Savage Society has become a certified Living Wage Employer!

Savage Society 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.

“Savage Society is proud to join the Living Wage movement by becoming certified as a Living Wage Employer for Families in BC. Indigenous artists and arts workers are disproportionately impacted by a high cost of living and rising inflation. This movement reflects our shared commitment to good working standards, contributing to poverty reduction and promoting living wages for those in the arts and non-profit sectors.”

Created in 2004, Savage Society has been producing their own stories as practicing Indigenous Theatre and Film Artists, in a traditional and contemporary indigenous perspective. While their work is a reflection of their own world view, it is also sourced from traditional stories and cosmologies as well as contemporary realties as Indigenous people for both a professional and community setting. Savage Society operates on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh), S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō), sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie), Qayqayt, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Kwantlen and sc̓əwaθenaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsawwassen) Nations.

“We’re delighted that Savage Society 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.