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YMCA OF GREATER TORONTO

"You Are Appreciated!"

Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, October 21, 2026

The messages below were shared by families, coworkers, and community partners to celebrate and thank the incredible people who care for and inspire children.

Those who provide both care and programs for children bring light to every day—they ignite curiosity, confidence, and joy in the lives they touch. We’re deeply grateful for all that you do.

St Kateri and Norman G Powers staff I cant thank you all enough for the continued support, commitment and care that you provide to each and everyone of the children and families that come through the centre. You are true rock stars for what you do everyday.
From Danielle Timms
Three children sit on a couch inside an apple orchard.
We are truly so grateful for the amazing staff at our daycare. ❤️ It’s such a comforting feeling knowing our children are surrounded by people who genuinely care for them, love them, and make them feel safe and happy every day.
We appreciate all the little things you do—the kindness, patience, cuddles, smiles, and endless care you give our kids. You have become such an important part of their little lives, and we feel so blessed to have you caring for them. Thank you for loving and looking after our children as if they were your own. It means more to us than you know! ❤️
Happy Educator Appreciation Day!!
From Ava, Brielle & Sophia’s Mama
Thank you so much, Elicia, and to the entire St. Catherine of Siena YMCA team, for taking such wonderful care of my daughter. ❤️
I truly appreciate all the care, patience, and attention you give her every day. Elicia, thank you for always keeping me updated and for making sure she is safe, cared for, and well looked after while she is under your team’s care. As a parent, it gives me so much peace of mind knowing that she is in such a caring and supportive environment.
We truly appreciate all of your hard work and dedication. Thank you for everything you do for the children and for making my daughter feel happy, safe, and welcomed at the YMCA.
We are very grateful for all of you. You all rock! ❤️😊
From The Lagramada family
A young child in a hooded sweat shirt is doing a puzzle game with pictures of zoo animals.
A heartfelt thank you to all the wonderful educators in Preschool 2 at Meadowvale YMCA for the love, care, patience, and encouragement you give Nikhil every day. ❤️
It means so much to us as parents to know that he is in a safe, caring, and nurturing environment where he is supported not just in learning, but also in becoming more independent, confident, and kind.
We truly appreciate all the little things you do every day — the activities you plan, the patience you show, the comfort you provide, and the effort you put into making each day special for the children. We know caring for a group of little ones is not always easy, and we are incredibly grateful for everything you do.
Thank you for being such an important part of Nikhil’s early years and for helping him learn, grow, and feel at home. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful team caring for him. 💕
From Koel - Nikhil's mom
To the wonderful teachers in Mississauga Valley who have been such an important part of our daughter’s journey. ❤️
A special thank you to Henna, Yanella, Marissa & Tanuja for the love, care, patience, and encouragement you gave her in her early days. You helped build such a beautiful foundation for her, and we truly appreciate the role each of you played in helping her grow, learn, and feel comfortable and confident at daycare. We will always be grateful for that.
And a warm thank you to Sarah for taking on the next chapter with her. We appreciate the care and effort you put into supporting her each day, and we’re looking forward to building a strong relationship and partnership with you as we continue this journey together. We know that every teacher brings something special to a child’s growth, and we’re grateful that you are now part of hers.
Thank you all for the work you do every day, often in ways that may not always be seen but make such a meaningful difference in our children’s lives. We truly appreciate you! 🌷
From Salma & Saad (Shanza's Parents)
To the wonderful educators at Glengrove YMCA, thank you for the patience, kindness, creativity, and love you bring to your classrooms every day. You do so much more than teach—you nurture confidence, encourage curiosity, celebrate every small achievement, and help children feel safe, valued, and ready to learn.
Your gentle guidance and dedication make a lasting difference in the lives of young children and their families. The laughter, comfort, encouragement, and care you provide each day create the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.
I am truly grateful for everything you do and for the heart and dedication you each put into your work. Thank you for helping our little ones grow, learn, explore, and shine! ❤️
From Laura Mason
An infant in a white sweater sit on the lap of a person dressed as Santa Clause. Two smiling adults sit crouch beside them. They are in a festive
This is difficult to articulate because the emotions we carry for the Hanson YMCA Childcare Centre and its staff are bigger than any words could express.
Starting from the first impression when we were doing daycare tours for our 4 months old “mimi” at the time with “Ms Kim”, this place stood out like no other place we’ve toured! The cosy atmosphere, the welcoming staff, and the overall vibes. We immediately knew that this is the place! We met the (infant class) team: “Ms Irina”, “Ms Layla”, “Ms Haifa”, and “Ms Palak” who we now consider as family! Their love for baby “mimi” was so apparent you could almost touch it, they were so kind and welcoming that it almost felt natural to leave our 4 months old with them without looking back. She still talks about them when she plays and still passes by everyday to say hi, and wouldn’t leave before waving bye to each one of them! It was really difficult even for us when she transitioned to (Toddler 1) class one year later! She stayed for only 4 months in her new class but here she developed an instant connection with her new teachers - especially “Ms Ify”! And also “Ms Asia” and “Ms Nilofer”. To this day, her face literally lights up when she sees “Ms Ify” anywhere! Now she’s in a new class (Toddler 2), and still building connections with her new teachers “Ms Bernice” and “Ms Judi” but already screams “Bernice is my friend” all day long! She also has a big connection with “Ms Sajia” that you’d think they’re best buddies, and if it tells us anything, it shows how invested the centre’s supervisor and staff in each child’s daily experience!
Baby “mimi” had met many other teachers that we could not remember their names, but none was any different.. everyone is giving their all from 7am to 6pm like clockwork for the wellbeing of these little ones! Raising a child is no easy task and I cannot imagine for the life of me how they’d care for that many children of various ages, backgrounds, and/or needs! For that we’re very thankful our baby is surrounded by such kind, caring hardworking souls that we lowkey don’t want her to grow up so she wouldn’t have to leave the YMCA Hanson Centre 😅
Much love and thanks ❤️
From From “mimi” and parents
To the wonderful staff at St. Francis of Assisi YMCA,
Thank you for always being so warm, welcoming, and kind whenever Amelia comes in! Your dedication, creativity, and engaging classroom setups are truly appreciated. It is so wonderful to see the excitement on her face when she walks through those doors!
Kianna and Iryna, thank you for always making Amelia feel so welcomed and comfortable. Your kindness and care never go unnoticed, and we truly appreciate everything you do each and every day!
Thank you for all that you do! 💕
From Andrea, Anthony & Amelia
To My Wonderful Team at Middlebury YMCA,
Thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, and commitment each and every day! Your efforts, patience, compassion, and care never go unnoticed. The impact you make on the children and families we support goes a long way and is truly appreciated.
I am so proud to have such a strong, knowledgeable, caring, and hardworking team. It is a privilege to work alongside each and every one of you, and I am incredibly grateful for everything you do.
Thank you for all that you bring to our centre each day and for the difference you make in the lives of the children in our care.
Happy Early Childhood Educator Day to each and every one of you! 💕
You are appreciated, valued, and celebrated today and every day!
From Andrea Ierullo
A smiling child in a yellow t-shirt sits on a swing in a playground.
Happy Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day! ❤️
Thank you for your kindness, patience, and care towards Jadesola. It means so much to us knowing she is in such loving and caring hands. We truly appreciate all the little and big things you all do to help her learn, grow, and feel comfortable every day.
Thank you all for being such wonderful teachers! ❤️
From Jadesola and the Makewu Family ❤️
To My Amazing Team,
I want to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation for each and every one of you.
Every day, I see the hard work, dedication, care, and passion that you bring to our centre. The amazing and engaging activities you plan for the children, the strong and meaningful connections you have built with our families, and the love you put into creating a welcoming environment.
Thank you for the countless little things you do behind the scenes, for supporting each other through busy and challenging days, and for continuing to give so much of yourselves to the work that you do.
EC Drury team! ❤️
From EC Drury supervisor
Thank you so much to the educators at Milton St. Peter. From the little time we have spent here, it is very clear that our child is thriving and learning. Special shoutout to the Toddler 1 and 2 rooms. Natalie, Shereka and Chelsey, you rock!
From Mofaratioluwa's Family
Thank you so much to the amazing childcare team at the Oshawa Mary St. Y.
My almost 1 year old twins, are adjusting so well during their first month in the infant room. All of you are kind, caring and very attentive to their needs. It isn't hard to see how much you all love your job and the kiddos that come through your door. The boys come home happy, and a little tired from having so much fun all day long. We are looking forward to the coming childcare years and having you part of our family circle.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
From J White
We have had a very positive experience with YMCA. The staff take the time to get to know each child as an individual, set up fun daily activities, and give updates to parents on their progress. Everytime my child has to move a class due to her age it's always sad to say bye to the little community we have created but then are welcomed with open arms to the next age group. Thank you to everyone at YMCA !
From Bianca
A young child in a blue top and overalls smiles.
Happy Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day to the wonderful Infant Room educators at YMCA Hanson Rd! ❤️
We’re so thankful for the patience, kindness, and care you give Gabe every day. You’ve made his transition into daycare feel so smooth, light, and happy, and that means so much to our family.
Knowing that Gabe feels safe, comfortable, and happy with you gives us such peace of mind. It’s been only a short time, but we can already see how well he is adjusting and how comfortable he is there.
Thank you for making this new chapter such a positive experience for Gabe and for us. We truly appreciate everything you do for our little guy!
Happy ECE Appreciation Day! You deserve to be celebrated ❤️
From The Cesar Family
Words cannot express enough how grateful I am for the team at St. Catherine of Siena's before and after school program! Elicia C. is the most awesome Mentor I have ever met! With the perfect balance of kindness, compassion and leadership driving children of all ages to thrive, learn and have fun before and after school! Thank you so much for making our first experience in JK so special; my son and I will always be grateful for your approach and support in both our transitions from daycare to JK. You are everything the YMCA should want in a team member! Keep shining and sharing your light with our little ones. ♡ You can always tell when someone loves what they do and that is what I see every single day when I drop off and pick up my son from this team! Thank you for all that you guys do. Your role in our children's lives makes all the difference; the smiles and happy stories I get when I pick up my son are all because of the dedication of this team!
From Vanessa
A child with braided hair in a pink sweatshirt sits on a staircase smiling.
A smiling infant in a grey hooded top sits in their stroller.
A child with braided hair and pink tshirt sits on a blue couch.
Dear YMCA Hanson Road Team,
Happy Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day!
Our journey with YMCA Hanson Road began five years ago when our eldest daughter, Mila, started daycare at just one year old. Today, she is six! Over the years, our family grew, and so did our connection to this wonderful center. We introduced our second daughter when she was just five months old, and now, our youngest baby boy Mazin is thriving here alongside his older sister Marian.
Truly, the educators and staff have become like family to us. The most beautiful part of this journey has been the deep trust built year after year. Knowing our children are safe, loved, and nurtured every single day means everything to us.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your continuous dedication, patience, and love.
From Mila Osman’s Family
From Andy’s first days in the Infant room at just 6 months old to now walking and exploring the world on his own 🥹❤️, we are so grateful to all of his wonderful Infant and toddler teachers.
Thank you for all the love, patience, hugs, and care you give him every day. Thank you for teaching him new things, cheering him on through every little milestone, and helping him grow a little more each day. It means so much to us to know that Andy is surrounded by people who truly care for him. 💕
Happy ECE Appreciation Day to all of Andy’s amazing teachers! We truly appreciate everything you do. ❤️
From Andy ❤️
To all of the educators at the Valleys and Mississauga Meadowvale, thank you. We have had amazing experiences with two locations and have been so lucky to have multiple educators grow with our family over 5 years and care for not one, but now two of our children, and have been able to watch them grow. They really have become a part of our everyday, our routine, our family. We reminisce about our kids' growth from the infant rooms all the way to pre-k and graduation, have shared tears of happiness. There are not enough words to describe how much these people mean to us, thank you for being kind, for being you. The world needs more educators like you all. Much love and gratitude from the Snary family!
From Gabrielle , Sean, L & I
A smiling child plays in a school yard
We have had a wonderful experience with the YMCA daycare. My daughter Aadhya Annem has been attending for the past 1.5 years, and we are very happy with the care, support, and learning opportunities she has received.
A special thank you to Anne and Sue for their dedication, patience, and kindness. Under their guidance and care, my daughter has learned so many new things and has grown tremendously in confidence and independence.
The staff are very friendly, caring, and attentive to the children’s needs. We truly appreciate the safe, nurturing, and positive environment they provide every day.
Thank you, YMCA
From Rajesh Annem and family


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