Sandra Pineda: "When we got here, we received so much help from unknown people. Now I make sure that I give that back.”
When Sandra Pineda decided to leave her native Colombia for the safety of Canada, she wasn’t thinking about building a better future for herself.
After all, when she left the country nearly 23 years ago, she wasn’t only leaving behind her family and friends. She was also leaving a promising career in finance.
“I probably could have been a Vice President in a bank,” Sandra says.
But she made the move anyway because, in her mind, the most important were her children.
“At the time I immigrated, my country Colombia was a very dangerous place, and I knew I had to do something for the safety of my kids,” she says. “We made the decision to move based on the promise of a new, safer, better life for my family.”
Though more than two decades have passed since then, Sandra says she still remembers how hard the first few years in Canada were for her and her family.
It was tough for Sandra, who found herself a single mother and breadwinner after just three years in the country.
But she credits the support of her local community of neighbours, friends and a few family members for helping her survive.
“Discipline, dedication and fearlessness helped me,” Sandra says.
Unafraid of hard work and determined to make her new life in London a success, she first got a job delivering newspapers, then flipping burgers at McDonald's before finding an entry-level position at a TD Canada Trust bank.
After some time, Sandra found a new passion working as a realtor, a career in which she has won many awards at Century 21 for sale accomplishments. One of the best ones is being Top 1 per cent in Canada for Production and Units in 2016 and 2020.
She is also proud that her kids grew up seeing a mom who not only worked to put food on the table and pay the bills, but also a person who was actively involved with the community.
“When we got here, we received so much help from unknown people. Now I make sure that I give that back,” Sandra says.
After all, when she left the country nearly 23 years ago, she wasn’t only leaving behind her family and friends. She was also leaving a promising career in finance.
“I probably could have been a Vice President in a bank,” Sandra says.
But she made the move anyway because, in her mind, the most important were her children.
“At the time I immigrated, my country Colombia was a very dangerous place, and I knew I had to do something for the safety of my kids,” she says. “We made the decision to move based on the promise of a new, safer, better life for my family.”
Though more than two decades have passed since then, Sandra says she still remembers how hard the first few years in Canada were for her and her family.
It was tough for Sandra, who found herself a single mother and breadwinner after just three years in the country.
But she credits the support of her local community of neighbours, friends and a few family members for helping her survive.
“Discipline, dedication and fearlessness helped me,” Sandra says.
Unafraid of hard work and determined to make her new life in London a success, she first got a job delivering newspapers, then flipping burgers at McDonald's before finding an entry-level position at a TD Canada Trust bank.
After some time, Sandra found a new passion working as a realtor, a career in which she has won many awards at Century 21 for sale accomplishments. One of the best ones is being Top 1 per cent in Canada for Production and Units in 2016 and 2020.
She is also proud that her kids grew up seeing a mom who not only worked to put food on the table and pay the bills, but also a person who was actively involved with the community.
“When we got here, we received so much help from unknown people. Now I make sure that I give that back,” Sandra says.
Sandra believes that her adult children appreciate the sacrifices she made, which allowed them to live in a country that is open to any kind of person.
“People like me, immigrants,” says Sandra. “Canada is made by immigrants. And they love that because it has given them a community which is you, me, them and everyone.”
Community engagement is vital to Sandra, and she has been involved with different groups and organizations in the city.
Along with many other volunteer activities over the years, she was founder of the Caliente Festival Hispano, which ran from 2007-2012 at the Covent Garden Market and Victoria Park; she also was on the Board of Directors of the Covent Garden Market from 2006-2013, participated as Event Co-ordinator at the Canadian Latin American Association from 2012-2013 and this year she's actively working on the Board of Directors of JUNTAS, a new organization helping empower Latino women in London.
As a real estate agent, she says she feels especially fulfilled helping people find the perfect home.
“I believe that home ownership brings a sense of belonging in the community,” says Sandra.
But despite her professional accolades, Sandra doesn’t hesitate when asked what her biggest accomplishment is.
“My biggest achievement is my children’s success,” she says.
Now 30 and 25-years-old, they both are happy and have successful careers Sandra says.
“Thanks to Canada and London, and the people around me, I was able to achieve my dream. I am so happy that they are here and they're safer.”
“People like me, immigrants,” says Sandra. “Canada is made by immigrants. And they love that because it has given them a community which is you, me, them and everyone.”
Community engagement is vital to Sandra, and she has been involved with different groups and organizations in the city.
Along with many other volunteer activities over the years, she was founder of the Caliente Festival Hispano, which ran from 2007-2012 at the Covent Garden Market and Victoria Park; she also was on the Board of Directors of the Covent Garden Market from 2006-2013, participated as Event Co-ordinator at the Canadian Latin American Association from 2012-2013 and this year she's actively working on the Board of Directors of JUNTAS, a new organization helping empower Latino women in London.
As a real estate agent, she says she feels especially fulfilled helping people find the perfect home.
“I believe that home ownership brings a sense of belonging in the community,” says Sandra.
But despite her professional accolades, Sandra doesn’t hesitate when asked what her biggest accomplishment is.
“My biggest achievement is my children’s success,” she says.
Now 30 and 25-years-old, they both are happy and have successful careers Sandra says.
“Thanks to Canada and London, and the people around me, I was able to achieve my dream. I am so happy that they are here and they're safer.”