SFU Blazes the Way for Other Institutions

May 31, 2012

Publiciation:  fairtrade.ca

Simon Fraser University (SFU) recently made headlines in Vancouver as Canada’s second Fair Trade Campus. While UBC also celebrated its one-year anniversary as a certified campus, SFU’s designation could be a more significant marker for institutional change in Canada.

Unlike UBC, which handles its food services in-house — and even produces many of its food products on campus — SFU outsources its food service contracts to the large multinational food company, Chartwells. It’s a scenario more typical of other institutions across Canada.

	Students dressed up as "Justice League" superheroes, invite SFU President Andrew Petter to make the university a Fair Trade Campus

What Does it Mean?

As a Fair Trade Campus, SFU has committed to serving Fair Trade coffee and tea on its three campuses in accordance with Fairtrade Canada’s guidelines. These guidelines stipulate that all of coffee served by university-controlled food contractors must be 100 percent Fair Trade certified, and that a minimum of three Fair Trade teas be made available at all food venues. The Simon Fraser Student Society was an early partner with this changeover and now sells only Fair Trade coffee in its student-run food venue.

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