So as if there weren’t enough reasons to become a NCVA member, SimplyRaw Express’ Natasha Kyssa has gone and added another.

Unless you live in a cave, you are probably aware that longtime vegan guru Kyssa, along with her husband Mark Faul, will be opening her hotly anticipated (mostly raw) vegan cafe/take out counter in the lovely neighbourhood of Hintonburg.  Kyssa has been a raw food consultant for what seems like forever, and the opening of SimplyRaw Express will fulfill a nearly lifelong dream.

Well, NCVA members can rejoice: Kyssa is offering us a 10 per cent discount on all food and drink purchases at SimplyRaw Express.

And have we mentioned lately that SimplyRaw Express is one of Veg Fest’s Silver level sponsors?  Natasha and Mark really understand the importance of being a part of the community.

“SimplyRaw Express strongly supports the National Capital Vegetarian Association. As devoted vegans for decades, Mark and I are thrilled to support the community advocacy and awareness building efforts of the NCVA to introduce more people to a healthier, more humane lifestyle,” Kyssa says.

NCVA memberships are $20 for the year, and entitle card holders to discounts at a number of Ottawa establishments, including The Table, Cafe My House, ZenKitchen, Auntie Loo’s Treats, Green Earth and more. See the full list here. You can become a member online, or join at Veg Fest!

The opening date for SimplyRaw Express has yet to be pinpointed, but will be during the first half of May.  Stay tuned to the NCVA Facebook page or SimplyRaw Express‘ website for details as they become available.

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So what is this Vegan Challenge panel happening on Sunday, between 4:00 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.?

As you may have heard, the NCVA is holding a 31-Day Vegan Challenge through the month of May. There are already more than 30 participants signed up, which is pretty sweet!

At 4:00 p.m. the Veg Challenge panel will convene in the Corpus Christi School gymnasium (across the street from the Glebe Community Centre) and will be available to take anyone and everyone’s questions about the vegan lifestyle. It’s a bit of an all-star line up, and an opportunity to ask whatever questions have been on your mind.

Join NCVA President Josh “Flower Power” Flower, Wellness Warrior Coaching’s Deb Gleason, and Credible Edible’s Judi Varga-Toth for a lively and interesting Q&A discussion about plant-based diets. We encourage Veg Challenge participants to come to this event to have their questions and concerns addressed. But really, anyone can come to take advantage of this wealth of knowledge.

Even if you’re already vegan and know absolutely everything, consider roping your interested friends and family into going. At the very least they will be dazzled by the sunny dispositions and vast depths of insight of our panel participants.