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The Barrie Fair Trade Town InitiativeThe Fair Trade Towns initiative is new to Canada, adapted from the international campaign initiated in the United Kingdom. By becoming a Fair Trade Town we are confirming our community's commitment to supporting the principles of Fair Trade, and improving the livelihoods of millions of farmers and workers in the global South who benefit from the Fair Trade certification system. To become a Fair Trade Town, our community must achieve the goals outlined below. These goals encourage access to Fair Trade Certified products in the community, as well as increasing education and public awareness on the issue of Fair Trade. The Barrie Fair Trade Working Group (BFTWG) has set and objective for Barrie to qualify as a Fair Trade Town by May 1st, 2010. It is planned that an official announcement take place during international Fair Trade Weeks (May 1st to 15th) in 2010. Fair Trade Towns — a Brief HistoryThe concept of a Fair Trade Town was established in the UK in 1999 when local members of Oxfam in Garstang England decided to elevate local awareness of Fair Trade by establishing the concept of a Fair Trade Town. The campaign won the support of local businesses, churches, schools, town council and the local media. A criteria for qualification as a Fair Trade Town was created and made dependent on the number of retail stores and cafés supplying Fair Trade products in comparison with the population. There was also a requirement for support from local faith groups, schools and the town council. Upon satisfying the criteria, in 1999, town council declared Garstang a Fair Trade Town. By 2006 there were more than 200 Fair Trade towns in the UK and by 2009 this number had grown to 400, including Dublin, London and Edinburgh. Fair Trade Towns were also appearing throughout Europe, Australia, New Zealand and United States. San Francisco qualified in May 2009. In Canada, Wolfville, Nova Scotia was declared, by town council, as Canada's Fair Trade Town in 2007. Additional smaller communities such as, La Peche QC, Port Colborne ON, Gimli MB, and Golden, B.C. were added in 2009, but to date no cities of any significant size. More information is available at www.fairtradetowns.org and www.transfair.ca Requirements for Barrie to Qualify as a Fair Trade TownListed below are the six key requirements for Barrie to qualify as a Fair Trade City.
For further details download the Fair Trade Towns Action Kit (PDF: 1.8MB). How I Can HelpWrite a letter to: The Mayor, Members of Council of the City of Barrie and Circulation List. Request that the City of Barrie pursue and achieve Fair Trade Town status as per the requirements of TransFair Canada by May 1st, 2010. |
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