Our Story
The Vancouver Cleaning Cooperative (The Cleaning Coop) was founded out of our lived experiences of exploitation, discrimination, patriarchy, and capitalism. We started as three women who wanted to do better for ourselves and for others in the cleaning industry.
We first met working together and even though we come from very disparate backgrounds, we became fast friends. We realized it wasn’t just each other we could help out of these oppressive circumstances, there was something more for us to do. We invited other racialized women to join us and discovered that by working together, we could overcome barriers within our own lives.
We decided to build an enterprise of our own, and now, as business partners, we are focussed on building a workers cooperative and a community in the midst of a broken industry.
We are establishing ourselves as an equitable and empowering employer and paying living wages.
We want to set an example of how a worker’s cooperative can thrive as a profitable and equitable enterprise, even in an industry built on exploitation.
Meet Our Founders
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With a background in nursing and a master's in nursing science from Mexico, Paulina brings her healthcare expertise to TCC's operations.
After working on the frontlines during the pandemic, she moved to Canada where she met fellow Co-Founders Hayley and Lulu.
Paulina's medical background informs TCC's rigorous health and safety protocols, particularly for healthcare facilities and senior services.
Beyond cleaning, she's passionate about creating a supportive community where team members feel respected and valued.
Under her leadership, TCC has become more than just a cleaning service—it's a safe landing space for women supporting each other through life's challenges.
Learn more about Paulina here.
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Hayley spent many years working in a male-dominated, numbers-driven workplace but, when she became a mother, she realized her life in the corporate world was no longer compatible with the life she wanted with her daughter. Her journey shaped her perspective on creating more equitable systems that truly support women and caregivers.
Hayley's personal values of community care, economic justice, and sustainable business practices are woven into the very fabric of TCC.
She's deeply committed to TCC's mission of creating dignified employment opportunities for racialized women who have historically been marginalized in the cleaning industry. Through the cooperative model, Hayley works to ensure that women receive fair wages, workplace respect, and genuine pathways to economic empowerment and opportunity.
Her dedication to dismantling systemic barriers while elevating the essential work of cleaning professionals drives our collective vision for a more just and equitable service industry.
Learn more about Hayley here.
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At just 24, Lulu supports one of our largest accounts, as well as lending a hand to our team, whenever it’s needed.
A Mexican native, Lulu came to Canada with a plan to stay for just 6 months before heading to university. The global pandemic, however, added an unexpected twist to her journey. A chance meeting at a cleaning job, ultimately led her to co-found TCC.
Her dream? To build something more than a cleaning company - a safe, empowering community where more women can find the friendship and support she found in meeting her fellow co-founders.
Lulu embodies our values of empowerment and revolution, working tirelessly to dignify cleaning work while building something truly meaningful for everyone involved.
Learn more about Lulu here.
What’s it like to work at TCC? Meet our team members.
Want to join our team?
Are you collaborative, organized and ready to support other women? We’d love to meet you!
If you’re looking for an opportunity to work with a worker-owned enterprise that is committed to paying living wages, prioritizing the well-being of each other and takes pride in a job well done, then explore our current openings here.