Wal-Town
The Wal-Town Project began in 2004 as an effort to examine, expose and ultimately resist the negative impact that multinational retailers such as Wal-Mart have on Canadian communities, as well as international implications around Human Rights, labour and exploitation.
As Wal-Mart has grown to cover Canada from coast-to-coast, (a new store being built every two weeks since it's arrival in 1990)little has been done to examine the devastating impacts it has had on local communities, workers and the company’s overseas workers and suppliers.
Through extensive research, public outreach and actions at Wal-Mart stores themselves, we engage Canadians in a broader discussion on the elements of Wal-Mart's market domination and how we can build local alternatives that foster re-investment in communities, better working conditions and support for Human Rights internationally.
In 2004 and 2005, we traveled across Canada on two separate tours, speaking with a wide-array of people: Wal-Mart employees, Wal-Mart shoppers, citizens against Wal-Mart, community activists, and others. We brought our message to Wal-Mart stores themselves, handing out information and performing street theatre to engage passers-by in dialogue about Wal-Mart.
In the winter of 2006 Sergeo Kirby released his new film that documents our project, called "Wal-Town: The Film." The documentary has had wide success, selling out at international festivals and garnering rave reviews in the mainstream and alternative press.
We continue to carry out research and to work on the establishment of a country-wide resource known as the Wal-Mart Information Network (WIN). By working with many groups and individuals and sharing our stories of local successes, we believe we can form alternatives to shopping at Wal-Mart and thus stop our communities from turning into “Wal-Towns.”
For more info on this project or the film, please go to the Wal-Town site, or see the contact info below.
Wal-Town website: www.waltown.com
Contact: Tim McSorley, Project Coordinator, tim@uberculture.org
As Wal-Mart has grown to cover Canada from coast-to-coast, (a new store being built every two weeks since it's arrival in 1990)little has been done to examine the devastating impacts it has had on local communities, workers and the company’s overseas workers and suppliers.
Through extensive research, public outreach and actions at Wal-Mart stores themselves, we engage Canadians in a broader discussion on the elements of Wal-Mart's market domination and how we can build local alternatives that foster re-investment in communities, better working conditions and support for Human Rights internationally.
In 2004 and 2005, we traveled across Canada on two separate tours, speaking with a wide-array of people: Wal-Mart employees, Wal-Mart shoppers, citizens against Wal-Mart, community activists, and others. We brought our message to Wal-Mart stores themselves, handing out information and performing street theatre to engage passers-by in dialogue about Wal-Mart.
In the winter of 2006 Sergeo Kirby released his new film that documents our project, called "Wal-Town: The Film." The documentary has had wide success, selling out at international festivals and garnering rave reviews in the mainstream and alternative press.
We continue to carry out research and to work on the establishment of a country-wide resource known as the Wal-Mart Information Network (WIN). By working with many groups and individuals and sharing our stories of local successes, we believe we can form alternatives to shopping at Wal-Mart and thus stop our communities from turning into “Wal-Towns.”
For more info on this project or the film, please go to the Wal-Town site, or see the contact info below.
Wal-Town website: www.waltown.com
Contact: Tim McSorley, Project Coordinator, tim@uberculture.org
