Minister Launches Child Care Awareness Days

Community Services Minister Peter Christie joined children, parents and others at a ceremony today at Province House to launch June as Child Care Awareness Days. Child Care Awareness Days are meant to recognize the important contribution child-care workers make to the province’s economic and social well-being.

"Quality child care provides children with a healthy start and allows parents to stay in the workforce," said Mr. Christie, "Under our recently released Early Childhood Development Strategy there will be significant improvements to child care and more options for parents over the next five years."

Child Care Awareness Days activities include family fun fairs, open houses, and mall displays. In addition, Sandra Griffen, a well-known child-care researcher and educator and executive director of the Canadian Child Care Federation, will give a public lecture on the pressing need for quality child care. The lecture will occur on June 25 at Saint Mary’s University at 7 p.m. in the Loyola Building, Room 170.

"Never has there been a more exciting time to be involved in early childhood development," said Karen Geddes, president, Child Care Connection Nova Scotia. "Funding under the federal/provincial Early Childhood Development Agreement will mean among other things, improved salaries and better training opportunities for those in the child care sector."

Child Care Awareness Days are sponsored by Child Care Connection Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Round Table on Child Care and the Department of Community Services, as well as a number of community sponsors. For more information or a complete list of Child Care Awareness Days activities, please call 423-8199 or toll-free at 1-800-565-8199.