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Signals of Coming Disruption

Posted by Mark Holmgren on July 14, 2016

Big change doesn't just click on, it occurs over time, starting out often as weak signals of the change to come. Sometimes it’s like the old frog in the boiling water story. Put the frog in when the water is cool and turn up the flame and eventually the frog realizes its plight, just too late to adjust, to escape.

For years, donor giving has been changing. Charities have become increasingly dependent on larger gifts from fewer donors. As the economy has served to increase the income and wealth gap between the small numbers of wealthy and the rest of everyone else, we have seen food bank use escalate and a growing number of workers living pay check to pay check. Job security is no longer a reasonable expectation for a growing number of people, much less the chance for advancement. Employee supported pensions are no longer the norm and health and dental benefits are harder to come by for low income workers and many who do not yet qualify as “low income” workforce members.

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A Living Wage for Whitehorse, Yukon

Posted by Whitehorse, Yukon on July 14, 2016

By: Kendall Hammond, July 5 2016

Last week the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition (YAPC) released the report Living Wage in Whitehorse, Yukon: 2016 that included the first ever living wage calculation for Whitehorse, Yukon. The report revealed that the living wage in Whitehorse equals $19.12 per hour, one of the highest rates in Canada. In addition to the report, the YAPC released a calculation guide that includes a detailed description of the methods used in the Whitehorse calculation as well as step-by-step instructions to assist those calculating the living wage in other Northern communities. To date, Yellowknife is the only other Northern community to calculate the living wage.


The living wage serves as an important measure of poverty as those earning less than the living wage amount in their community will undoubtedly face significant challenges meeting basic needs. This information is especially valuable in Northern communities where Statistics Canada does not measure poverty.

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Living Wages: Reducing Poverty Across Canada

Posted by Natasha Pei on December 23, 2015

At Vibrant Communities we have seen a surge in both poverty reduction strategies at a local/municipal level, as well as a dramatic rise in the number of living wage campaigns in recent years.

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