Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO)

"It's like the government forgot there are humans at the centre of this who can barely afford to live" Early Childhood Educator, 2024.

⚠ Ontario's new child care funding approach does not include the robust workforce strategy needed to retain and recruit the educators needed to bring the $10/day program to every family in our province.

Without early childhood educators, there is no early learning & child care. Ontario ECEs continue to leave child care jobs due to low wages, burnout and lack of support. There's no way around it: expanding the $10/day program to all Ontario families depends on a well-supported, well-compensated workforce.

The AECEO & the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care (OCBCC) are hosting info sessions to discuss what the new funding approach means for workers, centres and families. Share the questions and concerns you have via the Funding Formula feedback form! We will share a doc with the most frequently asked questions following the sessions!

Check the comments on this post for more info and registration links!

A message from the AECEO on the first day of school:

💛To FDK DECEs, you’ve got this! You are experts at making children feel safe, welcome and eager to learn. You and the incredible work you do to bring play-based learning and care practices into the kindergarten classroom shape children's experiences. You’re important and your work makes a difference! Remember to treat yourself with kindness, take your breaks & stay hydrated!

🩷To school age ECEs, you’ve got this! 1st day of school in before & after programs can come with a lot of big feelings from both the children and the grown ups involved. Remember to take deep breaths and take good care of yourself as you settle into the routine!

🩵To post secondary students, you’ve got this! Start off the school year the best way possible by meeting new ECE friends! Connect with SECEO (Student Early Childhood Educators of Ontario) to find community and support as you advance in your studies!

💜To ECEs whose own children are starting school (no matter the age), you’ve got this! Especially if this is your first time experiencing the 1st day of school with your kids, we hope you get to create a sweet memory with your loved ones. Remember you’re human too! Sending big hugs your way!

Whether your role in early childhood is directly tied to the traditional school calendar or not, 1st day of school nerves and butterflies can still play a part in your day. We hope this first week goes smoothly and look forward to supporting and celebrating Ontario ECEs throughout another school year 🥳

The AECEO is fighting for fair wages and good jobs for all early childhood educators in our province. Join or renew your membership today to get involved! aeceo.ca/membership


Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario

On August 15th, the Ontario government released the long awaited child care funding formula, set to be implemented in 2025. Despite continuous warnings from the child care community about the shortage of ECEs and an overwhelming amount of evidence indicating the child care staffing crisis can't be solved without raising wages, the newly announced funding formula does not include a wage grid and fails to address the workforce crisis.

But what does all of this mean? Sign up for an upcoming info session to learn more about what the new funding structure mean for you and your community!

- Operators, board members and community organization leaders, join us for info session 1 on Wednesday, September 11th at 12PM.
- Educators, child care workers, ECE students, join us info session 2 on Thursday, September 19th at 7PM.

Registration links in the comments

"It's good news for families but, as an educator, I feel left out" After years of waiting for an updated child care funding structure from the provincial government, Ontario's early childhood educators feel excluded from the development and implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning & Child Care system.

⚠️ Early childhood educators continue to leave child care jobs due to low wages, burnout and lack of support. There's no way around it: expanding the $10/day program to all Ontario families depends on a well-supported, well-compensated workforce. AKA, pay educators the wages they deserve!

Share how you feel (and what you want to know) about the recent updates to CWELCC funding in Ontario via the link https://forms.gle/TyuDq37HX9jw58vw5

Prize draw alert! Share a highlight from your summer with us and enter a draw to win a special AECEO prize pack & a $25 gift card of your choosing! Here's how you enter:
1 - Share few sentences about how you spent your summer via this form https://forms.gle/mPdjNupQYEUNcJAk6
2 - Submit form and email picture (optional) until Friday, Sept 6th.
3 - Stay tuned to see your photo featured on the AECEO socials!

*Share photos to double your chances!*
Email pictures related to your submission to [email protected] with the subject line End of Summer Prize Draw to add your name to the draw twice. Prize draw winner will be announced on the week of September 9th.

We can't wait to see what brought you joy this summer!

Join us on TikTok!

Visit TikTok to discover videos! Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

On Tuesday, September 10th, the AECEO & OCBCC are hosting a virtual gathering for parents, families, community members and leaders who are interested in joining our efforts for affordable early learning & child care in Ontario.

In this meeting, participants will have opportunity to share their experiences navigating the system and meet people from across Ontario who are facing similar challenges. Join us to learn about what you can do to support the creation + expansion of affordable child care in your community.

Educators & operators, share this information with everyone in your community, including families currently on your waitilist! More information & registration: https://www.aeceo.ca/parent_family_gathering

AECEO members, check your inbox!

The AECEO just sent out a survey to help inform our response to the federal consultation on the Canada-Wide Early Learning & Child Care system (CWELCC) and we need to hear from YOU!

No matter how your work is related to early childhood - RECEs working in FDK, child care & EarlyON, child care centre staff & operators, post-secondary students & professors, researchers, home child care providers - everyone involved in early childhood education will be impacted by the CWELCC system.

Help us bring your voice to the Federal Government by answering the survey emailed to your inbox! Your experiences and knowledge are essential to informing future policies and regulations and improving every part of the early learning & child care sector.

If you have any questions, please email [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Join or renew your AECEO membership to participate in future consultations: www.aeceo.ca/membership

Learn more about the AECEO! Listen now to our participation on episode 39 of the Strive podcast, Leading Inspired Learning! Thank you for having us and helping raise awareness of the work we do to support early childhood educators!

NEW PODCAST EPISODE IS LIVE 🎙 ✨

In this episode, Bre hosts Erin Filby, RECE, and Patrícia Borges Nogueira, RECE, from the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO) and Fred Seabrook, RECE, who has worked closely with the AECEO. Together, they discuss the work of the AECEO and the importance of advocacy. Listen, learn, reflect, enjoy!

NOW is the perfect time to join or renew your AECEO membership!

Here's why: the Federal Government is conducting consultations on the Canada-Wide Early Learning & Child Care (CWELCC) system and AECEO members' will have opportunity to share their perspective & help inform our submission via a survey being launched tomorrow, August 21st.

No matter how you are involved in the early learning and child care sector - DECEs, EarlyOn educators, RECEs, child care centre staff & operators, home child care providers - everyone who works in ECE will be impacted by the CWELCC system. Your experience and knowledge are essential to informing future policies/regulations!

This members-only survey will be sent directly to members on August 21st. Make sure you are currently an AECEO member to gain access to the survey and add your perspective to our response to the Federal Government!

Go to www.aeceo.ca/membership to join or renew today!

Read the full response: https://www.aeceo.ca/aeceo_response_to_ontario_s_new_funding_approach

What is the funding formula?
The funding formula (also referred to as funding approach) is created by the Provincial Government to set out guidelines for how funding flows to child care programs. The funding formula matters to us all because it impacts everyone involved the sector: staff, operators, children and families because it influences all elements of child care programs, from programming costs to staff wages.

While we are still working through the details, one thing is clear: early childhood educators and child care workers continue to be left behind.

The new funding formula does not commit to our policy recommendation of a publicly-funded salary scale of at least $30-40/hour for ECEs and $25/hour for non-ECE staff. Decent work and compensation need to be the foundation of a funding formula: providing and expanding quality licensed child care in Ontario depends on a well-supported, well-compensated workforce.

What happens next?
Over the next few weeks, the AECEO will conduct a detailed review of the new guidelines in to fully understand its impact on educators and programs. We invite you to join an upcoming info session and to share your thoughts, questions and concerns about the new funding approach with us via the feedback form.

Info session 1 - Wednesday, Sept 11th at 12PM
Info session 2 - Thursday, Sept 19th at 7PM

Link to register for the sessions and to access the feedback form in the comments!

Community connections are important! CoBECEs are hosting their annual gathering and you are invited (and welcome to bring a friend!) 🫶🏿❤️

Join Nicole, Deirdra, Tonja & the Community of Black ECEs for a mindfulness workshop and an afternoon of networking, snacks, games & more!

Date & Time: Saturday, August 17th 12-3PM
Location: Careers Education Empowerment (CEE) Community Building @ 75 Thermos Rd, Scarborough, ON M1L 0E6

The CoBECEs Core Team is helping coordinate carpooling options. Fill out the RSVP form to share your info if interested https://tinyurl.com/2kw9be54

Make sure you are following CoBECEs on instagram

Have your say: Upcoming opportunity to share your perspective with the Federal Government!

The AECEO is preparing a submission to the Federal Government's consultation on the Canada-Wide Early Learning & Child Care (CWELCC) system. To help inform our response, we will be seeking input from AECEO members via a survey.

Who should answer this survey? Any person working in the early learning and child care (ELCC) sector, including home & centre based child care, full day kindergarten, EarlyON programs, etc. No matter what ECE setting you are in, your work is still impacted by CWELCC policy, and your experiences are key to improving every part of the ELCC sector.

This members-only survey will be sent directly to members on August 21st. Make sure you are currently an AECEO member to gain access to the survey and add your perspective to our response to the Federal Government!

Go to www.aeceo.ca/membership to join or renew today!

West Toronto, join us for movie night at the park!

The AECEO & EYP Rise Up TO will be at the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show this Saturday! Stop by our table before the movie to say hi & check out our movie themed photo booth!

Monsters, Inc. (2001)
August 17th, 2024 @ 6PM
Showtime @ Sundown (approx 8:30PM)
1 Bayside Ln, Toronto, ON

More information about this event: https://www.topictureshow.com/monsters-inc
Check out Toronto Outdoor Picture Show for details about this year’s programme, titled 🎞️

📽️West Toronto, join us for movie night at the park!

The AECEO & EYP Rise Up TO will be at the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show this Friday! Stop by our table before the movie to say hi & check out our movie themed photo booth!

Mary Poppins (1964)☂️
August 16th, 2024 @ 6PM
Showtime @ Sundown (approx 8:30PM)
1 Bayside Ln, Toronto, ON

More information about this event: https://www.topictureshow.com/mary-poppins
Check out Toronto Outdoor Picture Show for details about this year’s programme, titled 🎞️

The AECEO is extending the submission deadline for the Fall/Winter 2024 eceLINK Peer Reviewed Collection! The new submission deadline is August 31st, 2024.

Special Issue: Socially Just Ruptures in Early Childhood Education and Care: Rupturing Developmentalism in ECEC Curricula, Pedagogies and Policy. Guest Editors Dr. Adam Davies (University of Guelph) & Dr. Nidhi Menon (Toronto Metropolitan University)

Please email submissions to [email protected]

More information www.aeceo.ca/call_for_articles

“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation.
Healing is an act of communion.”
bell hooks, All About Love (1999)

On July 31st, 55 educators from across the province came together for a special community care session. While engaging with a hobby or craft, participants were invited to discuss current issues affecting the Ontario early learning sector and their impact on ECEs.

Our heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for using your ECE Power! Whether you shared your thoughts with the group, showed off your hobbies, asked questions or simply listened as others spoke, by showing up to a community event you are actively fighting the systems that keep educators isolated from one another. Community & care are the heart of advocacy!

We invite you to check out this post to learn more about some of the unique interests and amazing talents within the ECE community! Do you have a creative outlet, hobby or special interest that helps you unwind? DM us on social media or email pictures to [email protected] to be featured on our pages!

Help raise awareness about the issues affecting early childhood educators & the Ontario early learning sector by participating in the Summer Bucket List and sharing it online! Check out www.aeceo.ca/summer_bucket_list for activities and projects you can do with your students, colleagues or on your own!

Working in the Ontario early years sector is not for the faint of heart. We're holding a Community Care session on Wednesday, July 31st 7-830PM for some much need ECE pal time!

In this Craft & Chat session, we will discuss issues affecting ECEs, provide resources, and share updates about what the AECEO is currently doing to support educators. Our intention is to inform the ECE community and provide a safe space for questions and discussion. We are inviting you to set some time aside on Wednesday evening to unwind in community with us!

To learn more and register for this event, please visit https://www.aeceo.ca/craft_chat

The recent announcement from the CECE regarding their fee increase has hit the ECE community hard.

Let’s talk about it!

➡️ Jess and Patricia are going live on the AECEO instagram tomorrow to discuss the impact of this fee increase on RECEs and the early years sector + a review of the differences between a professional association and a professional college

How to join: Tune into the AECEO instagram page on Thursday, July 25th @ 7PM
You can turn on the reminder on this post to get notified when the live stream starts! 🔔

The recording of the live chat will be available on our profile shortly afterwards

Child Care in Crisis - Tell Ford and Trudeau ECEs are worth MORE! 📣

Join the over 1200 community members speaking up for ECEs & child care workers in Ontario! Sign our e-action and tell the federal and provincial governments to work together to build the early learning & child care system our communities DESERVE!

➡️ sign the e-action at aeceo.ca/take_action

AECEO response to College of ECEs' fee increase

The AECEO is disappointed by the College of Early Childhood Educators’ increase to the yearly registration fee. The College’s role is to regulate the profession on behalf of public interest, by setting educational standards and implementing disciplinary processes. Despite the regulation of all ECEs through the College, RECE wages still do not adequately reflect the value of their work. The College should seek funding sources other than raising the mandatory membership fee, including seeking funds from the Provincial government that reflect their duty to the public. The College’s increased operating costs should not be downloaded to RECEs, who are already underpaid.

While the College does not advocate on behalf of ECEs, the AECEO does. As ECEs ourselves, we share your frustration and believe the only answer to the systemic undervaluing of our work is advocacy. The provincial government must prioritize improved wages and working conditions for all early years professionals. The AECEO will continue our efforts to win decent work for all through policy recommendations, government relations, and community building and we invite you to join us:

- Take part in our e-action to Federal and Provincial Government at https://www.aeceo.ca/take_action
- Register for the community care session on Wednesday, July 31st at 7PM https://tinyurl.com/3ndwd5zk
- Access the Position Paper on a Publicly-funded ELCC Salary Scale via https://www.aeceo.ca/publicly_funded_salary_scale

Update on the July 24th event.

Take action with us by signing our e-action at aeceo.ca/take_action and reading our recent policy paper at aeceo.ca/publicly_funded_salary_scale to learn more about what is possible for child care in Ontario.

Hot off the press! the Spring/Summer issue of eceLINK is now available! Check out the link in our bio to read the peer reviewed articles!
AECEO members have full access to this and all past eceLINK issues. Become a member today! aeceo.ca/membership

🔥 Workers, are you feeling the heat? 🔥

Extreme heat waves = dangerous working conditions. Keep it cool with the ultimate " " playlist! Tune in, turn up the volume, and make some noise while collecting those signatures to win legislation now!

Download the petition here: https://ofl.ca/action/the-heat-is-on/
Playlist here:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7GyBXW5DxboItpCv5KL4pj?si=cYmkcS7-R_uaUc-Il_dCBQ&pi=u-C1eH51CgQ2S4&nd=1&dlsi=54726d02f7824325

As part of the AECEO's effort to provide support for research, we are sharing the following invitation to participate in the study: Investigating Professional Knowledge and Professionalism in Post-Secondary Early Childhood Education and Care in Ontario, Canada

Here's a message from the Principal Investigator in this study, Dr Adam Davies:

CALLING ALL FACULTY MEMBERS & INSTRUCTORS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN ONTARIO!

We are looking for research participants to discuss their experiences working within early childhood education programs in Ontario, specifically around how they navigate the child developmental discourses that influence ECE and how they work within or challenge the confines of what they are expected to teach their students.

You are eligible to participate if you are:

· Employed as a part-time or full-time instructor or faculty member in any college or university level Early Childhood Education program in Ontario;

· Currently residing in Ontario;

· Able to speak fluent English; and

· Willing and able to participate in an audio-recorded interview (estimated to take 1.5 – 2 hours maximum) via Zoom.

We welcome (and encourage!) people from the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities or differences, people of various ages, races, and more to participate.

Please contact the Principal Investigator, Dr. Adam Davies, if you have any questions or concerns regarding participating. Adam is happy to discuss further!

ECE skills ARE advocacy skills. Yes, you read that right and we can prove it! ✨

Early childhood educators and child care workers have so many skills that are applicable to advocacy and community organizing. We listed a few examples on this post, let us know more in the comments!

When creating the Summer Bucket List, we specifically wanted to connect what you do in early learning & child care to advocating for an ELCC system that values and respects early childhood by centering higher pay and supportive working conditions for all ELCC workers.

Go to aeceo.ca/summer_bucket_list to learn more!☀️

Calling all community members, community representatives, activists, and other stakeholders in the Scarborough area!!

South Asian Women’s and Immigrants’ Services is hosting a community-wide event to discuss the child care challenges faced by racialized immigrant mothers and precariously employed childcare workers.

Join SAWIS on Saturday July 13th to listen and participate in discussions to advance the rights of mothers and caregivers in our community.

SATURDAY, JULY 13, 2024
1:30-4:00 PM
OAKRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER
63 PHARMACY AVE, SCARBOROUGH, ON M1L 4S9

Dear Community Members,

We are hosting a community-wide event to discuss the childcare challenges faced by racialized immigrant mothers and precariously employed childcare workers. We invite community members, community representatives, activists, and other stakeholders to join us to listen and participate in discussions to advance the rights of mothers and caregivers in our community. Details of the event are below:

SATURDAY, JULY 13, 2024
1:30-4:00 PM
OAKRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER
63 PHARMACY AVE, SCARBOROUGH, ON M1L 4S9

Every summer, the AECEO & the OCBCC organize days of action, online campaigns, and other outreach activities to support community building and raise awareness about current issues in the early learning & child care sector. This year, we are leaning into the best part of advocacy: having fun with people who care about the same things we do. We are excited to introduce...

☀️The 2024 Summer Bucket List for Early Learning & Child Care 🌈

Summer activities for child care centres, ELCC staff, home child care providers, ECE students, faculty, parents, family members and anyone who is ready to care out loud about Early Learning & Child Care in Ontario!

Go to aeceo.ca/summer_bucket_list to learn more!