 Hi, I'm Stephanie Cadu, BC's Minister of Children and Family Development. May is Child Care Month in BC, and May 19th is Child Care Provider Appreciation Day. These are opportunities to celebrate the thousands of caring and committed early childhood educators and child care operators throughout the province. Many parents depend on child care so they can go back to work or upgrade their skills, and knowing that their children are safe and well cared for offers a peace of mind that's immeasurable. As child care providers, you spend quality time with children every day. You introduce young and busy minds to music, art, reading, and the power of imagination. You teach children new skills, care for them when they're hurt or sad, and help shape who they become. And you become part of the family. This is an extraordinary amount of responsibility. Earlier this year, we put out a call for nominations for the 2016 Child Care Awards of Excellence. These awards honor the outstanding work that childhood educators, child care providers, and local governments and businesses do each and every day to care for children and support BC families. It was great to hear from so many people about how their child care provider or facility was making a difference in their lives. We'll make a formal announcement about the awards later in the month, but in the meantime, I want to tell you all that you are appreciated for the work that you do every day. Being in the child care profession isn't easy. Your job can be messy, and I'm not talking just about play-doh and finger paint, but I'm sure your plans change every day as you adapt to the moods and schedules of the little ones in your care. You wear a lot of different hats, and you become masters at multitasking. For these and so many other reasons, I want to thank you on behalf of all BC families for dedicating your career to child care. Few professions can say that their work is really life-changing, but you are among the lucky ones who can. The work you are doing is making a difference in the lives of thousands of BC families every day, and this May, we're celebrating each and every one of you. Thank you.