This is just to let everyone know that the NCVA’s 2017 Annual General Meeting has been postponed for now. We will keep you updated about when it will be held in the future. Thanks for your patience!
Category: News & Events
Food Policy Volunteer Opportunity in Ottawa
The Ottawa Food Policy Council, a group dedicated to addressing social, economic, and environmental issues in the food system in Ottawa, is looking for new members (to serve on the council) as well as advisors (to offer their expertise on a particular subject). Perhaps an NCVA member would like to apply for either type of position to bring a plant-based/vegan perspective to the council?
If you are interested, you can learn more about this volunteer opportunity on their website.
Update from Veg Fest 2017
Thank you to everyone who visited to the NCVA table at Ottawa Veg Fest 2017!
If you would like more of the colouring pages that were on our table, you can download the PDFs online for free here.
And don’t forget, you can always purchase an NCVA membership online if you don’t have one yet.
We hope to see you at next year’s Ottawa Veg Fest!
NCVA 2017 Annual General Meeting
Note: This event has been postponed until further notice. Thank you for your patience!
The National Capital Vegetarian Association will be holding its eighth Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday, June 18, 2017 at 2 p.m. It will take place at the party room at 101 Richmond Road in Ottawa. We will review the achievements we’ve made since the last AGM and look towards the future of the NCVA.
All people who have purchased NCVA memberships between June 19, 2016 and June 18, 2017 are entitled to attend and to vote in the AGM. If you are uncertain as to your eligibility, please email our membership coordinator at ncvamemberships@gmail.com. You may still become a member between now and June 18 and attend the AGM.
As per our bylaws, there will be an election of the board of directors and nominations are currently being accepted. Nominations must be received by 11:59 p.m., June 16. Only NCVA members in good standing may be nominated or make a nomination. You can nominate yourself or someone else. There are at least five director positions open, all of which are one-year terms.
Nominations can be e-mailed to ncvasecretary@gmail.com.
It would be very helpful if you RSVP’d your attendance to ncvasecretary@gmail.com, as we need a certain number of attendees to make quorum.
Thank you for supporting the NCVA’s efforts to make Ottawa a more veg-friendly place.
Join us at our screening of “What the Health” on May 24, 2017!
On May 24, 2017, the NCVA (in partnership with Strawberry Blonde Bakery) will be screening the documentary What the Health!
You may have heard about this documentary before– it’s by the creators of the well-known documentary Cowspiracy. What the Health is about “the collusion and corruption in government and big business that is costing us trillions of healthcare dollars, and keeping us sick”, according to the documentary’s website.
After the documentary screening, there will be a panel discussing the issue further.
For more information on the event and to get your tickets (admission by donation), please see the Eventbrite Page. Additionally, you may wish to share the event through the event page on Facebook.
Next NCVA Potluck on June 24th, 2017
Please join the National Capital Vegetarian Association at our next vegan potluck on June 24, 2017! The potluck runs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Just like last time, the potluck will be held at the new location— the party room at 101 Richmond Rd in Ottawa. Please note that the room capacity is 30 people. It costs $2 for NCVA members, $3 for non-members, and $1 for children to attend. All are welcome!
Please bring a vegan dish (that is, containing no meat, eggs, dairy/cheese, honey, or any other animal product) that serves 5 people, along with a serving utensil and a list of the ingredients in your dish. And don’t forget to bring your own plate, cutlery, and beverage!
Hope you can make it!
You can find Facebook event page by clicking here.
Easy Volunteer Opportunity: Help Distribute NCVA Posters!
Want to volunteer with the NCVA, but not sure how much time you can commit? Why not start by helping to put up some of our posters around Ottawa?
The NCVA offers potlucks, volunteer opportunities, and events, as well as member discounts at local veg-friendly businesses in Ottawa. We help people in the Ottawa area transition to and maintain a plant-based diet. The more people who find out about us, the more we can make a difference, so raising awareness about the work we do is important!
Our posters (which can be downloaded and printed off here) can be put up on bulletin boards in libraries, community centres, grocery stores, health food stores, and other places (just make sure you ask permission from the store or centre before putting our poster on their bulletin board!).
Thank you for your support!
Join us at our next potluck on April 29, 2017!
Please join the National Capital Vegetarian Association at our next vegan potluck on April 29, 2017! The potluck runs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. This time, the potluck will be held at a different location— the party room at 101 Richmond Rd in Ottawa. Please note that the room capacity is 30 people. It costs $2 for NCVA members, $3 for non-members, and $1 for children to attend. All are welcome!
Please bring a vegan dish (that is, containing no meat, eggs, dairy/cheese, honey, or any other animal product) that serves 5 people, along with a serving utensil and a list of the ingredients in your dish. And don’t forget to bring your own plate, cutlery, and beverage!
Hope you can make it!
Volunteers Needed!
The National Capital Vegetarian Association is a completely volunteer-run organization. The NCVA always welcomes new volunteers, but at the moment we have an immediate need for volunteers to fill the following roles:
1) Volunteer Board Member
The volunteer Board of Directors is the decision-making body of the NCVA. Currently, we are looking for one new Board Member.
Term: 1 year or more
The ideal candidate will:
- be following a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle
- be a member of the NCVA (membership costs $20/year and has many benefits)
- be passionate about sharing a plant-based lifestyle with others, promoting a plant-based lifestyle, and increasing the accessibility of vegan food in the Ottawa community
- be able to attend monthly meetings with other Board Members (usually the meetings take place on one Sunday evening per month) and respond to e-mails in a timely manner
- be able to take on various NCVA-related tasks (which will vary depending on the Board Member’s specific position and interests)
It is preferable that applicants have previous volunteer experience with the NCVA, but if you have not volunteered with the NCVA before, we will consider your application anyway.
2) Volunteer Co-ordinator (Board Member)
This position will ideally be combined with the position of board member.
Term: 1 year or more
The ideal candidate will:
- be a Board Member (see above) of the NCVA
- be able to co-ordinate volunteers to help out with events and Restaurant Outreach.
Previous experience with co-ordinating volunteers is preferred.
3) Restaurant Outreach Volunteers
Restaurant Outreach Volunteers, organized into groups of two or three, will visit non-vegetarian restaurants in their community to give the owners of these restaurants our “Beyond Veggies” guide, which contains tips on how to introduce vegan options at their restaurant.
Term: flexible
4) Events Volunteers
We would like some volunteers at our upcoming movie screening (date TBD) of The Marshall Plan (and possibly other screenings in the future). Volunteers should have knowledge of how to use a projector and laptop, etc.
In addition, we need volunteers to help run the NCVA table/booth at events. If you don’t know how to get started volunteering with the NCVA but want to help in a meaningful way, this is a good opportunity! One upcoming event that we may have a table at is Seedy Saturday on March 4th, 2017.
Term: on an as-needed basis (and when you are available)
5) Marketing
If you have experience with marketing and would like to volunteer your time and skills with the NCVA, this position is for you. This position could also be combined with the position of board member, or could be taken on separately.
6) Other Opportunities
We welcome people to suggest their own ideas for how they could volunteer. For more ideas for ongoing volunteer opportunities, please see our Current Volunteer Openings page.
If you are interested in volunteering in one of more of these positions, please contact the NCVA at ncva.avcn@gmail.com.
Thank you for your interest in making Ottawa a healthier, kinder, and more sustainable place!
Interview with Jo from Little Jo Berry’s!
By Carolyn Harris
This post is the first in a series of interviews with owners of local vegan businesses. To receive updates every time there is a new blog post, you can follow the NCVA blog by entering your e-mail in the sidebar to the right.
Jo is the owner of Little Jo Berry’s, a vegan café that serves treats, lunches, and coffee on Wellington St. West in Ottawa. When she was 17, she made the switch to a vegan lifestyle. Trained in specialty baking and having had experience working at Auntie Loo’s Treats, she opened Little Jo Berry’s in 2016. Here’s what she had to say about her experience being a vegan business owner…
1) When and why did you decide to go vegan?
When I was 17 I was living with my mother, and one day she came home and decided she wanted to start living a vegan lifestyle. In solidarity, I joined her. For the first year it was a lot of learning and experimenting. But once I became fully vegan there was no going back, I was so excited about it. The amount of new things to try with different ingredients, playing around in the kitchen, keeping animals safe and happy.
2) Have you always enjoyed baking? When did you decide you wanted to start your café?
In high school I actually hated foods class. I was explicit that all I wanted to do was sweep the floors and choose the music. But at home my dad was quite a chef, most of our bonding time was spent in the kitchen. I think it slowly and unintentionally made being in the kitchen very comfortable and familiar for me. However, I never imagined it as a career. Not until I got a part time baking gig at Auntie Loo’s. That was where I really started to grow as a baker. I started to dream of having a bakery in a sleepy little town by the sea one day. Sadly, Loo’s closed and that prompted me to put my goals and dream into motion. Slowly things began to unfold.
3) What do you enjoy most about running Little Jo Berry’s?
There are two things I enjoy absolutely the most:
1) my customers. Best people in the world. So many good, kind people support us and fuel us on a daily basis.
2) the few hours I take to myself in the kitchen every morning. Having time alone to create and try new recipes. Being able to practice what I am passionate about brings me so much joy.
4) What have you learned from your experiences with your bakery so far?
The most important thing I have learned is to be nice, always and to everyone. Especially when it is hard. Making the right decision and being respectful every time. We have so much luck and good things come our way at the shop and I like to think it has everything to do with our outlook and how we treat others.
5) What advice would you give to someone who wants to turn their passion for vegan food into a career?
Get ready to work very hard. To feel exhausted and burnt out and run down. Get ready for all the feelings and pressures and to be overwhelmed. Know that that will come for you and to be prepared. Surround yourself with loved ones and treats and puppies. Take the appropriate steps to find support and self care. Taking time for yourself will make you so much stronger and ready for the next steps.
6) What are your plans for the future?
Our plans are simple, to continue to grow and nourish our ties with our community. To give back all the love we have received. Whether that be with new treats or different events, we want to create a home for our patrons.
Please join me in wishing Jo all the best for 2017!
Carolyn
VegOttawa Association 