Submission #2457

Why..WHY…do we have to keep being “resilient”? Why is that always the expectation placed on us?

For years, we have fought to be seen. To be respected. To be treated as the educators we are, not dismissed as babysitters. We have advocated for fair wages, pensions, and professional recognition. We have stood up for our rights time and time again.

We are highly skilled professionals who do far more than supervise. We nurture development, support emotional well-being, create inclusive learning environments, and lay the foundation for lifelong success. Our work is not optional—it is essential.

Yet the reality? More is constantly being added to our plates while less is being given in return. More responsibility. Higher expectations. And now, cuts to an extremely important role within our centres—cuts that will have a direct and lasting impact on educators, programs, and the families who rely on us.

This is not just frustrating—it’s unsustainable. What happens when educators burn out? When they leave the field? When the system can no longer hold itself together?

Remember when we were called essential? Essential enough to show up every single day during the uncertainty of COVID. Essential enough to put our health on the line so families could keep working and our communities could keep functioning. We carried that responsibility without hesitation.
If we are essential in a crisis, then we are essential, period!!

It’s time to stop asking us to be resilient and start treating us with the respect, support, and investment that reflects the critical role we play.