and staff.
"For this 20th annual Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, I want to share how proud we, myself and the Y, are of the incredible CES staff for rising to meet challenges and maintaining a safe and supportive environment," says Jo-elle Rinker, VP of Children's Educational Services.
Our YMCA operates over 100 locations in Southwestern Ontario providing experienced, quality services including full-day child care, before and after school programs, community school programs, family resource centres, and more. It is in these programs that children learn values and skills that are the vital building blocks to their growth and development. Our experienced professionals provide an enriched learning environment that allows kids to discover, explore, and play, while also building strong connections and supports for families.
In 2020, our CES staff demonstrated their passion and dedication on the front lines at the earliest stages of the pandemic by providing emergency child care and reopening services for caregivers who needed to return to work. They showed resilience and flexibility while adapting to shifting guidelines and physical changes to their work environment with new health and safety procedures including personal protective equipment, screening measures, increased disinfecting measures, and more.
Our YMCA staff achieved all this and still maintained the safe, caring, and supportive environment that families have come to know and trust from the YMCA. They were able to maintain a familiar routine for children, with key elements such as homemade meals and snacks, rest time, and daily outdoor play.
The YMCA congratulates our Child Care Workers and Early Childhood Educators for all they have accomplished this year, and deeply respects their continued dedication to children and families! Thank you!
"The Y Educators have become part of our family. I couldn't ask for better care! I am so grateful! The Y taught my daughters to become understanding, compassionate human beings and allowed me to focus on school. Dreams do come true!" - Cynthia
"I have always felt that my child was loved and safe at the Y. I've had a very positive experience with Y Child Care and we are very grateful for all the hardworking and caring staff." - Amanda
"Our son absolutely loves going to YMCA Child Care. Every morning at drop off he can't wait to get in, see his friends and what play activities are set out. The staff are the absolute best and we wouldn't send our son anywhere else but the Y!"
Do you know someone who loves working with kids and wants to join a supportive team? Ask them to send a resume to ces.staffing@swo.ymca.ca or check out our current opportunities.