BTS Internal Structure
Our network includes:
- BTS’ community council, with representatives from local committees
- BTS’ steering committee
- Thematic committees such as the finance committee, personnel committee and fundraising committee
- Local committees throughout the Maritimes
Local Committees
BTS has local committees in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. These committees are the heart of BTS in Canada, and each committee works to promote the struggle for social justice in Guatemala in different ways.
Most local committees meet regularly to write urgent actions and plan educational activities in their community. Each of the local committees is also engaged in activities such as hosting Guatemalan guests during BTS speaking tours, sending participants on BTS delegations and serving on BTS’ Community Council. Many also support BTS through fundraising initiatives.
BTS Antigonish Committee
Photo: During International Women’s Day in Antigonish, marchers hold portraits of the 41 girls killed in a fire at the Hogar Virgen de la Asunción to commemorate the 2 year anniversary of the tragedy
The Antigonish committee has hosted a number of Guatemalan guests over the years. In 2019, for instance, they hosted Mayra Jimenez of Ocho Tijax for a number of events in partnership with the Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre. They have also hosted events like the 2019 “Solid Gold Hits” coffee house, the opening show for the Art After Dark festival Antigonight.
Each year, the BTS Antigonish Committee participates in Antigonish Film Festival, including partnering on film screenings focused on human rights issues in Guatemala like Finding Oscar, as well as selling coffee and baked goods as a fundraiser for BTS. They’ve made an annual commitment to fundraise to provide a bursary for a New Hope Foundation school student.
BTS’s intentional approach to solidarity with Indigenous struggles in this unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq has been a focus of this committee’s work. In 2019, BTS Antigonish members participated in the Mi’kma’ki Water Walk along the Shubenacadie River organised by Grassroots Grandmother and Water Protector Doreen Bernard. Members also participated in a reading of excerpts from the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Over the past 5 years, the Antigonish committee has worked with St FX students to advocate for the sale of BTS coffee at university cafes. Thanks to the collective efforts of a number of individuals, including BTSers, St FX’s central campus cafe finally began selling BTS coffee in the fall of 2019.
BTS Fredericton Committee
Photo: Mayra Jimenez of Ocho Tijax speaks in Fredericton in 2019
The BTS Fredericton committee has hosted a number of Guatemalan guests over the years, including Mayra Jimenez from Ocho Tijax in 2019. They also partnered with a number of local partners to host an art exhibit with portraits commemorating the 41 girls and teens killed in the Hogar Virgin de Asuncion fire. The opening event featured poetry by Mi’kmaq poet Melissa Beaulieu, and remarks by Gail Paul with the Indigenous Women’s Association of the Maliseet and Mi’kmaq Territory.
Over the years, BTS Fredericton members have organized popcorn and fair trade chocolate sales at local events such as the 48-Hour Film Competition and the Silver Wave Film Festival, with funds going to BTS’ Staffing Campaign. For a number of years, they also organized Noche Latina, a fundraiser in partnership with the Multicultural Association of Fredericton.
BTS Fredericton members have been engaged in supporting two newcomer families with precarious migration status to settle in Fredericton. This has included organizing food, clothing and monetary donations as well as providing the family with love and support, including a “Welcome to Fredericton” party in 2019.
BTS Halifax Committee
Photo: Volunteers selling BTS coffee at the Halifax Forum Farmers’ Market
The BTS Halifax committee has hosted a number of Guatemalan guests over the years, including Gloria Reyes from the Rabinal Legal Clinic in 2019. Gloria spoke alongside Indigenous lawyer Natalie Clifford, who drew parallels between issues faced in Guatemala and Canada.
Members are also engaged in selling BTS coffee at the Halifax Forum Farmers’ Market on Saturdays. The project, launched in November 2018, is coordinated by Susanne Litke with the support of about 16 volunteers. Funds are donated to BTS. JustUs! supports the project by supplying cups and lids and delivering orders weekly. In addition, bags of BTS coffee are sold to local offices and churches.
BTS North Shore Committee
Photo: In 2018, 16 teens and adults from Tatamagouche visited the New Hope High School in Guatemala
The BTS North Shore Committee has hosted a number of Guatemalan guests over the years, including Gloria Reyes of the Rabinal Legal Clinic in 2019. They’ve also hosted fundraising events like the highly successful BTS Benefit Concert with Dave Gunning and Garnet Rogers in 2018.
The North Shore Committee continues to support the development of a long term relationship between the New Hope Foundation and the Tatamagouche school and community, with leadership from Anne and Paul Martin, as well as Kathryn Anderson and Wilf Bean. This relationship began in June 2018 with a visit from New Hope Foundation Director Sandra Lopez and two students to the Maritimes. In August 2018, 16 teens and adults from Tatamagouche visited the New Hope High School. This relationship continued with the North Shore Committee hosting New Hope High School teacher Oswaldo Lopez and two students in 2019.
The North Shore Committee has worked for many years on the campaign to establish an Ombudsperson for the extractive sector, including meeting with their local MP Bill Casey and most recently, Lenore Zann.
BTS PEI Committee
Photo: Members of the BTS PEI committee participate in a 10 kilometer walk in association with the Bluenote Marathon event to raise funds for BTS.
The BTS PEI committee has hosted a number of Guatemalan guests over the years, including Gloria Reyes from the Rabinal Legal Clinic in 2019. The event was co-hosted by the UPEI Global Affairs 2019 Cohort Masters Program and garnered coverage from the Guardian Newspaper.
For two years in a row, the BTS PEI committee has participated in a 10 kilometer walk in association with the Bluenote Marathon event. In 2019, they raised almost $1000 for the BTS Network!
BTS PEI is also represented on Trade Justice PEI. As part of these activities, they hosted Clayton Thomas Muller from 350.Org for a public educational event focused on climate justice, Indigenous rights and trade in 2019. The event was well received with over 100 in attendance.
They have been engaged in advocacy with regards to the Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise (CORE), including meeting with local MPs on the need for the office to have investigative powers to compel documents and testimony.