fair trade town
Attaining Fair Trade Town Status
The goal of Fair Trade Calgary is to help Calgary attain Fair Trade Town Status.
Fair Trade Town is a designation that acknowledges the leadership and commitment of Canadian municipalities. Only products and producers can be certified Fairtrade.
Once we achieve the required number of businesses, schools our plan is to submit our application to Fair Trade International
Fair Trade Town is a designation that acknowledges the leadership and commitment of Canadian municipalities. Only products and producers can be certified Fairtrade.
Once we achieve the required number of businesses, schools our plan is to submit our application to Fair Trade International
Learn more...
Read the Fair Trade Town Action Guide:
Read the Fair Trade Town Action Guide:

fair_trade_town_action_guide_20170815.pdf |
The Requirements
In order for Calgary to apply for Fair Trade Town Status, we must meet the following requirements, as set out by Fairtrade Canada.
Steering Committee
- A local Fair Trade Town Steering Committee must be formed to ensure continued commitment to the local Fair Trade Town designation. Typically, a Fair Trade Town Steering Committee will be comprised of both active community volunteers and a group of leadership members.
- Community volunteers will meet regularly to carry out daily operations, while the official steering committee is required to meet only twice per year to review and set annual targets.
Community Support
- At least 59 local community groups, workplaces, or schools must support Fairtrade and the campaign through awareness-raising activities.
- Local community groups, workplaces or schools must support fair trade and the local Fair Trade Town campaign in their operations, through education programs, or through other awareness-raising activities.
Product Availability
- At least 133 Calgary retail and grocery locations must offer at least two (2) Fairtrade certified products.
- At least 67 Calgary restaurants, cafes and other food service locations must offer at least two (2) Fairtrade certified products.
- A list must be submitted for product availability that includes the following information: store names and locations, a list of Fairtrade certified products sold for each location, including brand names, and contact information of the selling location.
Public Awareness and Education
- There must be a record of media engagement through the campaign, including media lists, press releases, and record of any pickup. Public events must be organized to raise awareness of fair trade and the local campaign for designation.
- There must be an online resource to the community that provides information on fair trade and any development that occur within the community.
POLITICAL SUPPORT
- The local municipal authority must pass a resolution in support of fair trade and the local campaign for Fair Trade Town designation.
- The resolution must include commitments to amend its purchasing policy to require Fairtrade certification for all coffee, tea and sugar served by municipal food services managed by municipal administration, identify future goals for sourcing Fairtrade certified products, designate a council or staff member to participate in a Fair Trade Town Steering Committee to ensure ongoing support, and public campaign/ designation information on the municipality’s website.