Since 2021, Purpose CPA has proudly held Living Wage certification—an initiative that shaped how we approach compensation and affirmed our commitment to fair pay, especially here in Metro Vancouver. After careful reflection, we’ve made the decision not to renew our Living Wage certification in 2025.

This change relates specifically to how we support post-secondary students. From the start, we’ve prioritized offering students meaningful, paid work experiences that often lead to full-time employment in their field. Our goal is to help students build lasting careers while supporting their professional growth.

However, with the Living Wage now set at $27.05 (and expected to rise), it has become financially unviable for us to employ students at this rate without making firm-wide compensation adjustments that are not sustainable. We explored alternatives, such as benefit top-ups or stipends to offset the wage gap. Unfortunately, these options proved cost-prohibitive.

  • Student positions will continue to be offered at a rate approximately 20% below the current Living Wage, while maintaining our strong focus on mentorship and career development.
  • All non-student team members will continue to be paid at or above the Living Wage. Their compensation remains unaffected.

We remain strong advocates of fair compensation. For businesses to thrive, employees must be able to thrive. When paying a Living Wage is not financially viable, businesses face two choices:

  1. Improve profitability, or
  2. Advocate for systemic change to reduce the cost of living in Canada.

Fair pay is important, but so is addressing the broader challenges of sustainability and cost of living. True success comes from creating an environment where both employers and employees can succeed.

Being an impact-driven business means making challenging, values-based decisions. While stepping back from certification was not easy, our commitment to fairness, transparency, and social impact remains steadfast. Our values and approach will continue to guide everything we do.

We deeply value your continued trust and support as we work to balance sustainability with purpose.