This report just in from Christy in Toronto:

Activists, polar bears and caribou paid a special visit Grand & Toy in downtown Toronto on Saturday.

RAN sent Grand and Toy CEO Gary Wood a two-page letter earlier last week highlighting the company’s involvement in the Grassy Narrows struggle, and requesting that it support the community’s call for a moratorium on logging. RAN is urging Grand and Toy (which sells paper manufactured from wood that comes from Grassy Narrows) to push the Ontario government to resolve the issue by issuing a statement of support for Grassy Narrows.

On Saturday, 12 of us paid a visit to one of Grand and Toy’s locations on a busy corner in downtown Toronto. Dressed as polar bears and caribou, we spent the afternoon handing out fliers with Gary Wood’s phone number and speaking with Grand and Toy customers—letting them know where their paper comes from and asking them to phone the company. A few of the animals—victims of the habitat loss caused by clearcut logging happening on Grassy Narrows’ traditional territory—also went inside to speak with the store’s manager. She patiently listened to our concerns and didn’t ask us to leave (even as we left fliers for future Grand and Toy customers).

Overall, we received a good response from customers—most of whom were shocked to hear where Grand and Toy’s paper comes from—and from the store manager, who assured us she would place a call to her regional manager. We’re still waiting from a response from Grand and Toy, but if we don’t, Grand and Toy will certainly be hearing from us!

Since Christy dispatched this report, I received a voice mail from an executive at one of Grand & Toy’s paper suppliers. He had heard about “our visit” to Grand & Toy, assured us that they were working with Grand & Toy to push for a solution with Government officials and thanked those involved for conducting themselves professionally.

Check back for pictures–just as soon as we get ‘em.
Here’s more pictures from the event (link)

Keep up the good work!