The Region of Waterloo Home Child Care held its 17th Annual Home Child Care Conference on Saturday, March 5, 2005 in Kitchener, Ontario. Over 160 caregivers and others interested in home child care attended this full day of training. Highlights included keynote addresses by Barbara Coyle, executive director of the Canadian Child Care Federation and by Father Mark Curtis, the “singing priest.”

The morning was spent in workshops offered by Barbara and Father Mark, as well as topics related to bullying, child safety, children with special needs and body image and sexuality. After enjoying a fabulous lunch, networking and viewing displays, participants attended a series of “funshops” to learn about resources for school-age children, storytelling, healthy snacks, scrapbooking, fitness and massage therapy.

Caregivers, staff and other participants consider this the main training event of the year for home child care in the Region of Waterloo, but also enjoy many other events throughout the year. Caregiver Appreciation Week, first aid recertification, the Family Child Care Training Program, regularly scheduled workshops, playgroups, parties, fieldtrips and outdoor play days round out the activities that caregivers consider an important part of their experience as part of a licensed home child care agency.

For more information about Region of Waterloo Home Child Care, please contact:

Linda Taylor, Manager, Home Child Care
Regional Municipality of Waterloo
Children's Services
99 Regina St. S. 5th Floor, Box 1612
Waterloo, ON N2J 4G6
Phone - 519-883-2221 Fax - 519-883-8102
tlinda@region.waterloo.on.ca

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