THUNDER BAY   ---   October 25, 2009  ---- 'Jump Up' for Public Child Care's next stops take place Nov. 1 in Sudbury and Thunder Bay.

Today's concert in Ottawa was the first stop in the seven-city concert series that is a joint project of CUPE Ontario, the Ontario Coalition for Better Child Care and the Ontario Federation of Labour.

"We hope the parents and children of Ottawa have enjoyed this free concert as much as we enjoy putting it on," say CUPE Ontario Vice-President Michael Hurley, who attended the concert.

Children were treated to music by Quebec's Genticorum, along with readings by local children's author Janet Lunn and copies of 'The Day We Saved Chic-o-Pee Child Care,' a colouring book that features the story of a group of children who spring into action when their child care facility faces closure due to underfunding.

While the focus of this afternoon was on letting kids enjoy themselves, parents were also encouraged to sign petitions calling on the Province to enhance early learning and care in Ontario and to get involved in the campaign to persuade the McGuinty government to fully fund and implement the recommendations offered by Dr. Charles Pascal.