Compassion, Community, and Cleaning with Heart at The Cleaning Coop
Meet the Team: Emma Garcia
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting Emma Garcia, you know: she leads with her heart. Whether she’s training a new team member, taming a pair of elusive house cats mid-clean, or simply sharing her signature sunny smile with a client, Emma brings thoughtfulness and care to everything she does.
Emma joined The Cleaning Cooperative in 2023, just months after moving to Vancouver from Mexico with her husband, Juan.
“There was no plan,” she says with a laugh. “We only knew we were coming to study and work, and to have the best time of our lives… and we did.”
What they didn’t expect was how hard it would be to find fair and decent work. It took almost four months for Emma to find work at a traditional cleaning company - and only one month to leave it.
“My first job was for a horrible and hostile company. The owner didn’t care about anything but money, not even clients. I quit on a Friday,” she recalls. “And by Monday, I was working with TCC.”
That decision marked the beginning of a two-year journey full of growth, learning, and connection.
How Emma’s Experience Makes a Difference to TCC
In Mexico, Emma taught in public elementary schools and holds a BA in English Language Teaching. Putting her skills to good use, Emma soon stepped into a mentorship role at TCC.
“A typical day looks a lot like teaching,” she says. “I’ve focused on managing and training members, especially new team members. I love seeing how people grow over time. It’s just like when I was a teacher. Watching someone evolve is incredibly rewarding.”
Emma even developed a reputation amongst teammates thanks to her Mary Poppins-level of preparedness.
“If you need anything, I have it,” she jokes. “My coworkers know, my bag has everything you need and more.”
Service with a Smile - and So Much More!
Emma’s impact has reached far beyond the team. Clients routinely praise her professionalism, compassion and sunny demeanor.
“I like to see each client’s home as a unique project,” Emma shares, “and make all our clients feel special, because they are.”
Though she’ll be the first to say she’s a bit of a “control and clean freak,” Emma’s attention to detail is one of her greatest strengths. She finds deep satisfaction in bringing order to a space.
“Tidying up nurtures my heart and soul,” she says. “When you do something from the bottom of your heart, it holds a value you can’t compare with anything else.”
Caring for Animals, On and Off the Job
Outside of work, Emma loves spending time in nature, listening to Taylor Swift and providing care to rescue animals. Her passion for pets has even wiggled its way into her work, with one client recently sharing:
“Emma showed herself to be a master cat wrangler and assisted when I couldn't reach my two felines from my wheelchair... Thank you for such compassionate work!”
That same client spoke about why they chose TCC in the first place (because it’s a worker-owned cooperative that ensures fair treatment and pay) and Emma’s presence confirmed for them they’d made the right decision.
Bittersweet Goodbyes
This July, Emma and Juan are returning to Mexico. Though bittersweet, Emma says the move is the right one. She’s already dreaming of opening a café-flower shop combo, rescuing animals, and someday traveling the world with her future kids.
“Nothing is written,” she says. “But I have faith everything I want will become reality.”
As TCC co-founder Hayley puts it:
“Emma has been with us from almost the very beginning! I love her with all of my heart, and this journey would not have been the same without her. Some folks are part of TCC no matter where they end up going — they changed our organization and us as people, and that's not going anywhere. It’s a loss, but holding onto the parts Emma changed, and her brightness, is a blessing!”
We’ll miss you, Emma. Thank you for everything you’ve shared with us; the joy, the care, and the contents of your marvelous Mary Poppins-worthy bag! This isn’t goodbye, Emma—it’s just see you soon.
