Today the Government of Manitoba officially proclaimed November 6th as “Community Social Service Workers Appreciation Day”. To celebrate this event, approximately 100 Community Social Service workers and their guests joined the Minister of Family Services and Housing Gord MacIntosh and MGEU President Peter Olfert at the Manitoba Legislature.
 
The MGEU represents many Community Social Service (CSS) workers across the province and MGEU President Peter Olfert spoke about the vital contributions they make. “Every day, and often through the night, CSS workers care for a living through their jobs. They help guide our most vulnerable children, teens and families. They see the ability in people living with disabilities. They give refuge to the abused, the addicted, and the disenfranchised. Through their work, they are the anchor of our civil society. That’s why we felt it was so important to bring you all together here today, to shine a spotlight on your work, and to acknowledge your vital contribution to our province.”
 
Several communities and cities throughout the country celebrated Community Social Service Workers Appreciation Day. Manitoba is the first and only province to make an official proclamation on this day.
 
The idea for an appreciation day to honour community social service workers originated at a 2007 NUPGE conference of community-based social service workers. It was envisaged as a day to focus attention on the importance of the sector to the well-being of the country and to acknowledge the contributions these workers make. This is the second annual Community Social Service Workers Appreciation Day.