Karen Alvarez Torres, manager, language & literacy programs, retires
After seven years as DIVERSEcity’s manager, Language & Literacy Programs, we say farewell to Karen Alvarez Torres, who is retiring this month.
Karen, who started at DIVERSEcity as a language instructor, has touched the hearts and lives of both her colleagues and the many newcomers starting their settlement journey by learning English in our Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) classes and other literacy programs in Surrey.
DIVERSEcity staff came together this week to celebrate Karen at the DIVERSEcity Newton Town Centre Campus.
Neelam Sahota, CEO, DIVERSEcity, shared: “As leaders, we are stewards for a short period of time, managing our responsibilities to the best of our abilities in order to leave the place better than we found it. Karen is certainly an example of this.”
Garrison Duke, COO, DIVERSEcity, concurred. “Thank you for everything. You have a great spirit and passion, and I hope that you feel really good about the language programs as you leave and look at your legacy and see the great work you have done here.”
“As I blast off into this next phase of my life, my gold retirement watch on my wrist, I find myself reflecting on the whole of my experience, and all of the lovely people I have known here at DIVERSEcity. I really want to thank those whose shoulders I have stood upon, especially Neelam, Lenard, Sheryl, Anne, Janice and Laura, who mentored and encouraged me so much in my early years with the organization,” said Karen. “And a big farewell wish and thank you to all of the brilliant minds and generous spirits I have had the pleasure of working with throughout my years at DIVERSEcity. I will always remember and treasure those deep and meaningful conversations, frivolous conversations and work conversations we have shared over the years.”
