What Does a Living Wage Look Like in Practice?

British Columbia has just crossed a milestone that says something about the kind of province people want to build together. More than 500 organizations in B.C. are now certified living wage employers, guaranteeing over 22,000 workers and contracted staff wages that actually match the cost of living in their communities. It’s a number that’s been years in the making. And it’s growing faster than ever.

At Living Wage BC, the organization behind the certification, we believe momentum reflects a shift in how employers think about fairness, retention and community well-being. The living wage movement has long included employers of all sizes, with small businesses, co-ops and non-profits playing a key role alongside larger institutions (The Tyee, for the record, recently became a living wage employer as well — a decision rooted in the belief that journalism should support the people who produce it.)

To celebrate the milestone, here are seven employers whose stories show how wide-ranging and meaningful the living wage commitment is across B.C.

City of Burnaby

Burnaby is a vibrant and diverse community. Municipal workers deliver a wide range of services, from recreation and cultural programs to public safety, infrastructure and community planning, while advancing sustainability, innovation and inclusion.

The city chose to be a living wage employer to ensure compensation reflects the real cost of living and supports employee well-being, retention and fairness. Staff often highlight the collaborative and inclusive culture, strong benefits and opportunities for learning and career growth as key reasons to work at the City of Burnaby.

Modo

Modo is B.C.’s car-sharing co-operative, with 35,000 members sharing 1,000 cars across British Columbia. Founded in 1997, Modo has always been committed to principles of economic empowerment and equity.

“It’s the right thing to do,” says Frederika Renaud, the co-op’s director of people and culture.

Modo’s staff say the real engine of the organization is the people, which makes them not just a car-sharing service, but a force for good in our community.

PARC Retirement Living

PARC Retirement Living operates thoughtfully designed independent living communities for older adults who value connection, autonomy and quality of life. With residences across Vancouver and the Okanagan, PARC creates vibrant, community-focused environments where both residents and employees can thrive.

In 2017, PARC became a living wage employer, believing that fair, transparent compensation is essential to stability and long-term engagement, especially in regions of B.C. where the cost of living continues to rise. For PARC, paying a living wage aligns with their values and reflects the care they extend to their teams, who are the foundation of their business.

Royal Printers

Royal Printers is a fourth-generation commercial printing and label company proudly serving businesses across Western Canada for 94 years. They became a living wage employer in 2021 because, as a family-owned business, they’ve seen first-hand how financial stability supports individual well-being, strong families and resilient communities.

“Paying a living wage is a natural extension of our commitment to a workplace where people feel valued, respected and supported,” says Chelsea Gieschen, vice-president of Royal Printers.

Upstart & Crow

Upstart & Crow is a not‑for‑profit bookshop dedicated to supporting the literary arts in Vancouver and beyond. The team develops programs for writers and readers, hosts conversations and launches projects that help storytellers create and share new work. Their commitment to becoming a living wage employer stems from a simple belief: everyone who works in Vancouver should earn enough to live here.

“It’s not always easy for small businesses to do that, but we think it’s worth the effort to try,” says operations director (and former Tyee editor-in-chief) Robyn Smith. “We hope that by signing on, other businesses will learn about what the living wage is and why it matters. We appreciate our co-founders, Ian Gill and Zoe Grams, for supporting this certification.”

“Upstart & Crow is a great place to work because what could be better than dealing in books? We love reading! We love our customers,” she adds.

True to that spirit, Upstart & Crow continues to champion the writers in its community, aiming to make their lives better through grants, workshops, book launches and reading and selling their books.

Vancity

Vancity is a member-owned credit union on a mission to make banking work better for Canadians. As a founding partner of the Living Wage campaign, Vancity provides competitive, equitable pay for all employees, because fair compensation is foundational to meaningful work.

Their commitment to a living wage extends beyond their immediate team to contractors who are key to their success, supporting all their people with the financial security they deserve. In addition, Vancity provides comprehensive benefits, including an 85 per cent parental leave top-up and a defined-benefit pension plan, to support employees’ health and financial well-being through their careers and into retirement.

Working at Vancity means engaging in innovative, values-driven work and reimagining what banking can be while growing personally and professionally. It’s why Vancity is consistently recognized as a top employer, where people are empowered to do purposeful work, build new solutions and create positive change together.

Vancouver International Airport

Airports are small cities: complex, interconnected and full of people whose work is often invisible to travellers. And the Vancouver International Airport, or YVR, managed by the Vancouver Airport Authority, is the first and only airport operator in Canada to be certified as a living wage employer.

With more than 1,000 direct employees and 1,600 contracted staff, YVR is one of the largest living wage employers in the province. The airport authority says the decision was both ethical and strategic; paying a living wage reduces financial stress, improves retention and strengthens the overall workplace culture.

Working for YVR means joining a collaborative team that looks out for one another. Employees demonstrate the airport authority’s values in action as they serve travellers and partners. The airport’s scale and complexity mean skills are developed quickly, with diverse roles and cross-functional projects that create standout development opportunities.

A movement that keeps growing

The living wage movement in B.C. has grown steadily over the past decade, driven by employers who believe that fair compensation is foundational to healthy communities. The 500-employer milestone is both a celebration and an invitation — a reminder that change happens one workplace at a time.

To explore the full list of certified employers or learn more about the living wage, visit Living Wage BC’s website. To see all 500 living wage employers, click here.

Living Wage BC is one of eight programs of the Vancity Community Foundation, supporting efforts to build a fair and inclusive economy in British Columbia.