Forsyth, the chair of the College of Early Childhood Educators Ontario Transitional Council, said provincial government recognizes it after making legislation to establish the rules and regulations of ECE.

"Our goal is to use these regulations towards the operation of the new college," Forsyth told about 500 ECE workers at the Early Child Educators of Ontario conference at Niagara College Niagara-on-the-Lake campus May 9. "We hope the college will help raise the pride in satisfaction that ECE workers have for what they do."

Forsyth said the $142.5 million investment towards the country's first regulatory College of Early Childhood Educators will help maintain professional standards of practice among child care practictioners.

"The college will ensure to the public that their children are in the hands of quality early childhood educators," Forsyth said.

From May 8 to 10, Niagara College was homebase for the AECEO's 58th annual provincial conference. The three-day conference included workshops, forums and professional development opportunities for the province's early childhood educators.

Julia Lipman, spokesperson for the conference, said the provincial forum featured presentations from three expert panelists on regulation of the profession, training, and anti-bias education.