In honor of World Fair Trade Day, I thought I would introduce you to a small town located about two and a half hours south of Toronto (where I currently live!!!), which is a staunch supporter of all things Fair Trade.

Tucked away on the shores of Lake Erie, Port Colborne is a scenic town that sits on the southern most end of the Welland Canal.  Teeming with friendly people, a heightened sense of community, and a progressive air of social responsibility, it is a city worth visiting.  What really makes it stand out however, is its newly recognized status as Ontario’s first Fair Trade Town, a much deserved title awarded to the city by Trans Fair Canada’s Fair Trade Town Initiative.

Garstang, England became the world’s first Fair Trade Town in 2000, spearheaded by Oxfam Great Britain, because the community had a strong desire to support Fair Trade initiatives and products in an all encompassing way.   The idea spread like wildfire, with cities in 18 other countries spearheading their own efforts to create Fair Trade Towns within their borders.  Canadian initiatives came to fruition with the naming of the first Fair Trade Town in Canada, in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, on April 17^th, 2007.   Port Colborne soon followed with its own successful mission to become a designated Fair Trade Town, a status which became official on April 28^th, 2009.  Since then, eleven other Canadian cities have been awarded with the Fair Trade Town status, a hallmark of Canada’s own commitment to supporting Fair Trade on a national scale.

Six goals had to be met before Port Colborne, or any other Canadian city could become a Fair Trade Town.

1. The local council had to use Fair Trade Certified products and support Fair Trade Towns campaign.
2. Stores and restaurants had to serve Fair Trade Certified Products.
3. Workplaces, faith groups, and schools had to use and promote Fair Trade Certified Products.
4. Public awareness events and media coverage had to appear on Fair Trade and the campaign.
5. The creation of a steering committee was required for continued commitment.
6. Other ethical and sustainable initiatives had to be promoted within the community.

(from: Trans Fair Canada)

Port Colborne surpassed all of the elements that Trans Fair Canada required.  It is a city filled with people who care about their community, as well as local, national and global issues.  The fact that Port Colborne was able to gain the designation of being Ontario’s First Fair Trade Town did not come as a great surprise to local residents, who were already wholly committed to Fair Trade issues long before the idea of Fair Trade Towns came into play.

Walking down Clarence Street in Port Colborne’s main shopping district, you will come across a number of businesses which carry Fair Trade products, from the coffee at The Hub Café, or jewelry and countless other items at the wonderfully vibrant Ten Thousand Villages.  Biting into a Fair Trade chocolate bar, or swinging a just purchased Fair Trade shawl over your shoulder, you have not only indulged yourself a bit, but you have supported the work of talented artisans around the world, mainly women, and supported their earning of a fair wage, and a decent living.

I invite you all to come down to Port Colborne, and take a walk with me down its lovely streets.

Here are ten reasons why everyone should support Fair Trade:

Fair Trade is trade that people can count on. Fair Trade is committed to developing long term business partnerships, ensuring a consistent and reliable source of income for artisans and farmers.

Fair Trade empowers women. Fair Trade means that women’s work is properly valued and that they are empowered to take leadership within their organizations.

Fair Trade protects the environment.  Fair Trade supports practices that minimize environmental impact by using reclaimed or recycled materials, encouraging organic production and limiting shipment of product by air.

Fair Trade means fair pay and safe working conditions. Fair Trade products are made by adults working in safe and healthy environments where they receive a fair wage and have a voice in how their workplace is run.

Fair Trade connects with other cultures.  Fair Trade products reflect and preserve the distinct traditions and cultures of the people who make them.

Fair Trade builds sustainable local economies. Fair Trade gives artisans and farmers control over their future by allowing them to stay in their communities and to build their own businesses.

Fair Trade supports capacity building. Fair Trade provides a means through which to develop independence, improve management skills and increase access to new markets.

Fair Trade supports community development. Fair Trade supports workplace structures where workers invest in better housing, healthcare and education for their communities.

Fair Trade means high quality goods. Trade crafts are often made by hand, allowing artisans to give greater attention to detail and resulting in higher-quality products.

Fair Trade gives you a choice and a voice. Fair Trade allows you to access high quality products while making a conscious decision to support people who produce the things that you buy

(From: Ten Thousand Villages)

thinkGood.  Lingo:

Fair Trade: is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency and respect, that seeks greater equity in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers – especially in the South.

Sources:

Port Colborne, http://www.portcolborne.com/page/fair_trade_town.

Trans Fair Canada, http://transfair.ca/en/get-involved/fair-trade-towns.

Garstang, http://www.garstang.net/fairtrade.php.

Ten Thousand Villages, http://www.tenthousandvillages.ca/cgi-bin/category.cgi?category=0.

thinkGood. Guest Blogger: Rasheeda Ali

Do Good, Feel Good, Live Good

-Team thinkGood.

Tags: fair trade, Port Colborne, Ten Thousand Villages, World Fair Trade Organization

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 8th, 2010 at 10:41 am and is filed under Lingo, Shopping Bag. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.