Why paying a Living Wage matters at North Island Employment Foundations Society (NIEFS)

In this short blog, Shannon Baikie, Executive Director of NIEFS explains why they became a Living Wage Employer, and the benefits they’ve found from being part of the program.

Founded in 1986, NIEFS has long been a trusted leader in workforce development across the North Island. With a dedicated team of 43, our mission is “to empower individuals, businesses, and communities by delivering accessible and innovative employment services that drive workforce growth and economic resilience”; and our vision is clear, “a resilient and inclusive employment landscape where everyone may contribute to thriving communities”.

We have been a Living Wage Employer since 2025. Paying a living wage is about dignity, stability, and belonging. It means the people doing this work at NIEFS can afford to live in the communities they serve, care for their families, and have a future here. When our employees earn a living wage, they can put down those roots, show up fully, and focus on building their careers with us.

Becoming a Living Wage Employer is a leadership choice, one that aligns our values with action, strengthens equity, keeps talent in our communities, and helps us build the strong, resilient regional economy we all envision.

Since becoming a Living Wage Employer, we’ve noticed real, positive changes in our workplace. 

We know that when our own employment practices reflect the types of changes we want to see in the world of work, our team feels respected, valued and appreciated. Financial stability at the individual level translates into stability, strength, and resilience at the organizational level. It also leads to even greater internal alignment with NIEFS values and mission.   

Paying a Living Wage doesn’t just benefit our team, it strengthens our regional economy and helps families thrive. We’re proud to be part of a movement that’s making a difference across North Vancouver Island.

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 Campbell River is now $25.30 an hour.

Find out more about NIEFS on their website: https://niefs.net/