Unique coconut shelled bowls from Vietnam are an example of the many products for sale at Global Village Nanaimo. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

fair trade

Global Village Nanaimo weathers pandemic to support worldwide fair trade producers

Nov 9, 2021 | 5:25 AM

NANAIMO — A beloved local fair trade store in operation for nearly a quarter century returned despite numerous bumps in the pandemic road.

Global Village Nanaimo opened its pop-up location for a 24th year at Rock City Centre in September, featuring a range of ethically produced goods produced in impoverished countries.

“Global Village Nanaimo supports fair trade artisans around the world. We seek out and support the cooperatives who are providing employment that is fair, which includes 10 basic principles,” Executive director Joan Hiemstra told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Providing a fair wage, protecting the environment and no forced labour are a few of the core principles GVN abides by while doing business with an extensive list of cooperatives and individual producers.

Everything from clothing, backpacks, rugs, kitchen accessories, to jewelry, coffee and soaps are available, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. through Dec. 24.

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Hiemstra said supply chain challenges prevented obtaining certain products from countries such as India and Bangladesh, forcing GVN to rely more heavily on South American producers.

Other manufacturers aren’t in business anymore since the pandemic gripped the world, Hiemstra said.

GVN is entirely volunteer run, which Hiemstra said strives to make repeated orders to provide a level of certainty for valued producers.

“Each group includes anywhere from one or two families to hundreds of artisans. As far as the number of products we’ve still got a very full store, we’ve been able to keep our stock levels up, so thousands of different products here.”

Volunteers stepped up to ensure GVN’s seasonal store remains staffed, while a loyal customer base helps keep their clients in business, Hiemstra said.

“Every dollar spent impacts the kind of world we’re living in,” she added.

Additional products currently tied up in various shipping bottlenecks are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

Penny MacMillan of Nanaimo visited GVN and purchased several items on Monday, Nov 8.

She felt empowered while buying a pair of Christmas cards.

“This purchase helps me support women and their families that are living in the slums of Thailand.”

She also bought slippers from Nepal.

“Everything here is presented in a colourful, artsy manner. It helps many families,” MacMillan said.

More information on GVN including purchasing from the non-profit’s an online store can be found here.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes