Early Childhood Educators, Child Care Workers, and Early Years Professionals are world builders: with your knowledge, skills, and intention, you build the worlds that children experience. It is your commitment, passion, and CARE that create safe spaces for children to learn and grow each day. You are the ones who make early childhood education and care possible. ECE & Child Care Worker Appreciation Day is an opportunity for children, families and communities to thank the professionals that are the foundation of our education system. We know that the best way to appreciate the workforce is with compensation that reflects the important role ECEs and child care workers play in our communities, no matter where they work in the Ontario early years sector. That is why the AECEO and the OCBCC are working to advance policy solutions that support the workforce, and address the shortage of spaces and long waitlists by improving wages and working conditions. But on Appreciation Day, we also celebrate!
Your Care Counts: Appreciation Day Giveaway
The AECEO and the OCBCC invite you to nominate an ECE, Child Care Worker, or Early Years Professional whose work you want to celebrate because their CARE Counts! We’re inviting you to share the special ways that your nominee makes their care seen, heard, or felt. You and your nominee can each win a $50 gift card! To participate, share 2 or 3 sentences about your nominee and why their care counts through the giveaway nomination form. Nominations will close at the end of Appreciation Day, Wednesday, October 21st. 10 winners (5 nominators, 5 nominees) will be picked at random and announced the following week. Click here to access the form and nominate someone!
2026 Appreciation Day Community Illuminations
Exciting news: for the first time, Toronto’s CN Tower will light up purple in honour of Child Care Worker & Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day on Wednesday, October 21st. The following municipalities are marking Appreciation Day by illuminating a local landmark:
- Hamilton: The HAMILTON sign in front of City Hall will be illuminated purple from dusk on October 21st until dawn on October 22nd
- Mississauga: The Mississauga Clock Tower will be illuminated purple and blue on October 21st from dusk
- Napanee: Springside Park Waterfalls will be illuminated blue on October 21st
- Newmarket: Fred A. Lundy Bridge (located on Water Street) will be illuminated purple on October 21st, visible during the evening
- Sudbury: Peace Tower will be illuminated purple on October 21st from dusk
- Toronto: CN Tower will be illuminated purple from dusk on October 21st. Please note: lighting begins at sunset. A standard light show will run for 5 minutes at the top of every hour and half hour
Is your municipality or community is marking Appreciation Day in a public way, make sure we know about it so we can amplify their efforts! If you see any of these community illuminations on Appreciation Day, we invite you to share pictures/videos with us the AECEO and the OCBCC by tagging us on social media emailing pictures
Appreciation Day Cards & Gifts from the AECEO Shop
Share some love and support the AECEO with this year’s Early Childhood Educator & Child Care Worker Appreciation Day card! There are lots of ECE-themed cards and gifts available on the AECEO merch store! Everything at the AECEO shop is designed by the AECEO team, especially for ECEs. We love seeing you wearing and gifting our creations! Share them with us via Facebook, Instagram or email a pic to info@aeceo.ca! Shop AECEO merch on RedBubble!
If you’re looking for inspiration, check out these ideas for celebrating Appreciation Day with your community and tips for how to prepare for the day.