News Update

Manitoba wins big at Canadian Fairtrade Awards

Posted September 23rd 2015

Fairtrade Canada held it’s Canadian Fairtrade Awards last Thursday in Toronto, where Manitoba was recognized as being a leader in this important and growing movement. Zack Gross, Fair Trade Outreach Coordinator for Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC), was awarded the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award.

“Fairtrade Canada was thrilled to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to Zack Gross at the 2015 Canadian Fairtrade Awards. He is recognized in the industry and across the country for his outstanding work and commitment in raising awareness and promoting fair trade, as well as his support of Fairtrade certified products,” says Lisa Zentner, Director of Marketing & Communications for Fairtrade Canada. “Zack is a persistent advocate with a big heart, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration and exciting initiatives with such a long-standing, fair trade leader.”

It’s common for people that Zack doesn’t know to come up to him and say, “Aren’t you the fair trade guy?”. He starts conversations with politicians and journalists with the line: “I worked with your father”, Zack is also known for always carrying a large supply of mini fair trade chocolates with him to hand out at meetings, and for being the hardest working man in Fair Trade.

Thanks to Zack, Fair Trade Manitoba has built strong linkages with municipal and provincial government, with campuses and schools, non-profits and the business community. Gimli and Brandon are now Fair Trade Towns and Winnipeg is close to a Council Resolution to become a Fair Trade City. Several post-secondary campuses are working toward Fair Trade status, as are some schools, and fair trade procurement is on the agendas of many institutions and businesses.