A recent sale of fair trade items attracted a large group of shoppers as well as support from the community.
In the basement of the Canora United Church, Helga Zbeetneff organized for various products from the company Ten Thousand Villages to be available for purchase on November 26.
The event attracted approximately 80 people who came to admire and purchase products, which included books, CDs, wooden puzzle boxes, holiday decorations, scarves, and jewelry. Coffee, tea and chocolate were also available for people to sample and purchase.
“The community is very supportive,” Zbeetneff said of the sale’s success.
Zbeetneff added that she tries to organize a sale such as this one every two years.
Ten Thousand Villages is the oldest and largest fair trade organization in North America, according to information from the company’s website. Fair trade is a concept in which producers in developing countries are paid fair prices. Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit organization in which artisans in 29 countries are able to sell their wares through long-term fair trade agreements. It currently is celebrating its 70th anniversary with 37 permanent locations and many other festival sales, such as Zbeetneff’s, across Canada.
