Macdonald Campus of McGill University Named Canada’s 37th Fair Trade Campus!
PRESS RELEASE - October 22, 2019
Fair Trade Canada is pleased to announce that the Macdonald Campus of McGill University has become a Fair Trade Designated Campus!
In fact, Macdonald Campus is joining the McGill University Downtown Campus and the Town of Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue in their efforts to weave the Fair Trade philosophy within the academic community, and facilitate the choice and use of Fair Trade certified products. With its Fair Trade Campus designation, Macdonald Campus aspires to increase partnerships and awareness about Fairtrade among students, student societies, clubs and staff.
Presently, the main outlets for Fairtrade products are through student-run initiatives such as Buy Your Own Bulk (BYOB), a non-profit organization selling affordable, sustainable organic food in bulk to Macdonald Campus community, the Out-of-the-Garden Project (OGP), a student-run cafe, and the TWIGS Cafe. As BYOB continues to grow semester after semester, there are plans for it to become the local source of fairtrade dried goods, such as coffee, sugar and chocolate, for all events organized on campus. In fact, large student societies such as the Dietetics and Human Nutrition Undergraduate Society (DHNUS) and the Macdonald Campus Student Society (MCSS) host annual events that cater to hundreds of students and would have an important outreach in terms of promoting fairtrade. Further, all vending machines on campus now offer a Fair Trade chocolate option. Increasing Fair Trade product availability on Campus has empowered students and staff to use their purchasing power to make a positive change with regards to the trade industry, where every purchase counts as a vote supporting ethical and fair production in farming communities of the global south.
“Becoming a Fair Trade campus is an amazing progression for our campus, as it allows us to consider social and environmental sustainability into everything we do. On top of that, we’ll be able to grow our awareness and education of these pressing issues year to year”, says Mary Bergen, 2019-2020 President of the MCSS.
The Fairtrade Campus Designation is very meaningful to Macdonald Campus, as it is the home of the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Specifically, this campus is a unique and multidisciplinary community of individuals that brings together knowledge in the domains of health, environment, food and nutrition, bioproducts, biotechnology and agriculture.
Students at Macdonald campus study global food security, food science and nutrition, agriculture, bioresource engineering, and environment, all of which go hand in hand with the social, environmental, ethical and economic impact of the Fairtrade certification.
“The idea that what we do on campus will help make life better in the communities we touch is central to all of our teaching and research in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Being a Fair Trade Designated Campus is a tangible expression of our commitment to support the people around the world that produce the food we eat.” says Jim Fyles, Associate
Dean (Student Affairs)
“Congratulations to McGill Macdonald Campus for their hard work and commitment to fairness and sustainability. Welcome to the Fair Trade family, as Canada’s 37th Fair Trade Designated Campus!” Sean McHugh – Executive Director, Canadian Fair Trade Network.
“Congratulations to Macdonald Campus of McGill University on your Fair Trade Campus designation! You are joining a growing community of campuses who play a vital role in Canada’s fair trade movement. Your commitments to justice and sustainability have an impact on families and communities around the world.” Fouzia Bazid - Project manager at l’Association Québécoise du commerce équitable.
“Congratulations to Macdonald Campus of McGill University! Your Fair Trade Campus designation reflects your continued engagement towards sustainable agriculture and an equitable food system. It is inspiring to see the strong connections between your work here at home and the work of Fairtrade farmers in the Global South.” Julie Francoeur - Executive Director, Fairtrade Canada