Spotlight
Thank you and Happy Retirement Amparo
Our friend and colleague Amparo Escobar retired after 28 years of exceptional service to the newcomer community in Toronto. Shelley Zuckerman expresses thanks and congratulations.
It is with very mixed emotions that we at NYCH bid goodbye to Amparo Escobar. We are very happy for her as she starts a new stage in her life but it’s sad for us at NYCH as we’ll deeply miss her.
Amparo started at NYCH in June 1993. NYCH was very small then, with very few staff. Her position was for only 10 hours per week but even in those limited hours we quickly saw the impact that Amparo was going to have in the community and at NYCH. Luckily over the years her position grew to full-time.
During her time at NYCH Amparo provided services to thousands of newcomer clients to help them settle in their new home. They came from all over the GTA because they knew she could help them. She developed strong relationships with her clients. They completely trusted her and they relied on her to help them with life’s challenges through the years. She always showed patience and compassion and provided a very high level of service to each and every client.
Amparo was committed to ongoing learning, as she constantly kept up with changes in policies and new programs. Her commitment to her clients never wavered and she always worked so hard to provide the very best service.
She played a mentorship role to so many NYCH staff over the years. Staff went her with questions and for help with complex cases and even though she was very busy supporting her clients, she always took time to help her colleagues. Her positive attitude and dedication to her clients and to NYCH always remained strong.
Everyone associated with NYCH will miss Amparo. I know staff will miss her wise counsel and mentorship. She helped to positively change the lives for so many newcomers and I know so many current and former clients will miss her.
On a personal note, I will miss Amparo immensely. I will miss the passion that she exhibited for her work and for the clients she worked with. I will miss her positive attitude. I will miss our conversations about her grandchildren.
I join with all of NYCH staff to wish Amparo all the very, very best in her retirement and to thank her for 28 years of dedication, passion and caring that has been an inspiration to all of us at NYCH.