Why paying a Living Wage matters at East Kootenay Invasive Species Council

In this short blog, Megan MacPhee, Program Assistant from the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council explains why they became a Living Wage Employer, and the benefits they’ve found from being part of the program. 

East Kootenay Invasive Species Council (EKISC) is an East Kootenay-based non-profit organization dedicated to preventing and managing invasive species across the region. We focus on education, outreach, monitoring and hands-on management projects to protect local ecosystems. Our team is made up of six year round employees, with four more joining us during the busy field season, who work collaboratively with year-rounders, partners and local communities to reduce the spread of invasive specs and promote environmental stewardship in the region.

We have been a Living Wage Employer since 2025, committing to pay all our staff a wage that reflects the real cost of living in our community. We chose to become a Living Wage Employer because we value our team, recognize the importance of fair and equitable compensation and want to support a healthy and thriving local economy.

Since becoming a Living Wage Employer, we’ve noticed real, positive changes in our workplace.  Paying a living wage shows our team that we value their contributions and well-being, which boosts morale, retention, and overall workplace culture. In addition to fair compensation, we offer office supply allowances, cell phone stipends, mileage compensation, meal and travel per diems, and medical and dental benefits for full-time employees. We also prioritize work-life balance - a benefit that’s hard to quantify but is consistently cited as one of the best perks of being on the EKISC team.

Paying a Living Wage doesn’t just benefit our team, it strengthens the local economy and helps families thrive. We’re proud to be part of a movement that’s making a difference across the East Kootenay region. Beyond our work on invasive species, EKISC staff sit on several environmental boards across the region, actively encourage professional development and networking in the environmental sector, and support locally owned businesses when sourcing rental vehicles, merchandise, tools, native grass seed, office supplies, and equipment for field and outreach projects.

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 Columbia Valley is now $23.35 an hour.

Find out more about the East Kootenay Invasive Species Council on their website: www.ekisc.com