From a new volunteer to leading the Abrigo Centre’s Volunteer program is just one significant step in the long and storied career of Valeria Sales. Valeria has been a stalwart for more than 20 years at our west-end agency where she continues to positively influence the lives of hundreds of clients annually.

Ms. Sales began her initial association with Abrigo as a volunteer in 1998. Within two years, she created a successful program called 'How Am I?' aimed at fostering self-awareness among women who have experienced domestic violence. And that, as they say, was the start of a beautiful relationship.

In 2000, Valeria was hired by Abrigo as a counsellor in the agency’s Pathway to Income Empowerment (PIE) program. This service attends to the needs of each client who walks through our doors, providing them with a wide-range of counselling and information from things like entitlements and benefits from governmental programs at the provincial, federal, and municipal levels to getting newcomers’ children in local schools.

“The language barrier is not the primary challenge for our clients, but the lack of information and how to navigate the system is,” says Valeria. “So, we give support to the community as needed and are able to empower those who may not have previously had a voice.”

Throughout the year, Valeria, who is now the PIE Team Lead. also runs a series of three separate workshops for mothers of children aged 0 to 12 that covers topics such as child development, discipline, stress management, and sexuality. The impact of helping new moms raise their children in a positive manner has unimaginable impact on the future of our community.

Valeria's tireless advocacy has not only earned her wide-spread recognition, her daily work has transformed thousands of lives for the better. Receiving the Honoris Causa certificate from Queen Elizabeth II's Representative in Canada and the Community Service Award from the National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada attest to her remarkable contributions to the community.

In her life outside of work, Valeria enjoys traveling around the world with her family and indulges in her hobby of crochet and craftwork.