Winnipeg, MB – The City of Winnipeg has officially joined other major Canadian cities in being designated a Fair Trade Town.
“I’m thrilled that Winnipeg has received this designation that confirms our commitment to supporting the principles of fair trade,” said Brian Mayes, Chair of the Standing Policy Committee on Water and Waste, Riverbank Management and the Environment. “Fair trade improves the lives of millions of farmers and workers worldwide, and encourages consumers to make ethical food choices. This is a great step forward in Winnipeg’s sustainability efforts.”
A Fair Trade Town is any community in which people and organizations use their everyday choices to increase sales of Fairtrade-certified products and bring about positive change for farmers and workers in developing countries. There are 24 Canadian cities and towns that are designated Fair Trade Towns, including Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto, as well as Brandon, Selkirk and Gimli. The Fair Trade Town Program is managed by the Canadian Fair Trade Network and Fairtrade Canada.
As a key commitment of the Fair Trade Town designation, the City of Winnipeg will only serve Fairtrade certified coffee, tea, and sugar at municipal food services managed by municipal administration.
The Fair Trade Town designation supports City Council’s unanimous vote on April 27, 2011 that the Winnipeg Public Service incorporate more environmentally and socially sustainable procurement practices. Becoming a Fair Trade Town supports and affirms City’s values, such as sustainability and economic fairness at both the local and global levels.
For more information on the Fair Trade Town designation, please see winnipeg.ca/sustainability