History of the Fair Trade Programs

• 1994

  1994

  Fair Trademark Canada, now known as Fairtrade Canada, is founded as a volunteer-based organization. The first certified products available in Canada are coffee, tea, chocolate, and sugar. While most licensed products now use our international logo, the original “bucketboy” trademark is still owned by Fairtrade Canada and can be spotted across Canada.

• 2006

  2006

  Fairtrade Canada launched the Fair Trade Towns Program in 2006, with Wolfville, NS, being the first community to be designated.

• 2010

  2010

  The criteria for the Fair Trade Campus Program were developed in partnership with the University of British Columbia.

• 2011

  2011

  The Canadian Fair Trade Network (CFTN) was founded and, a short time later, partnered with Fairtrade Canada to co-manage the Fair Trade Programs and to advance, support, and advocate for the fair trade movement in Canada.

• 2013

  2013

  Full Fair Trade Town and Campus Program materials were developed by CFTN in 2013/14. This included guides, requirement summary sheets, pamphlets, project plans, audit sheets, application, and renewal forms.

• 2014

  2014

  CFTN developed two new Programs in partnership with Fairtrade Canada in 2014. The Fair Trade Schools Program was implemented with funding acquired through the Lush Charity Pot Program. The Fair Trade Event Program was developed in partnership with Manitoba Council for International Co-operation and the Vancouver International Soccer Festival.

• 2016

  2016

  L’Association québécoise du commerce équitable (AQCÉ) became a Fair Trade Programs partner in 2016, leading the growth and operational management of Programs in Quebec. The Fair Trade Workplace and Faith Group Programs were also implemented that year.

• 2018-2020

  2018-2020

  Requirements for Fair Trade Campus Silver & Gold Status are developed and launched. The University of Toronto Mississauga becomes the first Fair Trade Campus to achieve the Silver status in November 2019, and Simon Fraser University is the first Fair Trade Campus to achieve the Gold status in September 2020.

• 2022

  2022

  The management of the Fair Trade Programs is handed over to Fairtrade Canada. An independent Fair Trade Programs Advisory Committee composed of representatives of the grassroots movement is created to advise Fairtrade Canada on the strategic direction of the Programs.