Why paying a Living Wage matters at Green Island Builders 

In this short blog, Martin Scaia, Managing Director and Owner of Green Island Builders, explains why they became a Living Wage Employer, and the benefits they’ve found from being part of the program. 

Green Island Builders is a Victoria-based residential renovation and design-build company with a team of approximately 14 staff, including office, project management, and field crew. We’ve been operating for over 20 years, working primarily on renovations and additions to existing homes, with a strong focus on craftsmanship, sustainability, and people-centred work practices. 

We have been a Living Wage Employer since 2023. We chose to become a Living Wage Employer because we believe that work should provide dignity and stability, not just a paycheque. Construction can be physically demanding and unpredictable, and we felt it was important to ensure that our team members could meet their basic needs without constant financial stress. 

Since becoming a Living Wage Employer, we’ve noticed real, positive changes in our workplace. Paying a living wage has helped create greater trust, stability, and transparency within our team. It supports retention, reduces anxiety around finances, and allows people to focus more fully on their work and their lives outside of it. We pair living wages with extended health benefits, RRSP contributions, and a workplace culture that prioritizes wellbeing, inclusion, and open communication. 

Paying a Living Wage doesn’t just benefit our team, it strengthens the local economy and helps families and communities thrive. As a locally owned company, we see ourselves as part of a broader ecosystem. Investing in our people is one of the most direct ways we can contribute positively to the community we live and work in. 

We encourage other employers to join us in becoming Living Wage Employers. Together, we can help create a fairer, more sustainable future, one where work supports a good life, not just survival. 

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 Greater Victoria is now $27.40 per hour. 

Find out more about Green Island Builders on their website: 
👉 https://www.greenislandbuilders.ca