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On the Street: Spinnakers, Themis Security paying 'living wages'

Spinnakers Brewpub & GuestHouses and Spinnakers Spirit Merchants is the first employer in B.C.’s brewery industry to commit to paying all its staff and contracted workers a living wage.
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Paul Hadfield, owner of Spinnakers

Spinnakers Brewpub & GuestHouses and Spinnakers Spirit Merchants is the first employer in B.C.’s brewery industry to commit to paying all its staff and contracted workers a living wage.

A living wage is the hourly amount a family needs to cover basic expenses, and in Victoria it is $19.39 an hour. The calculation is based on a two-parent family with two children — the most common family unit in B.C. — with each parent working full-time, according to the Living Wage for Families Campaign.

“Many workers in the hospitality, retail, food and beverage processing industries are essentially front-line workers, interacting with the public, carefully managing COVID-19 risks to keep us safe, fed and cared for,” said Spinnaker’s owner Paul Hadfield.

Spinnaker’s joins another Victoria company, Themis Security, committed to paying all its staff and contracted workers a living wage.

“Our guards are the backbone of our company, said Themis president Mirko Filipovic. “We want to do all we can to attract and retain the very best employees who understand and are committed to the business. By earning a living wage, our guards can live more comfortably and focus on protecting what matters to our clients rather than searching for another paycheque.”

Circuit-breaker funding now open

Bars, breweries, wineries, gyms and fitness centres hit by the “circuit breaker” health order this month can start applying for one-time grants up to $10,000.

The grant will help affected businesses with expenses such as rent, insurance, wages, maintenance and utilities.

Grants range between $1,000 and $10,000 and are open to eligible businesses of any size that have been in operation since Feb. 1.

To be eligible, a business is required to:

• confirm it has been affected by the recent provincial health orders

• provide electronic banking information

• confirm it is registered as a B.C. business

• produce a business validation document, such as a business licence, liquor licence, notice of assessment or lease agreement

• confirm majority ownership and operations and payment of taxes in B.C.

Application information and eligibility criteria: gov.bc.ca/business-relief

Applications will remain open until June 4, or until the grant funds are disbursed.

Chef promoted at Courtney Room

Chef Brian Tesolin has been promoted to executive chef at the Courtney Room restaurant in the Magnolia Hotel downtown.

Tesolin has helped to craft menus using seasonal produce from local farms and shorelines.

He has worked in some of the country’s most respected kitchens, including Hawksworth Restaurant in Vancouver and Langdon Hall Country House Hotel & Spa in Ontario.

Since opening in 2018, the Courtney Room’s relationships with local farmers have included Acre Organics, Square Root Organic Farm, Finest at Sea and others.