We have some news we’re genuinely proud to share.
In May 2026, Freiheit Care Inc. was officially certified as a Champion Level Living Wage Employer by the Ontario Living Wage Network (OLWN) — the highest tier of living wage certification available in Ontario.
This isn’t a small administrative update. It’s a statement about who we are, how we treat people, and ultimately, the quality of care your family can count on.
In this post, we’re going to explain exactly what this certification means, why it matters — and how it directly benefits three groups of people: the seniors and loved ones in our care, the families who trust us, and the PSWs and nurses who are looking for an employer worth working for in Ottawa.
What Is a Living Wage — And What Makes “Champion Level” Different?
You may have heard the term “living wage” before. But it’s worth taking a moment to understand what it actually means, because it goes far beyond the minimum wage.
Minimum wage is the legal floor — the least an employer can pay by law.
A living wage is something different. It’s calculated based on the actual cost of living in a specific region — housing, food, transportation, childcare, and necessities. In Ottawa, that number is meaningfully higher than the provincial minimum wage. A living wage means an employee can cover their real expenses without financial stress, a second job, or choosing between groceries and rent.
Niveau Champion is the highest tier of certification within the Ontario Living Wage Network’s framework. It signals that an employer doesn’t just meet the living wage threshold — they go above and beyond in their commitment to fair compensation as a core organizational value.
In short: not every employer paying a living wage earns Champion status. We did.
Why We Made This Commitment: A Message From Our Founders
Freiheit Care was started in 2019 by Helen and Mark Reimer — not as a franchise, and not as a corporate venture. We started it because we believe deeply that the people who care for your loved ones deserve to be treated with the same dignity and respect as the people receiving that care.
Mark and Helen have always paid above-average wages. But achieving formal Champion Level certification by the Ontario Living Wage Network means that commitment is now independently verified, publicly recognized, and permanently embedded in how we operate.
“We have always believed that if you want caregivers who show up with a full heart, you have to make sure they’re not working a second job just to survive. Paying a living wage is not charity — it’s good sense, and it’s the right thing to do.”
For Ottawa Families: What This Certification Means for the Quality of Your Parent’s Care
If you’re searching for premium home care services in Ottawa for an aging parent or loved one, this section is for you.
The Problem With High Caregiver Turnover (And How It Harms Your Loved One)
The home care industry across Canada has a well-documented problem: high staff turnover. When caregivers are underpaid, overworked, or feel undervalued, they leave. And when caregivers leave, the person receiving care pays the price.
Think about what high turnover actually looks like from your parent’s perspective:
- A new face every few weeks, sometimes every few visits
- No one who knows their routines, their preferences, their fears
- Re-explaining medical history, dietary needs, and personality to strangers — repeatedly
- For a person living with dementia, this isn’t just inconvenient. It can be genuinely distressing and disorienting.
Consistency in caregiving isn’t a luxury. It’s a clinical and emotional necessity.
The Living Wage Chain of Care: How Fair Pay Leads to Better Outcomes
Here is the direct, logical chain that connects our Living Wage commitment to the quality of care your family receives:
We pay Living Wage (Champion Level)
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Caregivers feel financially secure and professionally valued
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Caregiver job satisfaction increases — burnout decreases
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Our caregivers stay with us longer
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Your loved one sees the same familiar face, week after week
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Trust builds. Routines form. Anxiety reduces.
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Better care. Better outcomes. More peace of mind for your family.
This isn’t theory. This is what our clients consistently tell us. In a recent review, Linda V. — who has worked with seven different home care agencies over seven years — said Freiheit Care is “by far the best” of all of them. One of the key reasons she cited? The consistency and quality of our team.
What This Means Specifically for Families in Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Orléans, and Vanier
Ottawa families are discerning. Many of the adult children who reach out to us are professionals — people who understand what quality standards and third-party certifications actually mean in the real world.
You’ve seen Living Wage certification on coffee shops and restaurants in Ottawa. You understand what it signals: this employer takes their people seriously.
Now, for the first time, you can apply that same signal to the person providing hands-on care to your parent.
When you choose Liberté des soins, you’re not just choosing a service. You’re choosing an agency where the caregiver is arriving at your parent’s door:
- Earns a wage that lets them live with dignity in Ottawa
- Isn’t distracted by financial stress or a second job
- Feels respected and supported by their employer
- Is far more likely to still be with us — and with your parent — six months from now
For Caregivers: Why Freiheit Care Is the Right Place to Work
If you’re a Personal Support Worker (PSW) or Registered Nurse (RN) in Ottawa looking for your next role, this section is written directly for you.
The Reality of Home Care Employment in Ottawa — And Why We’re Different
We won’t pretend the home care industry has always treated its workers fairly. Many agencies—particularly large national franchises — pay minimum wage, offer inconsistent hours, and make caregivers feel like interchangeable units rather than skilled professionals.
That is not who we are.
At Freiheit Care, we are:
- A Champion Level Living Wage employer — independently certified, not self-declared
- A small, family-run team — you will know the owners by name, and they will know yours
- An agency with RN oversight built into every care plan, which means you’re always supported, never working alone without clinical backup
- A workplace where flexible scheduling is real, not a promise that evaporates once you’re hired
- An employer where your calls are answered — by real people who know your situation
We hear it from our own team regularly. One nurse with 23 years of experience wrote this about working at Freiheit Care:
“I have not had the pleasure of working with such a compassionate and caring team. From the CEO to HR to payroll, I am treated with respect and made to feel that I am much more than a number. I can reach out to any of the management team, at any time, and am answered promptly.”
And from a former PSW on Indeed:
“Freiheit Care Inc. is a unique home care agency. The shift scheduling allows PSWs to provide quality care without being rushed. I enjoyed the independence of caring for clients in the community.”
What Champion Level Living Wage Certification Means for Your Paycheck
The Ontario Living Wage Network calculates the living wage rate based on the actual cost of living in Ottawa. Champion Level means we don’t just meet that threshold — we embrace it fully as part of how we operate.
For you, that means:
- Above-minimum-wage compensation that reflects your skills and the critical work you do
- Financial stability — you can focus on your clients, not on making ends meet
- The ability to build a long-term career at one agency, rather than juggling multiple employers
If you’ve been considering a move within Ottawa’s home care sector, we’d encourage you to look at what Champion Level certification actually signals — and compare it to what other agencies are offering.
We’re Hiring PSWs and RNs in Ottawa.
We are actively growing our team across Ottawa, including Kanata, Nepean, Orléans, Barrhaven, and surrounding areas. If you are a PSW or Registered Nurse who wants to work for an agency that values you — not just your availability — we’d love to hear from you.
For Ethically-Minded Families: The Corporate Social Responsibility Angle
Many of the families who choose Liberté des soins are professionals who think carefully about who they give their business to. You read labels. You support the local. You consider supply chains and labor practices—even when it’s inconvenient.
You already apply an ethical lens to where you shop, where you eat, and which companies you invest in.
Home care deserves the same scrutiny.
When you hire a home care agency, you are—indirectly—an employer. The wages that the agency pays, the conditions it creates, and the way it treats its workers—those things happen in your name, in your parent’s home.
Champion Level Living Wage certification means you can choose Freiheit Care with full confidence that:
- Every caregiver entering your parent’s home is paid fairly
- Your care dollars are not funding a race to the bottom on wages
- You are supporting an Ottawa-based, family-owned business that takes its obligations seriously
This is not a niche concern. Research consistently shows that employees who feel financially stable and professionally respected provide measurably better care. Fair wages are not separate from quality — they are part of it.
Freiheit Care at a Glance
- Champion Level Living Wage Employer — certified May 2026
- Family-owned and operated — founded by Helen and Mark Reimer in 2019
- RN-led care — registered nurse oversight on all care plans
- Consistent caregivers — same familiar face for your loved one
- Fully vetted team — insured, bonded, police-checked
- Free Consultation — no-obligation phone consultation
We serve families across Ottawa, including Kanata, Nepean, Orléans, Vanier, Barrhaven, and surrounding areas.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
For Families: Book Your Free Consultation
If you’re exploring home care options for a parent or loved one in Ottawa, we’d love to speak with you. Our free assessment is a no-obligation phone call where we listen carefully to your situation, answer your questions honestly, and build a tailored care recommendation — at no cost and no pressure.
📞 Call us: 613-518-8258 | 📧 Email: info@freiheit.ca