diff --git a/www/conservancy/local_context_processors.py b/www/conservancy/local_context_processors.py
index 654c60ca..36affb6e 100644
--- a/www/conservancy/local_context_processors.py
+++ b/www/conservancy/local_context_processors.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
+from __future__ import unicode_literals
+
 from datetime import datetime as DateTime
-from pytz import utc as UTC
 
 import conservancy.settings
 from conservancy.apps.fundgoal.models import FundraisingGoal as FundraisingGoal
@@ -20,9 +21,9 @@ def sitefundraiser(request):
     }
 
 if conservancy.settings.FORCE_CANONICAL_HOSTNAME:
-    _HOST_URL_VAR = {'host_url': 'https://' + conservancy.settings.FORCE_CANONICAL_HOSTNAME}
+    _HOST_URL_VAR = {'host_url': u'https://' + conservancy.settings.FORCE_CANONICAL_HOSTNAME}
     def host_url(request):
         return _HOST_URL_VAR
 else:
     def host_url(request):
-        return {'host_url': request.build_absolute_uri('/').rstrip('/').decode('utf-8')}
+        return {'host_url': request.build_absolute_uri(u'/').rstrip(u'/')}