From Forensics to Fieldwork
Meet the Team: Leslie Castrejon
When you meet Leslie, our Operations Manager, one thing becomes immediately clear: she brings heart, precision, and passion to everything she does. Whether she’s walking through a new job site, supporting a team member in the field, or capturing a quiet moment through her camera lens, Leslie is all about showing up—with intention.
But her path to The Cleaning Cooperative wasn’t exactly a straight line.
A Surprising Journey
Originally from Mexico, Leslie holds a degree in Criminology and Forensic Sciences. After graduating, she worked for Mexico’s national electoral authority—a stable position, but not one that lit her up. “It wasn’t fulfilling,” she says simply. “I wanted something different.” That desire for change eventually brought her to Canada, and a whole new chapter.
Leslie calls joining TCC ‘a little life surprise’. A friend passed her our number (without remembering where she got it), and Leslie reached out. What she didn’t realize at the time was that she had actually applied to TCC more than a year earlier but, back then, the timing just didn’t work out. “Sometimes things are meant to be,” she says with a smile.
Today, Leslie leads with care and clarity in her role as Operations Manager. You’ll rarely find her behind a desk; she spends almost all of her time in the field. From quality checks and training to scheduling support and onboarding new services, she keeps everything running smoothly while ensuring our team members feel supported every step of the way.
A Passion for Purpose
Outside of work, Leslie is a passionate photographer with a love for visual storytelling. She used to freelance back in Mexico, working events and personal projects, and that creative spark has only grown stronger since arriving in Vancouver.
“I have a strong eye for detail, which serves me well both in photography and at TCC.” Leslie shares, “Whether it’s spotting missed areas during a service or creating visual content, I find that creativity and precision often go hand-in-hand.”
In fact, Leslie’s future is full of creative ambition. She’s finishing a Master’s program in Canada and plans to complete a second bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and Digital Animation.
Her dreams for the future? To work full-time as a graphic designer and, one day, combine her interests in art, design, storytelling and community into building a social enterprise of her own. “TCC has inspired me to build something meaningful that reflects both my artistic side and my values.”
The Journey Continues
For Leslie, the journey has been far from linear, but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Every step, from studying criminology to working in public service, and now being part of a women-led cooperative, has taught me something different about people, purpose, and myself. I never imagined I’d be here doing what I do, but I like how far I’ve come.”
And we’re grateful that her path led here, to TCC.
