Local students learned about fair trade, gave back to the community, and hosted a market for residents to do some early Christmas shopping.
Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) held their annual Coffee House and Fair Trade Market on Wednesday, Nov. 7.
“Each year, we bring in a whole bunch of vendors from all different places that are fair trade items to teach the kids about socially responsible shopping, and offer the community some fair trade items,” explained Lesley Ann Etter, teacher at BCHS.
For over 10 years, teachers and students involved in the school’s IMPACT leadership group have put on the event as a way of teaching their students and the community the importance of the fair trade market.
Grade 12 student and IMPACT member Erika Tienhaara has been volunteering since she started high school, and originally didn’t know about the market also featured a coffee house.
One of the teachers at BCHS baked all the sweets this year, while youth paired up with H.E. Bourgoin School students to give them a hand serving coffee and treats.
Angele Ducharme (back left), Paula Brosseau (front left), Cathy Ducharme (front right), and Genia Leskiw (back right) enjoy some hot drinks and sweets during the Fair Trade Market.
Residents of the community were able to browse and choose items from around the world, and even locally-sourced products.
“We tried to support some local community members, as well... We add that component every year,” Etter detailed.
Shoppers were serenaded with Christmas carols from local singer/songwriter Jessica Zaugg, and could purchase the BCHS cook book and local author Blaise Hunter’s novel ‘Herione.’
The main vendor, 10,000 Villages, has their proceeds going back to the artisans that created the products.
Tienhaara said, “The money that we get from the 10,000 Villages that we sell goes toward the countries that made it. It supports those countries.”
It was Mandy Watters’ first time attending the market. She was surprised to learn about the initiative.
“It’s pretty neat. It’s nice to see all the different things and I did ask one of the students where all the stuff came from. They did say from village ladies who’re raising money to build a school in their villages,” she expressed.
Watters plans to attend the event again in the future, noting there was a lot of good Christmas ideas offered.
“It’s nice to see the students getting involved to help someone else out, and to put on an event, not just to raise money, but to raise awareness,” Watters added.
Grade 12 student Megan Pitt displays a scarf to a potential customer.
The market teaches students about the importance of fair trade, while allowing the school to raise some money toward their own project.
“Any funds that we make from our ornament sales goes toward our education initiative in Kenya where we’re working to build a school there,” Etter explained.
