East River Gardens has become a certified Living Wage Employer

East River Gardens has committed to pay their staff and contracted workers a living wage by certifying as Living Wage Employer.

The living wage is the hourly amount a family needs to cover basic expenses. The calculation is based on a two-parent family with two children – the most common family unit in BC – with each parent working full-time. The Living Wage for Metro-Vancouver is $24.08 an hour.

“When I started East River Gardens, it was an absolute priority of mine to create a work environment that was positive, supportive, and provided wages that would reflect the true value of my employees' work. According to the BC government's job bank trend analysis, as of November 2022 the average wage of a landscaper is $19/hour, which is not enough to survive without working a second job. Landscaping is very hard work, and it is our responsibility to make sure our employees are appropriately compensated so that they are not forced to sacrifice their physical and mental health needs, including time spent with their loved ones outside of work. A living wage is simply that and should really be the minimum wage paid by anyone who is running a business. We have all had to work for less than what we are worth, and we all know how that feels. At East River Gardens we make sure our employees know that they are valued and appreciated, and that their wages allow for them to do more than just survive.” - Robin Simurda, East River Gardens.

In 2014, Robin Simurda, founder of East River Gardens, found her passion for horticulture and garden design through her time in New York, working under Groundworks Inc, a high-end gardening company. Now. After starting East River Gardens, Robin has been able to offer the same high end quality services, levels of expertise, and quality work to the gardens of East Vancouver and North Vancouver at a more affordable and attainable rate. East River Gardens focuses on the design, installation, and maintenance of residential gardens & landscapes while offering services such as pruning, weeding, soil management, pest/stress management, rejuvenating and much more.

“We’re delighted that East River Gardens has become a Living Wage Employer. We hope it encourages other employers to join the Living Wage movement. Paying a living wage is good for workers, employers and the local community” said Anastasia French, Living Wage for Families BC.

Over the past two years, the number of Living Wage Employers in BC has more than doubled – there are now nearly 400 Living Wage Employers in BC.

Employers have found paying a living wage to be a key tool in their post-Covid economic recovery. 97% of Living Wage Employers in BC have found some benefit to being part of the program.

Certifying as a Living Wage Employer is a voluntary commitment employers make to invest in their communities and local economies.