Make Your Town Fair!

In order to become a Fair Trade Town, communities must attain the following 6 goals. While these goals represent significant objectives to achieve, it is encouraged to go beyond the basic requirements.

1) Local Authority Support

- Local city council passes a resolution in support of Fair Trade.
- Local government agrees to purchase only Fair Trade Certified tea, coffee and sugar, and other Fair Trade Certified products for all meetings and events.
- Local city council allocates Fair Trade Town responsibilities to a member of staff or committee to ensure continued commitment to its Fair Trade Town status.

2) Fair Trade Certified products availability in shops and cafés

- At least 1 retail outlet per 5000 of local stores and supermarkets (retail outlets) offer two or more Fair Trade Certified products.
- At least 1 catering outlet per 10 000 of local restaurants and cafes (catering outlets) serve two or more Fair Trade Certified products.

3) Support of Local Workplaces, Faith Groups and Schools

- A number of local workplaces serve and promote Fair Trade Certified products.
- A number of local religious institutions serve Fair Trade Certified products and promote Fair Trade through educational and promotional activities.
- A number of local schools and universities offer Fair Trade Certified products and promote Fair Trade through educational programs and awareness-raising activities.

4) The Media and General Public

- There is media coverage and public support for the campaign. Events are organized to promote awareness about Fair Trade issues as well as to celebrate the campaign, the businesses and organizations involved, and the goals as they are achieved. Fair Trade Town events are promoted in newspaper articles, radio, TV and on list-serves.

5) Working Together to Sustain the Momentum

- A local Fair Trade steering group is convened to ensure continued commitment to its Fair Trade Town status. This group must include a wide representation of community members and should ideally include a council representative, campaigners, and people representing the area’s schools, churches and businesses.
i. The group commits to develop and achieve two additional targets per year.
ii. The group is responsible for submitting an annual progress assessment to TransFair Canada to monitor whether the area is continuing to meet the six goals as well as the two additional targets.
iii. The group organizes events for National Fair Trade Weeks in May.

6) Ethical and Sustainable Consumption

- Other initiatives are undertaken within the community to raise awareness of and promote sustainable consumption and ethical purchasing. These may include events and programs to reduce overall consumption and to promote organic, sweatshop-free, energy-efficient, and locally produced goods, etc.

Once all six goals are met, TransFair Canada will accredit our town with Fair Trade status both by placing an indicator on their website and by presenting a certificate. They encourage all Fair Trade Towns to hold a local celebration to demark their ascension to a Fair Trade Town. For an event of this size, TransFair will most likely be able to provide resources and support to ensure the event’s publicity and success.

Do you live in a town and want to help us raise awareness? Please contact us! If you need posters for your workplace, faith based group, or any community group, please let us know and we will be happy to provide you with them!

For more information and/or to help make your town a Fair Trade Town, contact us at fairtown@slaverysucks.com