Why paying a Living Wage matters at Compost Education Centre

Hi! I’m Claire, the Executive Director of the Compost Education Centre (CEC). Since joining the CEC three years ago, I’ve had the pleasure to work with a supportive board of directors to significantly revise our organization’s wage policy. Our objective was to encourage staff retention, exceed living wage rates, and appropriately value the quality of the work performed.

The CEC provides ecological education to individuals, community groups, and educators with a focus on “hands-on regenerative soil practices” (HORSPs). HORSPs are activities that can be done at the individual level to restore soil and ecosystem health, address inequity, and leave our land, waters, and climate in better shape for future generations. Examples of HORSPs include at-home composting, sustainable food growing, and pollinator care in boulevard gardens, community gardens, and on balconies. Our work strengthens community and climate resilience, stewards the region’s land and nutrient cycles, reduces organic waste disposed of in the region, and strengthens food security and sovereignty. 

Paying a living wage to the CEC’s five full-time employees is one of the initiatives I’ve been proudest of achieving as Executive Director. It is SO TOUGH to get out of a scarcity mindset when leading a nonprofit, and this was an important shift out of it. I’ve prioritized strengthening the organization’s internal systems over the past few years because how we operate as an organization is the foundation – and a model – for the work that we want to do with our local community and ecology. The problems that we’re working on are tough, and sustainable approaches to solving those problems depend on people who are thriving (and not just surviving).

We have been a Living Wage Employer since 2025. Ensuring that our wages meet living wage rates is a key component of our iterative review and revision of the organization’s wage policy. When reviewing the organization’s policies, the newest CEC staff person suggested we apply for certification as a Living Wage Employer to celebrate and share it!

Since becoming a Living Wage Employer, we’ve noticed our partner organizations express a commitment towards paying living wages. It’s great to be part of the movement, and I’m hopeful that other organizations will follow. We encourage others to join us in becoming Living Wage Employers. Together, we can create a fairer, more sustainable future for everyone.

Certifying as a Living Wage Employer is a voluntary commitment employers make to invest in their communities and local economies. There are now over 450 Living Wage Employers across BC.

The living wage is the hourly amount someone needs to earn to pay for basic essentials like food and rent, it doesn’t include paying off debt or saving for retirement. The Living Wage for Victoria is now $27.40 an hour.

Find out more about the Compost Education Centre on their website:

https://compost.bc.ca/