Cranbrook,
British Columbia - June 19th, 2012 - The members
of the Social Planning Society of Cranbrook are excited to announce the recent
hiring of Delaney Kunitz (pictured) as Social Researcher for the Living Wage
Project. The Living Wage project will focuses on the calculation of
$14.16/hour, which is higher than minimum wage, and the ways we can support the many working families in
Cranbrook are living below or at that measure.
The Cranbrook
Social Planning Society Families began the Living Wage project in Cranbrook in
2011 because “Families are working harder – often holding down more than one
job – and yet they're still struggling to make ends meet” according to Dana
Osiowy, Board Chair. The Cranbrook Social Planning Society includes a number of
key community service organizations like ANKORS, the United Way, and Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Cranbrook, East Kootenay Child Care Resource and
Referral Program and community members at large. The goal of the Social
Planning Society is to improve the living circumstances of individuals and
community through social planning activities, coordinated research,
collaborative engagement, and strategic action.
Working with
the community, Kunitz will be collecting stories and experiences of people
struggling to survive at or below the wage of $14.16 per hour. A community’s
living wage was calculated by Caitlin Etherington from Interior Health as the
Regional Population Health Facilitator. The calculation was made in conjunction
with the University of Victoria and by looking at local expenses, including
rent and childcare, plus government transfers minus deductions. It is very
important to remember that the Living Wage is not minimum wage - it is the
minimum a person needs to make to be able to afford basic necessities.
“No should have
to decide between paying the mortgage and buying groceries,” Kunitz says. “My
goal in working with this project is to gather real life stories and struggles
to share with local business and agencies within the community. It’s important
for our community to realize that those living at or below the Living Wage are not the minority and we should work around this and
collaborate as a community to support these workers.”
Kunitz will be
working over the summer to compile stories and create communications and
support materials for the Living Wage in Cranbrook. If you or anyone you know
would be interested in sharing a story, please contact Delaney at 250.489.3111
or via e-mail at delaney.kunitz@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca
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