Are you interested in learning more about fair trade at York University and the world beyond? This Thursday, from 9:30 to 3:30pm, York University will host its annual Fair Trade Fair in the East Bear pit in Central Square.
The fair showcases a diverse range of vendors selling fair and sustainable products, including arts and crafts, clothing, coffee and chocolate. The event also serves as a forum for faculty, staff and students who are interested in learning more about fair trade.
What is fair trade?
On its website, Fair Trade Canada describes fair trade as a “way for all of us to identify products that meet our values so we can make choices that have a positive impact on the world.”
Over the years, the University has pursued a number of fair trade endeavours.
York’s own Las Nubes coffee (fair trade, organic and shade grown) is served at nine locations on both campuses. To know more about the Las Nubes project, visit the Las Nubes website.
Right: York’s Las Nubes coffee is shade grown in Costa Rica
Fair trade coffee and Rainforest Alliance tea is served at most coffee shops at York and can be ordered for catering. A number of campus locations serve fair trade coffee. The locations are: the Central Square Cafeteria, TEL Building Café, Winters Cafeteria, Stong Cafeteria, Freshii, the Osgoode Bistro, Glendon Café, Glendon Eurobaguette, and the Graduate Student Lounge.
The York University Bookstore now sells fair trade York t-shirts (which is a first for Canadian universities). The bookstore will be selling t-shirts at the fair. To learn more about the Bookstore’s fair trade t-shirt initiative, see YFile, Oct. 11, 2011.
York students have also demonstrated leadership in fair trade. The York Federation of Students Is committed to the Canadian Federation of Students’ Students for Sustainability campaign and is an active participant in many social justice and sustainability events and campaigns. As well, the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) is a co-sponsor of Thursday’s Fair Trade Fair and can be contacted by sending an e-mail to opirg@yorku.ca.
Coming in early 2012, York University will also be launching its new Sustainability Ambassadors program. To learn more, visit the President’s Sustainability Council website or e-mail sustainability@yorku.ca.