Today (Wed) is Early Childhood Educator Appreciation Day, as proclaimed by the Government of Saskatchewan. Education Minister Dustin Duncan says there are almost 2,800 people in this province in this very important and rewarding profession. Over the last two years, the province has initiated free ECE training and professional development through Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies and College Mathieu. Duncan also notes that in the summer of 21, the government announced wage increases of up to $3 per hour for Level I ECEs, up to $4 per hour for Level II and up to $5 per hour for Level III.