Why Paying a Living Wage Matters at Fairware 

Denise Taschereau, CEO of Fairware, on why we became a certified Living Wage Employer — and what it's given us back. 

When Vancity first approached us about getting certified as a Living Wage Employer, my honest reaction was, "We already do this." And we did. We were paying a living wage — we just hadn't made it official. Making it official mattered more than I expected. 

A bit of background. Fairware is a full-service branded merchandise company based in Vancouver, and we've spent years working to change how this industry operates — through responsible supply chains, more sustainable manufacturing, and the belief that the products you put your logo on shouldn't cost someone their dignity to make. We're a founding Canadian B Corp, certified LGBTQ+ and Woman-owned, and a team of 20-plus working with brands across North America, from Vancity to UNICEF USA, to LUSH Cosmetics. 

We've been a certified Living Wage Employer since 2017. As a tier 1 supplier to Vancity, it was a natural fit — we were already committed, just not certified. So, when they nudged us, we said yes. 

Here's what I've learned since: there's a real difference between believing in something and certifying it. Formally calculating the living wage, and then having a third party validate it, did two things for us. It gave our commitment a voice in a movement larger than any one company. And it became a building block for our other certifications — B Corp, EcoVadis — because it's exactly the kind of independently verified proof point those frameworks rely on.  

The principle underneath it is simple: every worker should be able to meet their basic needs. But we want to go further than that — we want our team to build wealth, not just cover this month's bills, and to develop the stability and skills to reach their long-term financial goals. In a tough labour market, our living wage commitment is also one of the clearest signals we can send about who we are. People notice what you pay, and they notice even more why you pay it. 

It doesn't stop at our front door. Paying a living wage strengthens the local economy and helps families thrive — we all benefit when there's less poverty in our communities. We're proud to be part of a movement that's genuinely moving the needle across Vancouver. 

Our commitment to community extends beyond wages. We support clean water initiatives through Planet Water and Water4Good, donate overstocked merchandise to local organizations rather than let it go to waste, and run regular beach cleanups. And through our partnership with veritree, we've planted over 42,000 kelp and counting. 

If you're an employer reading this: consider joining us. Certifying as a Living Wage Employer is a voluntary commitment to invest in your community and local economy — and there are now over 450 of us across BC. The more companies that step up, the faster we get to a fairer, more sustainable future for everyone. 

Learn more about our impact work at fairware.com/impact.