It’s no secret — there is a shortage of Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECE) and other childcare staff across Ontario.
Early childhood educators provide quality early learning and childcare programs that offer enriching experiences and interactions that have been shown to shape all areas of development during a child’s most critical period of brain development.
Most families rely on having access to quality licensed childcare in order to work, go to school or participate in training. It truly takes a village to raise a child!
With the continued phasing in of the Canada Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement (CWELCC), which is making licensed child care more affordable, it is expected that the demand for child care spaces will increase. This means that the need for qualified staff will also continue to increase.
“In order to increase access for families to licensed childcare we need more workers,” says Kristine Greaves, Children’s Services Deputy Administrator with the Cornwall SDG Human Services Department. “We need dedicated staff who are passionate about making a difference in the lives of our youngest citizens. Working in licensed childcare and other early years programs is very rewarding.”
Available Jobs
Currently there are over 100 open positions in childcare across Cornwall and SD&G. These are listed on ChooseCornwall.ca and other local job boards.
Available job opportunities include RECE’s, Assistant Educators, Cooks, Supervisors, and Supply Staff. You can work in licensed child care, in EarlyON centres, with the school boards in kindergarten classrooms, as a Home Child Care provider, and more.
Education
St. Lawrence College offers the Early Childhood Education program at the Cornwall Campus. The full-time program is 2-years and graduates receive an Ontario College Diploma. More information on that program is available by visiting www.stlawrencecollege.ca
Staff that currently work in the childcare field and who would like to work towards their ECE diploma may also qualify for financial support through the Ontario ECE Grants. More information on it can be found by visiting https://ecegrants.on.ca/
“I am an RECE and have been working in this field for over 30 years,” says Ms. Greaves. “The career possibilities in early childhood education are wide open. I encourage anyone looking for a challenging and rewarding career to consider Early Childhood Education – as an ECE you will help to shape the minds of tomorrow!”
The City of Cornwall Children Services’ Licensed Home Child Care Agency is currently seeking new providers to care for children in their homes. There are many benefits to being self-employed and being associated with a licensed agency.
Be sure to visit the City of Cornwall’s Children’s Services staff at the Cornwall and Area Job Fair on March 29th.
Anyone looking for more information on a career as an Early Childhood Educator, please visit https://www.cornwall.ca/en/live-here/ontario-early-years.aspx.
