King's receives fair trade campus designation

King’s University College is proud to receive a 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).

To celebrate this achievement, everyone is invited to the Grand Opening of King’s Fair Trade cafe on September 26, 2017, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. to learn more about the designation, what else we're doing, and where you can find Fair Trade products on campus. As well, there will be samples, games and a door prize. This will be another opportunity to submit a suggested name 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 Fair Trade coffee, tea and chocolate to support workers and farmers in the global south to obtain fair and equitable pricing for their products.
• We have 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.
• We are committed to Fair Trade education on the King's campus, and will do events that promote the Fair Trade products and Fair Trade Campus Program throughout the academic year.
• All coffee on campus is Fair Trade Certified (Student Life Centre, Thames Market and all on campus catering).
• A selection of Fair Trade 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.”

The Fair Trade Campus is a program of Fairtrade Canada, managed in partnership with CFTN
and the Association québécoise du commerce équitable. It recognizes colleges,
CEGEPs and universities demonstrating strong commitment to fair trade from its stakeholders,
including administration, food service providers, and student unions and associations.