September 26, 2017 | London, ON – King’s University College is proud to receive Fair Trade Campus designation in recognition of its efforts serving 100% Fairtrade coffee alongside an offering of Fairtrade teas and chocolate. King’s becomes the latest campus to earn the Fair Trade Campus Designation from the Canadian Fair Trade Network (CFTN), Fairtrade Canada and the Association québécoise du commerce équitable (AQCE).
To celebrate this achievement, everyone was invited to the Grand Opening of King’s Fair Trade cafe to learn more about the designation, what else is going on around campus, and where you can find fair trade products on campus. As well, there were samples, games and a door prize. It was a great opportunity for students to submit a name suggestion for the new cafe – with the winner receiving a year of free fair trade coffee or tea.
Fair trade products are offered in the new campus cafe in the Student Life Centre, in the Thames Market cafeteria and via campus catering as supplied by Aramark. A committee consisting of staff and students worked together to ensure that King’s met the requirements of the designation including the following:
- King’s Food Services is committed to purchasing Fairtrade coffee, tea and chocolate to support workers and farmers in the global south to obtain fair and equitable pricing for their products.
- They partnered with a local coffee roaster (Fire Roasted Coffee) to bring the King’s community fair trade locally roasted blends to the new Student Life Centre Cafe.
- King’s is committed to fair trade education on campus, and will do events that promote the fair trade products and the Fair Trade Campus Program throughout the academic year.
- All coffee on campus is Fairtrade Certified (Student Life Centre, Thames Market and all on campus catering).
- A selection of Fairtrade tea and chocolate is available at all locations.
This designation and increased fair trade options furthers King’s initiatives towards creating a sustainable campus. It supports students, staff and faculty in making food choices that align with their personal justice values and taste great.
“Our students are passionate and knowledgeable about food when they arrive on our campuses,” says Corrie Bird, marketing and communications manager with Aramark at King’s. “We want to support and ignite this passion with the continued education and discussion of our fair trade practices.”
“I am excited to celebrate King’s University College becoming Canada’s 28th Fair Trade Campus! Joining the University of Western Ontario, I am convinced the two campuses will accomplish great things together! I am extremely inspired by the positive changes happening on campuses across the country and I can’t wait to see how we can change the world as a collective,” says Sean McHugh, Executive Director, Canadian Fair Trade Network.
“A huge congratulations to King’s University College on becoming Canada’s 28th Fair Trade Campus! Becoming a Fair Trade Campus requires commitment and the hard work of a committed team. The King’s University team has demonstrated passion and enthusiasm towards fairness and social justice for Fairtrade farmers of the Global South. We’re delighted that the University will be joining the ever-growing Fair Trade Campus community”, says Mélissa Dubé, Outreach and Marketing Manager, Fairtrade Canada.
“The commitment to the values of social justice is a defining characteristic of a King’s University College education. King’s teaches its students how to understand and respond, with intelligence and compassion, to the realities and challenges of this world. By becoming a Fair Trade Campus, the University is showing its solidarity and encouraging the autonomy and development of the communities in the South. Congratulations!”, says Loïc de Fabritus, Project Manager for the Association québécoise du commerce équitable.