Massive Outreach Event
Thursday, January 22, 2009.
Downtown Toronto
The Massive Outreach Event (MOE) is an event where every delegate participates in a wide scale outreach activity to bring awareness about a particular theme to the general public. This year, the theme is Fair Trade. It is recommended that you read the Fair Trade Backgrounder once before the event.
Delegates will engage Torontonians by infiltrating the city’s downtown core during evening rush hour, introducing working professionals to the concept of Fair Trade. This will be carried out in 2 phases which are described below.
Phase One: The Freeze
At exactly 6:45pm, all delegates will freeze (physically stop moving) for one minute. Use this time to get Torontonians’ attention! Your pose should communicate a message about fair trade, but without using your voice. For example: freeze holding a cup of coffee and a sign comparing the price of a regular coffee and a fair trade coffee. Or, use your bodies to spell FAIR TRADE along the sidewalk.
You may work in small groups for your pose, or do it on your own. Just don’t forget to be creative! We will provide paper and markers to help you communicate your message if it’s a little abstract. But remember, you can’t block the sidewalks!
Tip: The more unusual you are, the more attention you’ll get.
Phase Two: Engage
After you un-freeze, it’s time to explain your message. Use whatever method is most effective: create a fair trade rap or shout fair trade questions and answers across the street to a partner so passer-bys can hear. Or you can simply stop people and talk about what Fair Trade is. You will have promo material and Fair Trade product samples to hand out (don’t forget to bring a bag or something to carry all this in!).
Tip: It’s easiest to talk to people at a stop light while they wait to cross the street.
Depending on the traffic and the weather, some buses may arrive downtown much earlier than 6:45pm. Make sure that you maximize your outreach time and begin engaging passer-bys until the time has come for the Freeze at 6:45pm. Every volunteer minute counts to make this outreach event as effective as possible!
What to Bring
- Winter clothes. Dress warmly and bring your winter clothes to the Thursday afternoon activities. Buses must depart EXACTLY at 4:30 pm to get downtown in time for rush hour, so there will not be time to return to your rooms.
- Don’t forget to also bring along a bag that can carry some flyers and Fair Trade chocolate samples that we will distribute to you on the bus ride to Toronto.
- Cash for supper. You will need to grab some supper after Phase 2 is complete.
- A cell phone, wrist watch, or any type of clock that is synchronized with the conference website clock. Everyone must freeze for one minute at exactly 6:45pm.
Important Information
- Be warned, Torontonians are notorious for giving causes like ours the cold shoulder. Getting them to listen is tough, but a warm smile and friendly demeanor goes a long way!
- It’s important to synchronize your clocks. The two phases must be enacted simultaneously by all delegates for the full effect to be captured by the media.
Dinner - 7:00 to 8:00pm
At about 7pm, you will have roughly 45 minutes to grab supper and quickly make your way to “The Quad” on the Ryerson University Campus, where we will celebrate the success of the MOE starting sharply at 8pm. Please refer to the downtown map for suggestions of quick and affordable places to eat.
MOE Party - 8:00 - 8:30pm
To get to “The Quad”, at the center of the Kerr Building on Ryerson Campus, first go to the Eaton Center. Then walk north on Yonge St. At Gould St., turn right and walk until you see a huge archway on your left.
The Wrap Up - 8:30 - 9:00pm
After the celebration, buses will shuttle delegates from this location back to the hotel. The last bus departs at 9:00pm sharp, so arrive on time. If you miss the last bus, there is unfortunately no easy way to get back to the Delta. The best option is:
- Go to the GO Bus Terminal at Union Station (between Yonge & Bay Streets just south of Front St.)
- Check the mounted TVs for the departure time and platform number for the bus that goes to the Meadowvale GO Station (Milton line). Note that the last departure from Union is at 1:20am (but arrive at least 10 minutes early to board the bus)
- It costs $6.45 for a one way ticket and the trip will be at least 1 hour
- From the GO Station, it is about a 30 min walk back to the hotel
- Walk along Milcreek Drive and turn left onto Erin Mills Pkwy (if you pass Aquitane Avenue, then you’re walking the wrong way on Milcreek Drive). Continue on Erin Mills Pkwy and it will merge and turn into Mississauga Road. Continue on Mississauga Road until you see the hotel (at Argentia Road).