Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

Press Release: Living Wage Rises to $24.60 in Grey Bruce, 10 Nov 2025

Bruce and Grey Counties, ON – The Living Wage for Bruce Grey has increased by 6.7% to $24.60 per hour in 2025, up from $23.05 in 2024. The new rate reflects the continued rise in shelter and transportation costs across the region and highlights the growing gap between minimum wage and the actual cost of living.

The Living Wage is what a worker must earn per hour, working full-time, to make ends meet where they live. It factors in essential expenses such as housing, food, childcare, transportation, clothing, and modest participation in community life, while also accounting for government taxes, transfers, and benefits.

“Each year, the Living Wage tells a story about affordability in our communities,” says Francesca Dobbyn, Executive Director of United Way Bruce Grey. “A 6.7% increase isn’t just a number, it’s a reflection of the daily struggles families face to stay housed, feed their kids, and keep the lights on. We’re seeing more people working full-time who still can’t make ends meet, and that’s unacceptable. A living wage isn’t a luxury; it’s the foundation for dignity and stability.”

According to the Ontario Living Wage Network’s 2025 analysis, housing remains the biggest pressure point, with limited availability and rising rents driving up household costs across Bruce and Grey counties. Rural transportation challenges and inflation continue to add stress for working families and individuals.

“We’re seeing the effects of compounding pressures, rising housing costs, higher transportation expenses, and limited access to affordable essentials,” says Jill Umbach, Co-ordinator of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force. “People are working hard, but they’re falling behind. Our community deserves solutions that focus on increasing income and ensuring everyone can meet their basic needs without constant financial stress.”

The Living Wage calculation for Bruce Grey draws from three household scenarios:

  • Single adult: $25.30/hour
  • Single parent with two children: $27.75/hour
  • Two parents with two children: $23.50/hour (both parents working)

These numbers illustrate the cost of living in Bruce Grey communities, where even dual-income families can struggle with rising basic expenses.

“Employers who commit to paying a living wage report better morale, lower turnover, and stronger loyalty among their staff,” says Dobbyn. “We encourage more local businesses to step forward and join the network of certified living wage employers making a real difference.”

About the Living Wage

A Living Wage is calculated annually by the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) to determine what full-time workers need to earn to cover basic living costs in their specific region. The 2025 calculations show an average provincial increase of 5.3%, largely driven by escalating housing, childcare, and transportation expenses

There are currently over 630 certified Living Wage employers across Ontario, covering more than 860 workplaces, who recognize the benefits of paying fair wages to their employees.

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

Growing Together: The Power of Community Gardens

At our March Food Security Action Group meeting, Simona Freiberg shared their latest numbers and documentation from the Grey Bruce Community Garden Network.

In a world that often emphasizes individual success, the true strength of a community lies in its togetherness. Community gardens serve as a beautiful testament to the power of collaboration, fostering food security, wellness, and shared purpose. They are not just about growing food; they are about growing relationships, resilience, and hope.

Food Security Through Community Effort

Food security means having reliable access to sufficient, nutritious food. In community gardens, members take an active role in ensuring this security, cultivating fruits, vegetables, and herbs that nourish both body and spirit. Growing our own food fosters independence while reinforcing interdependence—when a neighbor needs support, the community is there to help. Watch this inspiring video on community gardening in Grey Bruce: Community Gardens Video

The Role of Each Member

Each person who participates in a community garden plays a vital role. Whether it’s planting, watering, harvesting, or sharing knowledge, every contribution strengthens the collective wellness of the group. In these shared spaces, the emphasis is on cooperation rather than competition. Unlike the isolation of individualism, community gardens promote unity, showing that we are always stronger together.

Healing Through Growth and Sharing

The act of planting and harvesting is deeply therapeutic. Gardening has been shown to reduce stress, improve mental health, and create a sense of fulfillment. The joy of watching seeds turn into nourishment reflects the potential for transformation—not just in the soil, but within our communities. Sharing the harvest further deepens the sense of belonging, reinforcing the idea that no one should go hungry when abundance exists within our collective hands.

Join the Movement: 2025 Garden Educational Workshops

To continue this journey of empowerment and sustainability, we invite you to take part in their 2025 Garden Educational Workshops. These workshops will offer hands-on learning experiences for both beginners and seasoned gardeners, covering topics such as soil health, sustainable practices, and efficient food production.

Together, we can cultivate a future where food security is a shared responsibility and our communities thrive through the bonds we build in the garden. For more details, contact Simona at simifreiberg@gmail.com.

Get Involved with the Community Garden Network

To further support and expand the impact of community gardens, explore the Grey Bruce Community Garden Network through The Sustainability Project. This initiative connects individuals and organizations, fostering knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and sustainability in community gardening efforts.

Please feel free to contact Simona with any questions, thoughts, or ideas you may have for Community Gardens. If you are interested in gathering some seeds for gardening, please reach out as there are plenty to share. If your organization is interested in starting a garden, Simona is always happy to share knowledge and collaborate when possible.

Simona’s Contact Details: simifreiberg@gmail.com

Community Foundation Grey Bruce Grant deadline is April 15, 2025.

Community Grants are an opportunity to support new or expanding projects and programs that improve the community vitality of Grey and Bruce Counties. Applications from eligible community service organizations of up to $5,000 will be considered. Applicants must either have a registered charitable number or be sponsored by an organization that is a CRA qualified done within Grey or Bruce County. Contact the office at 519-371-7203  to ensure your project is eligible for funding before filling out an application form or email foundation@cfgb.ca Criteria for Granting- https://cfgb.ca/grants/community/criteria/ https://www.communityfoundationgreybruce.com/grants/community

Robin Cork, Food Security Action Group Chair and Food Coordinator, United Way of Bruce Grey

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Poverty Task Force

Poverty Task Force/United Way Community Update #209

Dear Colleagues, 

This month is National Indigenous History Month, PRIDE and Seniors month.  

National Indigenous History Month in Canada is a time to recognize the rich history, heritage, resilience and diversity of First Nations, Inuit and Métis. Access learning resources at: Learning resources about First Nations, Inuit and Métis across Canada (rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca)

PRIDE events are happening across Grey Bruce throughout the month. Full lineup of events planned as Pride Month kicks off in Grey-Bruce | Hanover Post (thepost.on.ca) Go to Grey Bruce Pride Facebook page for a listing of events: https://www.facebook.com/GreyBrucePride

HEALTH EQUITY

Period Poverty: May 28 marked Menstrual Hygiene Day — bringing awareness to the lack of access to adequate menstrual hygiene products, including here in Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/news/2024/05/government-of-canada-continues-to-advance-menstrual-equity.html

  • In Canada, 1 in 5 who menstruate say they may not be able to afford period products at some point in the next 12 months.
  • Lack of access to menstrual products, education, hygienic facilities, and waste management are closely linked to poverty.
  • 1 in 6 Canadians who menstruate have personally experienced period poverty. This rises to 1 in 4 if their household earns less than $40,000 a year.
  • Period poverty disproportionately impacts youth, single mothers, Indigenous Peoples, Black and other racialized communities, immigrants, people experiencing homelessness, people living with disabilities, gender diverse individuals, and those who live in remote areas. 

Tampon Tuesday (June 4th) is a day to raise awareness.  The United Way of Bruce Grey will also be collecting donations of hygiene products to support 12 local distributing partners (food banks, libraries and drop-in centers). 

Food Banks Canada is working with Women and Gender Equality Canada to lead a national pilot to address period poverty in Canada. Menstrual products are a basic need and food banks across the country see firsthand every day how far too many people are forced to choose between personal hygiene products or buying enough food to eat. https://foodbankscanada.ca/menstrual-equity-fund/

Substance Use in Ontario & Grey Bruce: GBPH has been notified on June 11th, 2024 of 1 fatal and 2 non-fatal suspected opioid-related poisonings, all in Owen Sound, within the past 48 hours. This brings the total to 15 suspected overdoses from June 1-10th (14 non-fatal, 1 fatal). GBPH has also been notified of a concerning trend of meth that appears to be contaminated with opioids, causing poisonings. Additionally, pink/blue fentanyl has also been linked with several overdoses. Grey Bruce Public Health has shared recent statistics from Public Health Ontario as part of its strategic planning for the Community Drug and Alcohol Strategy. 

  • There are currently between 2,500 and 3,000 opioid deaths in Ontario each year.
  • Opioid-related deaths increased by 457% from 2018 (7 deaths) to 2021 (39 deaths). In 2022, this number began to decline with 27 opioid-related deaths, a 30.8% decrease from 2021. (CDAS, June 2024)
  • About ¼ to 1/3 of opioid-related deaths involve prescription opioids. In 2023, there were 19,482 people accessing prescription opioids for pain and 751 individuals receiving Opioid Agonist Therapy in Grey Bruce.  
  • The percentage of Ontario students (grades 7-12) reporting past year non-medical use of prescription opioid pain relievers significantly increased from 2021 (12.7%) to 2023 at 21.8%. 

Brightshores Wellness and Recovery Centre: was officially opened on June 7.  A community open house will be held on June 17th and patients will move in on June 18th. It will provide inpatient (up to 45 at one time) and outpatient services

Wellness & Recovery Centre | Brightshores Health System Owen Sound Hospital Foundation (brightshoresfoundation.ca)

BGDISC 2021 Census Dashboard (bgdisc.ca) is now up on the site in an easy-to-use format for Grey Bruce Census data. 

Employment and Income Profile of Persons with Disabilities: Stats Can has release a new demographic, employment and income profile of persons with disabilities aged 15 years in CanadaA demographic, employment and income profile of persons with disabilities aged 15 years and over in Canada, 2022 (statcan.gc.ca)

  • More than 1 in 4 Canadians aged 15 years and over have a disability.
    • In 2022, the disability rate for persons aged 15 years and over in Canada was 27%. This represents nearly 8 million people who were identified as having one or more disabilities, an increase of 1.7 million people over 2017, when the disability rate was 22% (Table 1.1.A; Table 1.1.B). Disability rates increased with age: one in five (20%) youth aged 15 to 24 years had one or more disabilities in 2022, compared to one in four (24%) adults aged 25 to 64 years and two in five (40%) seniors aged 65 years and over (Chart 1.1; Table 1.1.A).
  • Disabilities related to pain, flexibility, mobility, and mental health remain the most common
  • Women are more likely than men to have a disability related to pain and mental health
  • Prevalence of all disability types increased between 2017 and 2022, with mental health-related disabilities increasing the most
  • Median income of persons with more severe disabilities is 1/3 less than that of those without disabilities.
  • In 2020, 10% of persons with disabilities aged 15 years and over lived in poverty compared to 7% of their counterparts without disabilities.
  • Women with disabilities were more likely than men to indicate unmet needs due to cost for health care services (34% versus 22%) and prescription medication (14% versus 10%). Overall, almost half (45%) of women with disabilities reported unmet needs due to cost for either aids, devices, medications, or healthcare services, compared to a third (35%) of men. 

Ontario Government Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy: the government is seeking input into the strategy. The deadline to provide feedback is July 19, 2024. Visit Ontario’s Regulatory Registry website to learn more.2020-2025 Review of Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy (ontariocanada.com)

TRANSPORTATION

City of Owen Sound: has released its 2023 Annual Transit Report Council Open Report Template (escribemeetings.com)

  • Conventional transit ridership increased by 43% in 2023 compared to 2022 (from 125,802 to 179, 669 riders)
  • Fare revenue increased by $50,412.09, and bus pas revenue rosed by $43,127.29 in 2023 compared to 2022.

HOUSING 

Search for Innovation in a Broken System: the Social Finance & Learning Group of The Institute of Southern Georgian Bay recently presented to the City of Owen Sound’s Community Service Committee and spoke to some issues around overall housing but recommendations were specific to Owen Sound. https://pub-owensound.escribemeetings.com/Players/ISIStandAlonePlayer.aspx?Id=3ae4190b-9a63-4a02-9653-841b83f8e72e

Financialization of Purpose-Built Rental Housing: The final recommendations from Canada’s very first human rights-based review panel on the financialization of purpose-built rental housing has been released. REVIEW PANEL REPORT – The Financialization of Purpose-Built Rental Housing – MAY 2024.pdf (nhc-cnl.ca)

The report is built on all this evidence and testimony from civil society and community and provides human rights-based recommendations for the federal government to address financialization. Some of the recommendations include: 

  • Aligning federal non-market housing funding to match the average funding provided for social housing by other developed Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries.
  • Establish tenant protection agreements with each province and territory to fund and support regional implementation of the national consensus standards for tenant protections.
  • Provide immediate emergency funding to provincial, territorial, municipal, and non-market housing agencies so that they can provide housing subsidies and supports to tenants facing immediate housing precarity that could lead to homelessness.
  • The federal government, specifically the housing minister, now has 120 days to respond.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) has released a new report providing an update on federal spending to address homelessness. Over the term of Canada’s National Housing Strategy, planned spending on homelessness programs is $561 million per year. This is an increase of $443 million per year (374%) in nominal spending over the prior 10 years. This includes an additional $1.3 billion over four years allocated in the 2024 Budget. Read the report here.
Achieving target to halve chronic homelessness would require an additional $3.5 billion per year, says PBO (pbo-dpb.ca)

INCOME SECURITY

Community Safety and Well-Being Plan: the Poverty Task Force as the lead for Income/Poverty for the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan was featured in the CSWBP recent news release: https://cknxnewstoday.ca/midwestern/news/2024/05/29/local-organizations-push-for-basic-income-guarantee

FOOD SECURITY 

Grey Bruce Good Food Box: locations will be running through the summer/year-round – Ayton, Chesley, Kincardine/Ripley/Tiverton, Lucknow, Markdale, Owen Sound, Port Elgin, and Sauble Beach. 

Grey Bruce Community Garden Network: a map of community gardens across Grey Bruce has been updated and technical support is available.  https://www.thesustainabilityproject.ca/projects/community-garden-network

National School Food Program: more details are coming out on this new program. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/national-school-food-program-announcement-1.7160384 We anticipate support to our local schools

Stay well, Jill 

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force Income Security Action Group

Filing a Tax Return could mean More Income

Tax season is here.  The Income Security Action Group of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force encourages everyone to file a tax return. For modest and low income Canadians, filing a tax return may actually help increase the number of benefits they can collect and may result in an increase in their income. Many Canadians have no idea they would get money back, and they fear being told they have to pay the government for back taxes they cannot afford.  But this is not the case for most people on low income.

Here are three good reasons to file for 2016:

  1. To qualify for programs including the Canada Child Tax Benefit, the GST/HST credit, and the Ontario Trillium Benefit, which all pay cash when you qualify.
  2. To take advantage of certain tax credits like the Working Income Tax Benefit
  3. To recover any tax you may have overpaid from your pay cheque.

“If a tax return is not filed, the family may miss out on benefits that could help increase their income and decrease health inequities,” says Jill Umbach of the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force.  “There are some incredible volunteers that provide free tax services to people on low income all across Grey-Bruce. We encourage everyone to take advantage of these services to file this year’s and prior years’ taxes.”

Support in filing your taxes is a hugely important anti-poverty and health intervention.  The Canadian Revenue Agency supports programs that prepare taxes for low-income Canadians through its Community Volunteer Income Tax Program. Take advantage of the free tax clinics throughout Grey and Bruce.  A list of clinic dates, times and locations can be found by calling 211 or check on line at 211 Information Bruce Grey or The HealthLine.   For a listing prepared by the Poverty Task Force:  Volunteer Income Tax Clinics_Listing_March 2017

For More Information:

Jill Umbach

Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force
519-377-9406
jill.umbach@gmail.com