Author: VegOttawa

VegOttawa Association is a not-for-profit membership-based organization created to educate the public about the health benefits of a plant-based diet for the improvement of public health. Our goal is to reach as many people as possible – whether or not they are vegan/vegetarian. The public benefits from our work through increased awareness of preventative health care through dietary lifestyle habits; while those following a plant-based diet benefit from improved access to information, connections with like-minded community members, and an improved social infrastructure that supports a plant-based diet. VegOttawa Association is working to create an environment within which everyone has the knowledge and ability to take control of their own health, prevent health problems from occurring, and live healthier lifestyles overall. www.vegottawa.org Twitter: @vegottawa Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=6313597131

Plant-Powered Perks! Check Out VegOttawa’s Newest Discounts

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By Joyce Santos

VegOttawa Association has been committed to promoting the plant-based lifestyle since it was established in 2006. We have grown to include over 35 business partners in Ottawa, offering vegan discounts from a wide range of categories. So far in 2024, we have added 5 new business partners that offer exclusive discounts to our 250+ members! Let’s get to know these amazing local businesses in today’s blog post.

New Discounts – Health & Wellness, Beauty, Gourmet Food and Restaurant!

SePi Mushrooms

Have you heard Ottawa has a new local indoor urban mushroom farm? We were super excited to hear about this sustainable, hyper-local farm that offers specialty mushroom subscription boxes including lion’s mane and blue oyster, delivered right to your door. I was likely one of the first members to sign up for a subscription box and eagerly awaited the first delivery. The 1lb box of lion’s mane arrived in sustainable packaging, incredibly fresh and with an impressive aroma. We spent the day cooking up some unique recipes from their website – like the Spicy Cumin Lion’s Mane Skewers. SePi Mushrooms’ subscription boxes come with recipe and fact cards, and you can choose which specialty mushroom to receive for each order or a mix of two! I’d suggest it’s time to elevate your cooking with these gourmet mushrooms and never look back! Members save 15% on any subscription plan at sepimushrooms.com/weeatmushrooms.

BanhMiYes

Every few weeks, our VegOttawa team has meetings just down the street from BanhMiYes in Hintonburg – a vibrant Vietnamese-style sandwich shop on Wellington Ave. I had heard about their vegan sandwiches and found myself walking straight over there after every meeting to order the Vegan Tofu BanhMi – made from scratch with freshly-baked bread, vegan mayo and fresh veggies. I couldn’t stop thinking about these incredible sandwiches and I am thrilled to have them join our business partnership so that VegOttawa members can enjoy savings at both of their locations. Their other menu options include the Vegan Shredded Pork and Vegan Chicken BanhMi; and the Tofu and Vegan Chicken Vermicelli. Members save 10% on the vegan menu in store (Hintonburg & Merivale).

Luxe Teeth Whitening Studio

Vegans may be surprised to learn that teeth whitening products can include animal-sourced ingredients that have been tested on animals. Thankfully, you can still get that brighter smile in the comfort of your home with Alannah, owner of Ottawa’s new mobile teeth whitening service, Luxe Teeth Whitening Studio. She uses vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and Canadian-made ingredients! We are so pleased to offer members a new discount on this unique service. You can choose between 60 and 90 minute sessions, and sit back and relax to your favourite music (although I’m not sure how relaxing MY music playlist would be for Alannah!) Now you can drink all the vegan lattes and keep those stains away. (By the way, members have quite a few options for vegan latte discounts!) Members save 15% on any teeth whitening service — book yours today at luxewhitening.ca and mention your membership to get the discount.

Find Your Light Life Coaching

These past few years have brought a whirlwind of change for many, and some of us may find ourselves re-evaluating different aspects of our lives – our values and goals, relationships and even careers. Life Coach, Jessica Robson, decided to make it her mission to help and empower others to overcome their most challenging obstacles and start living a happier and more meaningful life – to help people rediscover who they are and to find the light within themselves. She has generously offered a FREE first life coaching session exclusively to VegOttawa members, with 10% off subsequent sessions. Find Your Light Life Coaching is vegan-owned and Ottawa-based with online meetings. Check out findyourlightlifecoaching.com for more info and to book your free first session.

Amy Longard Nutrition

You may have seen Amy whipping up plant-based recipes on local TV, speaking at an event, or sharing her vegan finds on her Instagram stories. She is a multi-talented plant-based chef, registered holistic nutritionist, speaker, published author and consultant. She has made it her life’s work to educate and guide people toward more conscious food and lifestyle choices. Amy now offers members 10% off on her virtual cooking classes as well as her upcoming Fit and Healthy Over 40 program with Sam Shorkey (of Jacked on the Beanstalk). Check out her website amylongard.com to register for her program in April and keep an eye out for upcoming cooking classes in May.

If you’re not a VegOttawa Association member yet, sign up today to enjoy discounts at more than 35 local vegan-friendly businesses. Your membership also supports our non-profit organization’s mission to support, inspire and promote vegan lifestyle, community and business in Ottawa.

If you’re a local business with vegan-friendly items or services, send us an email at info@vegottawa.org to receive our latest business partnership info.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joyce Santos is the current Vice President of VegOttawa Association. She has been vegan and previously vegetarian for over 25 years. In addition to her role with VegOttawa, she does freelance PR and Communications for vegan businesses and music artists. She can often be found enjoying the live music scene and exploring trails with the Ottawa Vegan Nature Club. 

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This post is not sponsored by any of the businesses or organizations listed.

Ottawa’s Ultimate Vegan Pizza Round Up!

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By Joyce Santos

Whether you’re hosting guests or unwinding on a Friday night – ordering pizza and accommodating food preferences and dietary restrictions can lead you down a Google search rabbit hole. Luckily, local pizza chains are catching on that offering a vegan menu is the perfect way to satisfy all and take in that big pizza order. In this blog post we highlight local favourites according to a recent poll in our VegOttawa Facebook group – but first, let’s go back to 2018 when the demand for vegan options was just beginning to grow.

From Milano’s

In those days, gravity was your friend holding veggie toppings in place on your cheese-less saucy pizza. For long-time vegans, this was the only way to eat pizza for decades. Local restaurant chain Milano Pizza saw an opportunity and jumped into the vegan scene with an innovative menu. They connected with locals in the Ottawa Vegans and Vegetarians Facebook group to get their opinions and gauge interest on new vegan products and unique menu ideas. Now, six years later, their vegan menu remains among the top favourites. Many pizza chains around the city have since added vegan options to their menu. Here we highlight local favourites along with pizza-making tips and vegan news.

Explore Ottawa’s Vegan Pizza Scene

Gabriel’s – With a delicious crust on the thicker side, Gabriel’s is the top local favourite with their plant-based pepperoni (Field Roast brand) and dairy-free cheese. The first location opened in Orleans in 1977 and they have since expanded all across the Ottawa area.

Milano – Their “Vegan Vegan Vegan” menu includes the Oh Sweet Vegan and Garden pizzas with non-dairy cheese and generous amounts of veggie toppings (including broccoli!) The menu also goes beyond just pizza with Beyond burger and chicken platters and Vegantine Poutine loaded with veggies.

Fiazza – Another favourite in our recent poll, their signature pizza is the Spicy Vegan including roasted button mushrooms, jalapeno slices, herb tofu and vegan pepperoni.

Hometown Sports Grill – featuring a large vegan menu, their vegan pizza includes Italian tomato sauce, vegan pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, red onions and black olives. You can enjoy your pizza with friends while watching a game in their dining area or order your pizza to go. Other vegan menu items include vegan poutine, chick’n tender platter, southwest nachos and cauliflower wings.

Heartbreakers – Located in Parkdale, their Veggie Supreme can be made vegan with cashew cream, pickled red onion, basil and castelvetrano olives. Castelvetrano olives have a distinct green hue and are famous for their crisp, meaty texture and mild buttery flavour.

Little Jo Berry’s — Available on Fridays, their regular and personal size pizzas include the Big Mac, and Steak and Havarti (locally-made by Rad Faux Cheese).

Pizza Nerds – Established in 2020, this local pizza shop offers a variety of pizzas named after Ottawa streets, with the option to sub vegan cheese or gluten-free crust. Their Albert – Kimchi Pizza features house-made vegan kimchi, green onion and black sesame seeds! Located on Bank St. and in Old Ottawa South.

Toppers – We’ve seen specialty vegan pizzas with unique flavour combinations on their menu along with their standard Titan Veggie, with options for vegan cheese and whole wheat or cauliflower crust.

Panago – This menu’s plant-based options include the Spicy Hawaiian with a smoky tropical sauce, Deluxe Pepperoni, Beyond Spicy Calabrese with Italian sausage crumble, Mediterranean and Beyond Summer BBQ topped with fire-roasted corn.

Red Swan Pizza – A hidden gem with locations in Kanata, Stittsville, Gloucester and Orleans, their vegan pizza comes with optional sesame coated crust and a menu featuring the Vegan Keto and Vegan Veggie Feast.

Pizza Pizza – A great value and a popular choice for parties, their vegan toppings include Field Roast plant-based pepperoni, sundried tomato, roasted garlic, fire roasted red peppers and spinach. You can also add plant-based chick’n sandwiches and bites to your pizza order.

Pizza Workshops and Locally-sourced Toppings

Exciting news from 613 Plant-Based! Starting in May 2024, they will be hosting private and public wood-fired pizza workshops using their homemade vegan cashew cheese and sausages – learn how to make Italian-style pizza from scratch! Located just outside of Carleton Place, 613 Plant-Based offers prepared meals delivered in the Ottawa area, including build-your-own pizza kits.

Make your own pizzas at home! Start with your own homemade pizza dough recipe or use prepared crusts, pizza kits (Costco has one!), focaccia, Greek pitas or bagels. Try some of Ottawa’s locally-made pizza toppings including Zengarry Fauxmagerie’s Sun-dried Tomato & Basil cashew cheese and Fresh Basil Pesto found in local stores, their online shop and their store location in Alexandria. (Shown: margherita pizza by Zengarry)

As you savour these vegan pizzas around Ottawa, your choices support sustainability, compassion, local businesses and the thriving vegan food scene in our city.

VegOttawa Association members can enjoy a 10% discount on the entire vegan menu at Milano Dalhousie, and Hometown Sports Grill as well as 15% off Zengarry cashew cheese and pesto online and at their store.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joyce Santos is the current Vice President of VegOttawa Association. She has been vegan and previously vegetarian for over 25 years. In addition to her role with VegOttawa, she does freelance Communications for vegan businesses. She can often be found enjoying the live music scene and exploring trails with the Ottawa Vegan Nature Club. 

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This post is not sponsored by any of the businesses or organizations listed.

Ottawa Embraces Veganuary: Starting Off 2024 with Compassion and Inspiration

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By Joyce Santos

Earlier this year, we held weekly challenges and giveaways on our VegOttawa Instagram page to celebrate Veganuary – a month dedicated to encouraging a vegan lifestyle. While many of our followers are already vegan, it was also a great opportunity to celebrate, share experiences and facts, and win vegan prizes!

We received generous prize donations from VegOttawa partners with vegan menus: Keepin’ It Vegan, Hometown Sports Grill, Strawberry Blonde, Cinnaholic and Maverick’s. As we rolled out our first week, we sparked excitement and had more local businesses offer prizes! Ottawa’s newest plant-based restaurant and wine bar, St. Elsewhere, joined in on the fun, as well as 613 Plant-Based meal service. Peace-Garden Vegetarian offered gift cards as they celebrated the opening of their new location, a relaxing and welcoming space, after 31 years at their previous spot. Local delivery superstars Gopher It Deliveries also hopped on to deliver a vegan pizza kit prize to one of our nine lucky winners. It was amazing to see the Ottawa community come together to celebrate and inspire the plant-based lifestyle. You can find these Ottawa vegan restaurants in our Ottawa Veg Business Directory.

In our first weekly challenge we asked VegOttawa followers to cook a vegan meal. We saw photos of delicious-looking creations including taco salad loaded with greens and olives, pizza with mushrooms and greens, nachos with kale and red habanero sauce, split pea soup, a Persian dish called Ash, chocolate and pear coffee cake, and even vegan leftovers assembled into food art! That same week we saw local plant-based chef and nutritionist, Amy Longard appear on CTV Morning Live to give tips for eating more plant-based meals in 2024. The segment featured her Chickpea Salad Wrap recipe and beautifully prepared meals from Naturally Vero Cafe. Local Instagram foodie and blogger @veganeats613 celebrated the month with 31 Days of Easy Vegan Snacks presented in beautifully-made reels and photos with accompanying recipes. Veganuary was really off to a great start in the Capital!

In week two, we asked everyone to tell us why it’s environmentally sound to be vegan. Interesting truths included, “Two words: Manure Lagoon” and “To save the rainforests from being clear-cut to create areas for cattle grazing.” Other facts shared: oat milk uses less energy, fewer carbon emissions and land use compared to cow’s milk; less water and land pollution; being vegan helps maintain ocean ecosystems by eliminating overfishing; it decreases the burden of food production on the planet; cows emit large amounts of greenhouse gases. We loved seeing the high-level of environmental awareness in our vegan community! There are numerous environmental reasons to go plant-based and the VegOttawa team will be sharing these and other interesting facts at an upcoming Earth Day event. 

In week three, we asked how being vegan can benefit your health. Our followers benefit from more fibre, reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and inflammation; lowering cholesterol and blood pressure; improved skin appearance, gut health, mental health knowing they are lessening harm, and being motivated to cook at home from scratch. One response pointed to “wallet health”! And it’s true – discovering tasty recipes using pantry staples such as dried legumes and grains can be very friendly to your grocery budget – something we can all appreciate these days. If you love savings too, you can enjoy discounts on Ottawa vegan menus with a VegOttawa Association Membership.

In our final week of Veganuary we asked everyone to share what inspired them to be vegan. Some were inspired by talks like “The Best Speech You’ll Ever Hear” by Gary Yourosky; Animal Justice’s Paw & Order podcast; Dr. Greger’s evidence-based talks on a whole foods plant-based diet, and the documentaries Vegucated, Cowspiracy, and Dominion. Others were inspired by personal experiences: “The animals. I grew up on a farm. I saw they are sentient beings, no different than cats and dogs”, “Learning more about the egg and dairy industry”, realizing “animal milk is to feed their own babies”, and from visiting animal sanctuaries. More inspirations were climate change, trying to live more sustainably and nourish their body, and even food intolerances.

Our followers then shared helpful tips for new vegans like checking out recipe bloggers Nora Cooks and Sam Turnbull, “Get a pressure cooker and look up one-pot recipes”, “Massage your kale!”, “Start small and slow – take foods you love and adjust the ingredients to vegan alternatives and have fun with it!”, and to try recipes from other countries as many of them are delicious, healthy and easy on the budget. More helpful tips can be found on our Vegan Resources page.

We loved reading all of these thoughtful and inspiring responses and welcoming many new followers and members. Veganuary highlights can be found on our @VegOttawa Instagram page. Check our new Ottawa Community Events page regularly and sign-up for our monthly newsletter to stay in the loop about Ottawa vegan events and meetups, and we hope to see you soon at an upcoming event.

P.S. We’ll have free vegan food at our Annual General Meeting on March 24, 2024 at Hometown Sports Grill’s penalty box room.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joyce Santos is the current Vice President of VegOttawa Association. She has been vegan and previously vegetarian for over 25 years. In addition to her role with VegOttawa, she does freelance PR and Communications for vegan businesses. She can often be found enjoying the live music scene and exploring trails with the Ottawa Vegan Nature Club. 

This post is not sponsored by any of the businesses or organizations listed.

Understanding Vegan Product Certification

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Hello VegOttawa Community! One of our newest business partners, Shine Health, recently shared with us their journey about receiving Vegan certification for their products. We thought it was very interesting and wanted to share it with all of you. They were kind enough to put this article together for us and we hope you find this as educational as we did!

Obtaining Vegan Certification
by Phil Desrochers, Co-Founder, Shine Health

What Vegan Certification is Best for Your Company

Many manufacturers of consumable products are considering some form of certification to build trust with their consumer. Today, many consumers are demanding transparent assurance that your products do not contain hidden non-vegan substances.

More specifically, a vegan-certified product is defined as containing no animal ingredients or by-products, using no animal ingredients or by-products in the manufacturing process and no testing on animals by any company or independent contractor.

Here is a list of certification agencies and labels currently available around the world and considered trustworthy – http://vegan-labels.info/

Which one is best for you?

As co-founder of Shine Health, we had to make the same decision. We offer plant-based supplements to help with stress, focus, brain and energy, and we were looking for our first certification. Our two criteria where quite simple:

1. Logo had to be recognized in both Canada and the US
2. Pricing we could afford

The answer quickly became obvious for us as we started the process of getting certified with https://vegan.org/certification/.

The Process
Duration: From start to finish it took about 3 months

Cost: $150-$3000/year depending on your revenue. We loved that they help small businesses get off the ground.

Steps:

– Filled in their Online Application

– Submitted 7-10 different forms that our manufacturer mostly had to confirm (ie. Machines used for our products are not used to make non-vegan products)

– A few back-and-forth emails to clarify a few things

– Once all documentation was signed we waited about 5 weeks for approval

– We received an email approval (one of the proudest moments in my life)

– Pay fee

– Received PDF with logo we can use on site

Lessons learned:

– It was a pretty smooth process

– Vegan-Certification does NOT mean your brand is Vegan-Certified – it means your products are Vegan-Certified

Should you be considering a vegan certification for your products it’s never too early to start the process.

If you have any further questions about the process, feel free to reach us at care@shinehealth.ca.

Phil Desrochers, Co-Founder, www.shinehealth.ca

Plant-based supplements with research-backed ingredients for when stress and setbacks get in your way
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care@shinehealth.ca
613.447.4746

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NEW DISCOUNT: Shine Health

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VegOttawa Members can now save 15% off Shine Health products!

Shine Health creates plant-based supplements with research-backed ingredients for when stress and setbacks get in your way.

Created in 2018, Shine Health provides a holistic nutrition and food based approach to wellbeing and recovery. They realize that the food you put in your body can have a huge impact on how you feel. The founders struggled to find the right plant based supplement that were right for their unique symptoms, that actually worked, and best of all were backed by modern science. That’s why they created it.

Shine Health offers 4 unique Certified-Vegan plant-powered SH blends are carefully crafted from the highest quality and purest ingredients to optimize their efficacy. Formulated by health experts, all ingredients and dosages are backed by rigorous clinical research studies.

And as a an added bonus they offer 100% recyclable and sustainable packaging.

Ps – Make sure you follow Shine Health on Facebook & Instagram.

NEW DISCOUNT: Yugi Rolls

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Yugi Rolls will now offer a 10% discount for VegOttawa Association members on catering orders!

Yugi Rolls is a Chinese food vegan pop-up that creates delicious plant-based egg rolls and more. Every other week they announce specialized menus for pop-up events at Little Jo Berry’s.

Their usual menu, available frozen and at their pop-up events includes:

  • Yugi Rolls (Vegan Egg Rolls)
  • Potstickers
  • Almond Cookies
  • Rice Rolls (Gluten Free Egg Rolls on Rice Paper)
  • BBQ YugiBaos
  • Lotus Leaf Sticky Rice

In addition, they also serve up delicious options like Won Ton Soup, Sweet and Sour Fried Won Tons, Sweet & Sour Yugiballs (Vegan Chicken Balls), Spring Rolls, Cantonese Chow Mein, Sweet & Sour Vegan shrimp with sauce, and more!

Is your mouth watering yet? Don’t delay – make sure you book Yugi Rolls for your next event! Simply email Van at info@yugirolls.com to make your order.

Eating Solo? You can purchase YugiRolls delicious food from their website (order online for pop-up pick up), or shop frozen from Little Jo Berrys, Keepin’ It Vegan, ​Natural Food Pantry & other locations. 

NEW DISCOUNT: Make Your Mark Digital

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VegOttawa Members Receive 15% off all print & promo!

Make Your Mark Digital is a newly formed Design & Print company, owned and operated by Mark Petersen from our very own Ottawa vegan community. Mark’s goal with this business was to be able to provide the basics of business, such as: logos, business cards, and signage and make them as cost effective and accessible as possible to encourage more business start-ups and growth in Ottawa. He has recently formed a partnership with a wholesale print company so can offer extremely competitive pricing on all your print and promo needs, and in addition to that is providing a 15% discount to all VegOttawa members and business partners! Additional discounts can apply to any Non-Profit or Charity organizations.

NEW DISCOUNT: Maverick’s Donuts

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We are over the moon to share that Maverick’s Donuts is now offering VegOttawa members 10% off vegan donuts, up to a 6 pack, for in-store purchases!

At Maverick’s, their vegan collection of fresh donuts are handmade from scratch everyday, without any animal products.  

You may have seen Maverick’s pop up when they first began operations in 2016. A true love of donuts is what sparked the creation of Maverick’s Donut Company. The thought of offering fresh donuts made daily was the core principal behind our company’s mission and one that we continue to actively pursue. This is a company that stands out as being the one true “Maverick” of the city’s donut scene. 

Fast forward to today, their Fall line-up is in full production including these delicious flavours:

Follow Maverick’s Donuts on Instagram & Facebook!
Most importantly, check out their website to find a location near you, and go eat some vegan donuts!!!

Creamy Corn Chowder Recipe

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Simple, hearty and Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder! The perfect soup to give you all the warm and cozy Fall feels!

This Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder is a healthy and budget friendly vegan meal! If you are new to vegan or vegetarian cooking, you’re in luck. This meal is super easy to put together, even for the novice cook!

Cashew cream is what makes the wonderful texture of this soup. Cashew cream is a simple mixture of soaked cashews and plant milk blended until velvety soft.

What you will need:
For this recipe you will need some very basic ingredients that you can find at any local grocery store, they are:
– Yellow Onion
– Garlic
– Potatoes
– Carrots
– Vegetable broth
– Corn (fresh or frozen)
– Cashews
– Plant Milk
– Spices

How to Make this Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder:
Making this corn chowder is easy. Start by chopping all the vegetables and sautéing them in a heavy bottom pot with a bit of oil. Next, we add the seasonings, broth, cashew cream and the corn. Once everything has softened it’s time to blend! This part is based on preference. If you want a super soft soup without any chunks then the entire soup can be blended, but it is equally delicious if you leave some veggie bits for extra texture! Finish it off by melting in some vegan cheddar cheese (optional).

If you have never made cashew cream, it is done by simply soaking cashews for a minimum of 4 hours and then blending in a high powdered blender with plant milk until smooth and creamy. If you do not have 4 hours to soak the cashews, they can also be softened by boiling for 5-10 minutes before blending.

If you are using corn fresh from the cobb, remove the kernels by gently running a knife down the length of the cobb. I find it easiest to place the cobb directly in a large bowl while doing this to avoid a big mess!

Finally, serve alongside a freshly toasted baguette or your favorite veggie sandwich!

Note: If you find your soup too thick and want to thin it out, add additional plant milk.

Storage: This soup stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an air-tight container. Re-heat on the stovetop or microwave.

RECIPE


Ingredients:
– 1 tbsp Cooking Oil
– 1 small Yellow Onion (diced)
– 2 Medium Carrots (diced)
– 3-4 Garlic Cloves (diced)
– 3 Medium Yellow Potatoes (chopped)
– 5 Corn Cobbs or 2 cups frozen corn
– 3 cups Vegetable Broth
– 1 tsp Parsley Flakes
– ¼ tsp Paprika
– Salt and Pepper to taste
– ½ cup Shredded Vegan Cheddar Cheese (optional)

Cashew Cream Ingredients:

– 1 cup Soaked Cashews (minimum 4 hours)
– 1 cup Plant Milk

Directions:
– Start by pre-soaking cashews for a minimum of 4 hours by placing them in a bowl and covering with room temperature water. Alternatively, you can boil the cashews for 5-10 minutes to soften. Drain and rinse the cashews and add to a blender with the plant milk. Blend until smooth and creamy. Set aside.
– In a large heavy bottom pot, heat oil to medium-high heat, add onion, garlic, and carrots. Cook for 2 minutes before adding the potatoes and spices. Stir and continue to cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
– Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and place on a tight-fitting lid. Continue to cook until the vegetables have softened.
– Stir in corn and cashew cream and cook for an additional 5 minutes.
– Using an immersion blender or standard blender, blend contents of the soup until the desired consistency is achieved.
– Return to the pot and add vegan cheese and salt and pepper to taste.
– Serve immediately alongside a toasted baguette.

I hope you liked this Creamy Vegan Corn Chowder as much as we do! For more recipes by
Stunningly Plant-Based you can visit https://www.instagram.com/stunningly_plant_based/ or http://www.stunninglyplantbased.com

Get To Know VegOttawa!

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So, you’ve heard about VegOttawa in passing but you’re not quite sure about the who-what-when-where-why of our organization? Let us introduce ourselves so that you can learn about how we’re establishing ourselves as a pillar of the vegan community.

What is VegOttawa’s role in the community?

VegOttawa is a not-for-profit organization that serves members of the community by providing education and resources; fundraising for various initiatives and charities; operating a membership program; and hosting events to bring together members of the veg community. We aim to be the hub and the heart of the Ottawa vegan community providing resources and support to those who are vegan or exploring a veg-friendly lifestyle.

How old is VegOttawa?

Originally called the National Capital Vegetarian Association (NCVA), VegOttawa was founded in 2006 and turns 16 this October. We rebranded in 2019 to align ourselves with a vegan identity.

Who runs VegOttawa?

All of VegOttawa’s Board of Directors are volunteers! We also have volunteers who contribute to the VegOttawa organization and some stellar advisors (former board members).  Every year elections are held for the VegOttawa board which allow new members and people interested to become involved. In the case that a board member cannot continue their term, bylaws allow the board to cast votes to fill the board between elections. In fact, we’re looking to recruit new board members NOW!

Can I volunteer?

Volunteer roles include everything from our dedicated social media coordinators to our exciting new humane education ambassador and support at events. We are constantly growing and seeking new support – so if you have a skill you’d like to share we would love to invite you to help us! You can consult our complete list of volunteer opportunities and fill out our volunteer form on our website! We hope to hear from you!!!

What is VegOttawa’s policy on inclusivity?

VegOttawa Association is committed to being an inclusive organization and fighting against oppression of all kinds. This includes speciesism, sexism, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, ableism, classism, colourism and discrimination of all kinds. We are a pro LGBTQIA2S+ organization.VegOttawa Association acknowledges that we live and work on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin Anishnaabe territory. We recognize and respect the Algonquin Anishaabe Nation as the traditional stewards of this land since time immemorial, and we are grateful for the opportunity to live and work in this area that they have protected for millennia. As an organization, we are committed to centering reconciliation throughout our work.

I have a vegan event coming up. Can VegOttawa help me?

VegOttawa wants to support the vegan community. That’s why we accept sponsorship/funding requests year-round. Have an event you want to veganize? An idea you just can’t seem to get started? We’re here to help you!

Does VegOttawa run VegFest?

From 2011-2017 VegOttawa ran VegFest with the incredible dedication of our board and volunteers. In 2018 and beyond VegFest was run by a non-affiliated member of the public and has not been hosted by VegOttawa since. That doesn’t mean we don’t have plans for the future, just that we’ll be back in action under a new name.

Do you host events? Where can I connect with you?

Yes! VegOttawa is so excited to be able to offer in-person events again, and in fact, we’ll be hosting a fall cooking class and tabling at a few festivals this autumn. And don’t forget – VegOttawa members often get discounted or even free tickets to our events!

Who can become a member? Do I need to be vegan? 

VegOttawa welcomes individuals from a variety of backgrounds—vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegans interested in learning more about the benefits of plant-based living! 

What does becoming a member mean?

As a non-profit organization we rely on membership fees to support programming and sharing veg resources in the national capital region. Membership is $22.50 per year and secures you discounts at over 26 of our business partners! You may become a member by visiting our website: https://vegottawa.org/membership/ 

I have a veg-friendly business. How do I get in on this action?
If you have a business that is veg-friendly we would love to add you to our directory, secure a discount for our members, or work together on sponsorship for our events. There are so many options. You can find out more information about business partnership here: https://vegottawa.org/directory/partner/ 

What does VegOttawa do with the membership fees (how are these funds allocated)? 

Our board develops an annual budget to ensure membership fees are used effectively to help advance our mission. Funds may be used for the following: operational fees (i.e. website), events (i.e. venue rental fees), sponsorship (i.e. International Vegan Film Festival). VegOttawa provides a financial update to all members at the Annual General Meeting.

Are there many vegan places in Ottawa? 

Ottawa has plenty of vegan establishments and is only expected to grow! For a list of vegan or vegan-friendly establishments, please consult our directory page.

Do you collaborate with other organizations?

Yes! VegOttawa is proud to endorse and support organizations that are helping to increase animal welfare and protection, end environmental disaster, support social justice for all and enable everyone to live long and healthy lives. We value collaboration with others and know that it takes a village. You can see our current collabs on our network page.

Where and how can I follow VegOttawa?

Aside from our website, individuals can follow VegOttawa on our social media platforms. We are on Facebook and Instagram! 

What does VegOttawa hope to achieve within the next 5 years?

The VegOttawa board is currently working to increase VegOttawa’s presence and brand recognition by becoming the go-to place for all things veg in Ottawa. Make sure you stay tuned to this blog for upcoming announcements about our big plans!

Still have questions? Want to learn even more or get involved? Drop us a line at: info@vegottawa.org