The Fair Trade Fair at ESG United Church is a sale of items created by Fair Trade Vendors. These vendors are invited to sell their items before and after the church service. Each vendor makes a small contribution based on their total sales and these funds are used for ESG’s outreach work. This year, the Fair-Trade Fair event will take place on Sunday 4th December in the gym on the lower level. Enjoy some Fair-Trade coffee from ESG’s Coffee Bar while shopping for holiday gifts.
Shopping hours are from 9:30 am – 10:30 am and continue from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm.

Meet Our Fair Trade Vendors

Talis

Talis was formed in 2001 out of a deep wish to be an integral link in the process of elevating marginalized artisans out of poverty through their traditional handicrafts. Talis has been dedicated to preserving the indigenous art forms of Thailand and Cambodia by bridging traditional techniques with western aesthetics and establishing inroads to the larger western marketplace ever since. Talis has been following fair trade principles in its business practices since the very beginning and, as of January, 2018, it officially broadened the ranks of Fair-Trade Federation Members.

Items: Ethically Sourced Artisan Silks, Silver Jewelry and Upcycled Accessories From: Thailand & Cambodia
https://shop.talis.ca

Zatoun

Zatoun is a unique project offering fair trade olive oil from Palestine to connect people in North America to the history, culture and challenges of the Palestinian people and the land of Palestine.  Started in 2004, Zatoun use symbolic and cultural products from Palestine to raise awareness of a very troubled land desperately needing a just resolution for the sake of world peace.

Items for sale: Olive Oil from Palestine and dried oregano
https://zatoun.com

Old Orchard Blossoms Grandmothers Group

Inspired by the amazing African grandmothers at the Grandmothers Gathering in Toronto, in 2006, a handful of women at St. Timothy’s Anglican Church decided to support the work of the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) and its Grandmothers Campaign (G2G). As an extension of the Outreach Committee, our mandate is to raise awareness of the grandmothers’ supportive role in the HIV/AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa and to raise funds to assist grassroots projects run by and for grandmothers supporting their grandchildren and other orphans created by this pandemic. These amazing African grandmothers are central to the life of their communities and to a whole generation of children.

Items for sale: greeting cards,  jewellery, home decor

http://www.oldorchardblossoms.ca/

She Sells Sanctuary Socially Ethical Himalayan Handicrafts

In 2014,  Shelley Snow founded:  She Sells Sanctuary Socially Ethical Himalayan Handicrafts. Each year from January – March,  Shelley travels to Nepal where she works with over 20 fair trade groups that produce beautiful handicrafts that support a wide variety of artisans, charities, NGOs and women’s groups.

Items for Sale: hand felted Christmas ornaments, felt hand and finger puppets, hand loomed cashmere blankets, cashmere scarves, and Tibetan ponchos.

 https://www.shesellssanctuaryhimalayanhandicrafts.com/

Progoti

Progoti is a social enterprise clothing brand. They offer men’s and women’s wear at cost, covering only their expenses with an option for voluntary contributions. With these contributions they buy individual life and pension policies for garment workers in Bangladesh. They are presently covering for 22 workers policies.

https://www.progoti.ca/