Village International encourages global shopping

BY BILL BRADLEY

Workers, wherever they may live, deserve fair wages. That's why so many people put their money where their convictions are and shop at Village International Sudbury (VIS).

If we as a community support workers here who desire fair wages, why should we not support the same for others in developing countries, asked Claire-Lucie Brunet and Pauline Loyer of Village International, 139 Durham St. The fair trade store has a promotion every Saturday until Christmas to encourage shoppers to support fair trading practices from producers in Third World countries.

"I have had an interest in Village International since 2000. I strongly believe in the fair trade items being sold here," said Brunet. "I have a sister who lives in El Salvador. She has who has been living there 25 years. I have encouraged artisans there and elsewhere to make use of the fair trade concept and sell their wares here for us to buy and also to support their work, paying them a fair wage for the beautiful hand crafted work they do.

Brunet, who is president of the VIS, picked up some Christmas presents last Saturday: a lampshade from India, fair trade coffee from Bolivia and Ethiopia, and two necklaces from Mexico.

"Every Saturday, from now until Christmas, the store, its shelves overflowing with a variety of fair trade items from all over the world, is treating its customers to dessert and fair trade coffee and tea," said Loyer, who is the store manager.

"Come and see our unique gift ideas: healing lamps, tree free gift bags and cards, Sudbury Food Bank cards, African masks, salad spoons from the Serengeti, soapstone boxes, onyx boxes, instruments of every kind from pen flutes, waterbird whistles, drums and much more."

The best part is the items are guilt free involving no sweatshop child labour, no lead in toys or jewelry, and all is fair trade, she said. "The women in the developing countries get paid a fair living wage for their work thus being able to feed their children and put a roof over their heads," said Loyer.

Village International has been located downtown for the past three and half years.

"We found the former location was not a good fit for us. We were struggling. So we moved downtown to Durham St. where our business has grown. A lot of our customers do not have cars, so our location downtown is perfect. We also get a lot of traffic from being across from the YMCA and Parkside Older Adult Centre," said Loyer.

In fact, one patron of the Parkside OAC, Yvette Bisaillon, also volunteers at Village International.

"Yvette, who is 71, helped us out so much at the store that we awarded her Volunteer of the Year award. We also get high school volunteers as part of their community service requirements."

Village International is open Monday to Saturday 10 am to 6 pm. For more information, phone 524-2999.