Living Wage report illustrates the true amount a family needs to live in Metro Vancouver

Sponsored by

Good morning,

That bad weather Vancouver experienced this week isn’t going away any time soon. Though projected to be not as intense as this week’s storm, another bomb cyclone will hit the region Friday and Saturday, so be prepared.

Today we’ve got a look at an affordability issue in the region called the Living Wage. What is it, why it matters, and what it tells us about the city.

Let’s dive in!

— Geoff Sharpe, Lookout managing editor

Correction: In Wednesday’s newsletter, we incorrectly said Thind Properties was placed into receivership. We meant to say one of their developments was placed into receivership. We regret the error.

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free.

WEATHER

Friday: 10 🌡️ 6 | 🌧️

Saturday: 9 🌡️ 6 | 🌧️

Sunday: 8 🌡️ 5 | 🌧️

Monday: 8 🌡️ 3 | 🌤️

CITY

Living Wage report illustrates the true amount a family needs to live in Metro Vancouver

A new report “Working for a Living Wage” highlights the high cost of living in Vancouver and the minimum amount needed to afford the bare necessities. 

What is it? In order for a family to just get by in the region, a household would need to make an average of $27.05 an hour, while BC’s minimum wage currently sits at $17.40 an hour. A living wage is meant to reflect the wage that’s required to live in a city. It’s the full-time wage for two parents supporting two children so that they can cover the basic necessities. It is different from the minimum wage, which does not reflect the true cost of living. 

• The wage represents $49,231 annually for each parent working full-time.

Breaking it down: Shelter is the primary driver of costs, with the report estimating that those costs increased by 9.5 per cent this year, primarily from the increase in rents. Those moving into the region face a much greater challenge, as landlords are able to raise rents on new tenants, while those who’ve been around in their property for longer benefit from limited rent increases. 

• The next two most expensive items are food, at an average of $1,222 per month, and childcare, at $716 per month out of pocket. 

Families changing: These costs reflect the challenges families face. As reported by CBC, more and more younger families are opting to have fewer kids as costs continue to rise, especially as it relates to rent and childcare. 

• In one poll, half of Metro Vancouver residents said they were thinking about leaving, while one quarter said they were likely to do so in the next five years, according to the Vancouver Sun. The reason? Cost of living. 

People leaving BC: Earlier this spring, Statistics Canada released their latest population estimates. The Vancouver Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) saw the biggest net loss to interprovincial migration in 20 years, losing 4,795 people in the 12 months ending on July 1, 2023. Alberta saw a large interprovincial migration spike, with all four CMAs growing. Calgary saw the largest increase of 26,662. The 2024 CMHC Housing Market Outlook indicates that most people were seeking jurisdictions with lower home prices, namely places like Alberta.

Why it matters: There are always critiques that some jobs just don’t pay a living wage because they’re transitory, and that people move up as they gain skills and make more money. While true, there are numerous additional implications from this.

• People cannot work where they live, meaning longer commute times and greater urban sprawl as people flee to cheaper areas

• It means younger people are discouraged from having families because they’re locked into lower wages

• It means key jobs that don’t pay enough remain unfilled. 

And as the Statistics Canada data shows, if people cannot afford to live where they work, they’ll move to other jurisdictions, like Alberta. 

In other news: Mission Possible, a local Downtown Eastside nonprofit that provides training and coaching to help people rejoin the workforce, says they’ve never seen so many seniors seeking to return to work, many who were previously retired, according to the Vancouver Sun. It’s part of a trend of seniors not being able to afford retirement with the rising cost of living and housing, with 21 per cent of homeless in the region counting as seniors.

SPONSORED BY RYSE

Billion Dollar Exits - Are Investors Sleeping on the Smart Home Space?

Best Buy has a knack for picking the up-and-coming tech products that go on to dominate the market. Their early bets on household items like Ring (acquired by Amazon for $1.2B) and Nest (acquired by Google for $3.2B) have a proven record of paying off. 

Now Best Buy is lifting the curtain on their latest find, launching RYSE’s SmartShades in over 120 retail stores. RYSE has already hit $9M+ in lifetime revenue with over 60,000 units sold, and the numbers are rising (along with the window shades). 

RYSE shareholders have seen their value increase 40% year-over-year, with strong upside remaining as they scale into retail and high-volume B2B channels. 

Invest in RYSE at just $1.75/share before it becomes a household name.

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

😲 $214,460: The amount of income required to afford an average home price in Vancouver. That average price is $1.17 million. [Urbanized]

📹️ 6,211: The number of videos that Vancouver police recorded during a body camera trial over six months. They were worn by 100 officers, some of whom were in the Downtown Eastside and downtown entertainment districts. [Vancouver is Awesome]

THE AGENDA

🌳 The city released an update on the dissolution of the park board, and a new report that says the city would save $7 million by dissolving it. While there’s a lot of information on consultation and future plans, there was no update on when the province will actually bring in legislation to remove it.

❌ The city announced they are planning to crack down on unpermitted vendors in the Downtown Eastside. They’re calling it a “firmer approach” in order to hopefully reduce shoplifting in the area, so those vendors have fewer places to sell illicit goods. [Global News]

🪧 Striking Vancouver hotel workers at the Hyatt Regency, Westin Bayshore and Pinnacle Waterfront secured a 34 per cent wage increase. [Business in Vancouver]

A 12-storey building in the West End at 1254 Pendrell St, that houses seniors has been without a working elevator for more than a month. Some residents haven’t been able to leave their rooms. The building operator says repairs could take a year, while residents say the owner does not have an urgency to fix it. [Global]

🐟Not all news is bad news. Urban salmon are slowly returning to Metro Vancouver streams, after efforts to reintroduce them into the waters. While the numbers won’t match those in the past, by returning, they help improve the overall ecosystem. Over 100 kilometres of rivers have been covered up as Vancouver has become urbanized. [Vancouver Sun]

⚽ Vancouver’s women’s soccer team, the Vancouver Rise, part of the new Northern Super League launching in April, now has a coach. Anja Heiner-Moller is the former Danish national team midfielder and joins from her stint as head coach of Denmark’s U-19 national women’s team. [CTV]

🏈 BC Lions cleaned house this week, firing head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell. The team started out well last year, but ended up 9-9, losing to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Western semifinals. Campbell joined in 2019. [CBC]

Outside Vancouver

💉 A more potent class of synthetic drugs are making their way onto Canadian streets. Called nitazenes, they are synthetic opioids that are several times more potent than fentanyl, increasing the risk of overdoses. [CBC[

💸 Burnaby-based Thind Properties, a developer which had a large development go into receivership, is alleged by its lenders to have misappropriated money by wrongfully retaining millions of dollars. [Vancouver Sun]

👮 Police are still looking for a kayaker who went missing near Whyte Islet on Tuesday afternoon. He’s 36-years-old, 5’10 and 170 pounds. [CityNews] 

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Don't Argue Pizza has the best New York slice in Vancouver

This summer I gorged myself on New York pizza, in New York. I waited in lines, paid outrageous prices, and loved every second of it, each bite a revelation. While Neapolitan continues to be my favourite, a trip to New York will have even the most ardent Italian pizza fans second-guessing themselves.

Vancouver itself is blessed with some excellent Neapolitan pizzerias. Gastronomy Gastown, Just Pizza, Via Tavere, the list goes on. But New York-style? That no-bend, crispy bottom dough? Not so much. 

That is, until I stopped by Don’t Argue Pizza at 1321 Commercial Drive. I am happy to argue with anyone that this is the best slice of New York pizza in Vancouver.

Don’t Argue Pizza is not a new joint, though the ownership has changed. It began in 2014, ending its run in 2019. The brand was eventually bought by the team behind Via Tevere Pizzeria and opened up in Caffé Soccavo earlier this year. Both Don’t Argue Pizza and the cafe share space. It’s a bit confusing from the outside at first, but you’ll soon forget it after you get inside. 

To read this review and instantly subscribe to our free restaurant review newsletter, click here

EVENTS GUIDE

Vancouver Christmas Market | Jack Poole Plaza, 1055 Canada Place | Now until Dec. 24, various times | Outdoor market with festive sights, crafts, and food | Tickets $19.99

All We Imagine As Light | VIFF Centre | Opens Today, 1.30 pm & 6.30 pm | Don't miss this Cannes Grand Prix winner and VIFF 2024 favourite - a romantic heartbreaker about three nurses at different stages of life. It's a future classic | Learn more [Sponsored]

Billy Bishop Goes to War | Metro Theatre | Now until Nov. 30 | A one-man musical recounting the heroics of WWI flying ace Billy Bishop, starring Damon Calderwood | Tickets $44–$52

Peak of Christmas | Grouse Mountain Resort, 6400 Nancy Greene Way | Nov. 22–Dec. 25 | Enjoy skating, reindeer, Santa visits, and magical light displays atop Grouse Mountain | Tickets $40+

VFS All Access Pass: Animation Program | 151 West Cordova Street | Nov. 23, 10:00 am | Explore animation careers with demos, faculty chats, and alumni insights at Vancouver Film School | Free

Hopscotch Festival | The PNE Forum, 2901 East Hastings St. | Nov. 23, 6:00 pm | Sample 250+ varieties of scotch and other spirits, beer, wine, and enjoy live music at this tasting event | Tickets $30

Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week | Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 600 Block Hamilton St. | Now until Nov. 23 | Celebrate Indigenous culture through fashion with showcases, events, and discussions bridging past and future | Tickets vary

Got Craft Holiday Market | Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Dr. | Nov. 23–24 | Explore 100+ local makers, craft for sale, food trucks, and exclusive swag bags | Tickets $5+

Dunbar Holiday Craft Fair | Dunbar Community Centre, Lobby | Nov. 23, 10 am–5 pm | Enjoy handmade crafts from 140+ artisans, live entertainment, and holiday shopping | Tickets $5 advance, $7 at door

VAM Symphony Orchestra: Music of John Williams | Orpheum Theatre | Nov. 24, 2 pm | Experience iconic movie scores from ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Indiana Jones,’ and more in a tribute to John Williams | Tickets $9-$19

IMAGE OF THE DAY

While the Tantalus Range isn’t technically in Vancouver, I’m sure many readers have visited here often in the summer. Here’s a beautiful shot of the mountains in the evening.

VANCOUVER WORDLE

Think you can guess today’s Vancouver Wordle? Play it here.

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Good news, skiers — Cypress opens on Friday. Here’s where you can grab tickets.

• Got an apartment? A fan is offering to trade her place for a night for a Taylor Swift ticket. [CTV]

• Here are some cheap flights in 2025 to Tampa and Boston from YVR. [Vancouver is Awesome]

• These Vancouver restaurants are the favourites of many actors. Some are places we’ve reviewed here at Vancity Lookout! [Vancouver Sun]