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.
We are so happy to have been part of the Shirley YMCA. Lindsay has an amazing team of educators that truly care for their children. Whether it was Nao or Cynthia for the little ones to Isabella and Katrina, our son was always encouraged to be his best self. We are truly grateful for their care!
Thank you to Ator, Dominique, Samantha, Mizan and everyone else who helped make Alex's days more interesting and fun. It's great to see you introduce such a variety of things for him to do! We really appreciate all the effort and patience that you put into your work!
Thank you for everything you do for our James (and Simone in after care)! Seeing their happy faces at drop off and pick up means the world to us and we owe it all to the love, care and warmth you show them.
Thank you for pouring your hearts into the car of my children! Your love and dedication don’t go unnoticed and is so appreciated. Thank you as million times over 🤗
We are so grateful for our educators and all the staff at The YMCA at The David Braley Vaughan Centre. Our Zoe went from never wanting to leave home to thriving and looking forward to daycare each day. We’re so lucky to have joined this centre. Everyday when we drop off Zoe, we know that she’s safe, learning, trying new foods and having incredible fun. Wishing all educators and support staff a happy ECE day. We appreciate you on this day and everyday!
We would like to convey our heartfelt thanks to Our Lady of Peace YMCA educators Pooja, Jaipreet, Parwinder for their dedicated work. When our daughter first joined the daycare, we were initially worried about how she would adapt to the new environment, as she is naturally quite shy. To our surprise, she settled in much faster than we expected.
We have also noticed a remarkable improvement in her communication skills since joining the daycare. This positive change would not have been possible without the continuous care, encouragement, and effort of the educators.
Thank you once again for your patience, dedication, and for creating such a nurturing environment for our child.
Thank you Bushra, Jess and all S.J Phillip’s staff for making Liam’s card a home away from home. We are so grateful for the love and care you share with all of us!
We love you!
To everyone at High Park and Indian Road:
The words "thank you" don't come close to expressing the gratitude we feel for our amazing educators and everyone supporting. We see you! We see all of your dedication and feel the love you give to our children. THANK YOU. You are so appreciated and we couldn't do it without you. Xo
Thank you for taking care of me in YMCA
Dear Educators and Ashley, the supervisor at St.Leo’s YMCA,
Thank you so much for the love, care, and patience you’ve shown to my little ones. Knowing that my 3-year-old and 13-month-old are surrounded by such kind and nurturing hands means the world to us. We’re so grateful for all that you do every day! 💕 Our kids absolutely adore you all. XOXO from Emma & Duke.
Thank you YMCA Hanson for giving us the best experience for both my boys!
My son wakes up and can't wait to go to daycare. We appreciate all your care, love, encouragement and support. I know my kids are in good hands and I can't thank all you enough!
We’re so grateful for the love, care, and guidance you give to Edwin and Rodwin every day. You’ve helped them learn, grow, and feel happy and confident. Thank you for making such a wonderful difference in their lives.
Happy educator appreciation day! I think Natalie and Julian are the best 👌 thank you for making my days fun. Love claire.❤️🩷🧡💛💚💙🩵💜❤️🔥
Thank you for giving Ian a home in the morning that he has always looked forward to, and never complained about and always wanted to go to! It means so much, your dedication to these kids day in, day out. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thank you for the positive impact you provide my child everyday. Your patience, guidance, kindness and especially educating them to shape their future! We truly appreciate the YMCA team of child care educators :)
We would like to express our sincere appreciation for DJ, an exceptional educator who has made a remarkable difference in our child’s experience at Kettle Lakes YMCA Child Care.
DJ is a truly respectful, caring, and dedicated individual who approaches her work with great professionalism and passion. She is deeply committed to her students and uses every opportunity—no matter how small—to both educate and entertain them in creative and meaningful ways.
Her artistic talent shines through in the beautiful crafts she creates and in her engaging musical activities. Even during snack time, she manages to turn simple moments into enjoyable and enriching experiences for the children through her creativity and enthusiasm.
She is an inspiring example of an active, artistic, and compassionate educator, and our family is truly grateful for her outstanding efforts and genuine care.
With heartfelt thanks,
Thank you so much to the lovely George Webster team! From infant to toddler rooms, we've felt like the caring team at George Webster has really made the transition easier. All the teachers seem to genuinely care very much about the kids happiness and development. We're so grateful our boy gets to be with this team!
Thank you to all of the staff at Toronto Chester YMCA childcare centre for all that you do. I always look forward to seeing the daily posts on the activities my grandchildren are doing, and see how much fun they are having. Thank you again. You are all wonderful ❤️
We are so grateful for you Robinpreet and Ambreen. You are Imtiyaz’s safe place, his routine. Thank you for your kindness from day to day. Thank you for all the little tears that you have wiped away. You guys have endless patience. We appreciate everything you do.
To all our amazing Child Care Workers and Childhood Educators @ Morrish Y (Glaiza, Mariel, Ms. Angie, Tiyanna, Khadijah, Ms. Brig, Ms. Chandra, AnneMarie, Ashley, Ms Smiley, Ms. Marjorie): Happy Appreciation Day! Your hard work and constant dedication shine through, and it's clear that everyone on the team shows my children love! Knowing they are greeted with a smile by name and are in such safe, caring hands—from EVERY angle of care—is the greatest comfort! Thank you for everything! You are all so awesome!
Thank you for taking such good care of Berlin! He enjoys going to school so much because of all of you. And I know this is true because he talks about how “wonderful” you all are at home. You are all truly special human beings for doing what you do.
I want to take a moment to celebrate and thank the amazing hearts who care for, teach, and inspire our son Dara every day.
Your patience, kindness, and creativity don’t go unnoticed. You bring so much joy, structure, and love into the lives of children, shaping not just their minds, but their confidence and sense of belonging. The way you show up with smiles, gentle guidance, and endless energy makes such a difference.
Thank you for all the hugs, songs, lessons, and laughter you share. Thank you for treating every child like they matter — because they do, and so do you.
You truly are everyday heroes, and we’re so grateful for everything you do.
Hi Bahare,
Much appreciation for your dedication to looking after Amelia.
Dear Teachers and staff members, I really appreciate your support and patience. It is really really hard to deal with kids, specially those who hasn’t developed speaking skills. Its hard to understand them and reply back and make them do whats right. Yet our kids love you guys which means you take good care of them.
Thank you millions ❤️
Dear Gidha, Maricel, and Terri and Jack,
We’re so thankful to have you as Agastya’s teachers and guides in this new phase of his journey. The way you’ve welcomed him and helped him transition so smoothly from daycare to preschool has meant so much to us. It’s comforting to see him happy, curious, and eager to go to school every day — a reflection of the care, patience, and warmth you bring to your classroom. Thank you!
Dear Lisa,
Thank you so much for being such a soothing and nurturing presence in Agastya’s early days at daycare. Your calm, motherly warmth helped him settle in when everything was new and unfamiliar. We will always be grateful for the comfort and security you brought into his days — you truly made those first transitions so much easier.
Dear Komal,
Thank you for being such a playful, attentive, and caring teacher to Agastya. Your understanding nature and joyful energy made his time at daycare so special. You always seemed to know just how to connect with him — helping him learn, laugh, and feel understood every single day.
Dear Christie,
Thank you for the beautiful bond you share with Agastya. Your calm, empathetic approach and the way you guided him with kindness — never raising your voice but gently helping him find his calm — meant so much to us. It’s wonderful to see how warmly he still lights up when he sees you.
Dear Rose,
Thank you for being such a caring and observant teacher. Your thoughtful advice and the way you shared your own experiences as a mother were so helpful to us. We really appreciated how responsible and understanding you were — always keeping an eye out for what each child needed.
We’re so grateful for the love, care, and guidance you’ve given Agastya — you’ve played such an important role in his growth and happy memories at daycare.
Thank you to all the incredible ECEs in the preschool room (tita Vivien, tita Abi, tita May, Bahar, Gargi). My son comes home with so many new dance moves thanks to you! haha We feel so happy to send my son to such a positive environment with such friendly and caring workers. We appreciate you so much!
Thank you for caring for our girl with such attentiveness and compassion! She loves daycare and her teachers, and we love knowing she is in great hands. She learns so much from you each and every day, and we are so thankful to have your care as an option.
Special shout out to Fang and Susan at Lynngate YMCA Child Care Centre for being so patient and caring with our daughter Aria. She absolutely loves coming to Daycare and you two were a big part of that. We may not always say it but you and all of the surrounding staff are very much appreciated by us. Thank you!
Big hugs and thanks to our YMCA daycare educators! 💕
You fill our children’s days with learning, laughter, and love.
We’re so lucky to have you caring for our little ones! 🌈💙
View messages from 2024 Child Care Worker and Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day