Tag: plant-based

Veganuary Expands to Canada for 2025 as Annual January Challenge Gains Global Momentum

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For Immediate Release

December 18, 2024 – Veganuary–the global movement encouraging people to try vegan in January and beyond–has opened registration for its 2025 campaign, and Canada has officially joined as one of 20 participating countries around the globe.  

When Veganuary first started in 2014, 3,300 people signed.  Last year, around 25 million people participated globally.* 2025 is set to be even bigger with Canada, Malaysia and Peru among the countries added for January.

Veganuary has a number of celebrity ambassadors, including  Alicia Silverstone, Paul McCartney, Joaquin Phoenix, and Canadians like Pamela Anderson and Bryan Adams.

The Veganuary Canada Coalition (the Coalition)–a group of Canadian vegan nonprofits–is leading the campaign. By inspiring and supporting Canadians to eat more plants, the Coalition aims to tackle several key challenges facing Canada through the initiative.  

Most Canadians, for example, consume just half of their recommended daily fiber intake. Almost 80 percent aren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables. Plant consumption is directly linked to lower rates of heart disease, Canada’s top killer, and other chronic diseases such as diabetes and some cancers.  Canada led the way encouraging more plant-forward eating with its last update of the Canada’s Food Guide in 2019, and other countries have since followed with similar updates.

Eating more plants can also greatly benefit the planet.  Plant-based foods have half the carbon footprint, require far less land and water and don’t create pandemic risks. Notably, Canada is one of the highest per-capita-emitting countries in the world.  

As food prices rise, vegan diets can help Canadian households save money: a huge study of 150 countries found that households in high-income countries can slash their food bills by up to one-third by going vegan. 

Supporting Canadians to Put More Plants on The Plate 

With some surveys suggesting that over 40 percent of consumers in Canada are trying to include more plant-based foods in their diets, Veganuary can play a role in converting these aspirations into action.  81 percent of Veganuary 2024 participants reported significant diet change after six months**.  

Making plant-based cooking easier is a popular feature of the initiative.  A star-studded lineup of chefs and celebrities are supporting the 2025 campaign with exclusive tips and delicious plant-based recipes. Participants will receive a free Celebrity eCookbook featuring recipes from Hollywood stars, including actors Woody Harrelson and Bethany Antonia, singer-songwriter Nicola Roberts and celebrity chefs like UK TV personality, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. With a range of recipes, from a breakfast option by Venus Wiliams, to a dessert by Dr. Jane Goodall, Veganuary participants are set to experience the wide variety of tastes and flavours afforded by plant-based eating, for any meal of the day.

Notes to Editor

People can sign up in English or French at Veganuary.com for free to receive the Celebrity eCookbook, the Official Veganuary Starter Kit and daily emails packed with nutritional info, delicious recipes, meal plans and helpful advice. 

The Veganuary Canada Coalition is a national initiative brought together by VegTO, VegOttawa Association, Vancouver Humane Society, Plant-Based Canada, Festival Végane de Montréal, and Calgary Vegan Society. Learn more about the organizations here: The Veganuary Canada Coalition

Contact:
Veganuary Canada Coalition
Email: veganuarycanadacoalition@gmail.com
Website: veganuary.com
English: veganuary.com/en-ca/the-veganuary-canada-coalition
French: veganuary.com/fr-ca/partner/canada-coalition/
Instagram: @veganuarycanadacoalition

*Based on YouGov surveys commissioned by Veganuary in January 2024 in our core countries and the population estimates in those countries

 “The survey was sent by Veganuary to 277,000 of the people who received 31 daily emails during the 2024 campaign. 5,931 people responded.”

Regional:

Ottawa

  • Despite the city’s leadership in green initiatives, the environmental impact of food – particularly through animal agriculture – continues to be overlooked in Ottawa. Addressing this disconnect and shifting toward plant-based options is important for reducing food-related emissions and meeting the city’s sustainability goals.
  • Ottawa residents, like many Canadians, face health challenges related to diet, with a significant portion not meeting daily fruit and vegetable intake recommendations. Promoting plant-based eating can play an important role in addressing chronic diseases.
  • Research shows that Canadians are increasingly open to reducing their meat consumption. This public shift presents an exciting opportunity for Ottawa to lead the way in plant-forward initiatives and policies that reflect the growing demand for healthier, more sustainable food choices.

About VegOttawa Association:

Established in 2006, VegOttawa Association is a non-profit, membership-based organization dedicated to promoting and supporting vegan lifestyle, businesses and community in Ottawa.

VegOttawa is taking steps to make a meaningful impact on policy change both locally and beyond, in collaboration with environmental sustainability and animal advocacy organizations. They are also planning VegOttawa Fest 2025 to inspire plant-based lifestyle. The festival will feature guest speakers, organizations, and vegan businesses that highlight the benefits of plant-based living. 

Calgary

  • The Calgary Vegan Society is a non-profit organization located in Calgary, Alberta. Our mission is to foster a more vegan-friendly city by promoting kindness towards animals, environmental sustainability, and the benefits of a cruelty-free lifestyle. We organize events, provide educational resources, and offer support to individuals interested in adopting a plant-based diet. 
  • This January, we are proudly working, as part of  the Veganuary Canada Coalition, to promote vegan options to Calgarians, and encourage Calgarians to embrace a vegan lifestyle for the month as a way to explore healthier, sustainable, and compassionate living. 

Montreal / Quebec

How the Veganuary campaign can help Montreal align with its Sustainable Development Goals

  • Taking climate action to a next level: Montreal has made a commitment under the C40 Good Food Cities Declaration, but we feel it can do better and we have yet to see the city’s administration take other engagements towards becoming a more sustainable and vegan-friendly city.
  • Reaffirming Montreal’s leading position regarding veganism: With its 40+ vegan restaurants and coffee shops/bakeries, Montreal is the most vegan-friendly city in ‘La belle province’. 
  • Making a healthier Montreal: 16% of Montreal families are living with food insecurity. A vegan plate is cheaper and healthier for everyone. Opting for plant protein can help prevent chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. ‘’Plant-based protein foods can provide more fibre and less saturated fat than other types of protein foods. This can be beneficial for your heart health’’ according to the most recent Canada’s food guide.

About the FVMtl

  • The Festival végane de Montréal’s inception dates back to 2014 when it was an event of the Montreal Vegetarian Association. It’s a registered nonprofit, since 2017, organizing an annual event celebrating the progress of the vegan movement in Montreal/Québec through lectures, cooking demonstrations and an expo featuring local vegan and vegan-friendly businesses, organizations and vegan restaurants.

Toronto

How the Veganuary Campaign Can Help Toronto Align With the City’s Priorities

  • Bridging the disconnect on food: For all of Toronto’s leadership on climate and food justice initiatives, and despite its plant-forward commitments under the C40 Good Food Cities Declaration and the Cool Food Pledge, there’s still a disconnect around food.  It’s the top source of emissions in the city, of which meat and dairy account for one-third.  The time to accelerate action on food is now.
  • Accelerating climate action: Shifting to plant-based eating can significantly reduce Toronto’s food-related emissions, a critical step in meeting climate targets.  The C40 Report “Future of Urban Consumption in a 1.5°C World” emphasizes that “Adopting dietary change is the consumption intervention with the greatest potential for emission reduction”. 
  • Improving public health: Toronto’s Population Health Profile highlights that more than four in five residents don’t consume enough fruits and vegetables a day.  Increasing plant consumption in the city would have a huge impact on reducing chronic diseases–including heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers, which kill nearly 90 percent of Canadians and drive the bulk of our massive healthcare costs.  The Canada’s Food Guide also continues to be heavily underused: over 75 percent of the GTA either doesn’t use, or hasn’t heard of, it.  
  • Leveraging public support: Angus Reid polling data shows that 64 percent of GTA residents want to reduce their meat consumption. And 94 percent support more plant-based foods in public spaces!

About VegTO:

  • The mission of VegTO, Canada’s oldest vegan nonprofit, is to inspire people to choose plant-based living – for the animals, our health and the planet.
  • For the past 39 years, VegTO has run one of the largest vegan food festivals in North America.  It remains the only free vegan food festival in Toronto. 

Vancouver 

How the Veganuary Campaign Can Help Vancouver Align With Its Climate and Food Justice Goals

  • Addressing Climate Commitments: Vancouver has set ambitious climate targets through initiatives like the Climate Emergency Action Plan and Greenest City Action Plan. However, food remains an under-addressed factor in achieving these goals, despite animal-based foods being significant contributors to emissions. Shifting toward plant-based eating can help Vancouver meet its targets by reducing food-related greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Leading in Inclusivity: Vancouver is a diverse city where inclusivity matters. Promoting plant-based eating aligns with cultural and dietary preferences for a growing segment of the population, including those with lactose intolerance or ethical considerations. A recent survey in British Columbia found that 62% believe removing surcharges for plant-based milk promotes inclusivity, particularly among women and younger demographics in Metro Vancouver.
  • Improving Public Health and Sustainability: Vancouver residents have expressed strong support for healthier, sustainable food systems. With heart disease remaining a leading cause of death, it’s concerning that only 28.6 percent of Canadians aged 12 and older report consuming fruits and vegetables five or more times per day according to Statistics Canada, indicating a need for dietary improvements to enhance public health and reduce environmental impacts. 
  • Consumer Support and Opportunity: The demand for plant-based options is clear, with 25 percent  of British Columbians indicating they would order plant-based milk more often if surcharges were removed from cafes. This trend signals an opportunity for businesses to cater to evolving consumer preferences while aligning with sustainability goals.

About Vancouver Humane Society:

  • The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) is dedicated to creating a kinder, more compassionate world for animals and people. Through its advocacy, education, and outreach programs, VHS works to reduce animal suffering, promote sustainable practices, and support plant-forward initiatives that benefit public health, the environment, and animals.
    • Restaurant Toolkit: Future Proof Your Menu is a resource designed to help restaurants add more plant-based options to their menus. The toolkit includes practical tips on ingredient swaps, recipe development, and marketing strategies to meet growing consumer demand for sustainable, inclusive dining choices​.
    • School Toolkit: Aimed at empowering students and educators, the Plant-Based Eating Toolkit provides resources to advocate for more plant-based food options in schools. Created for secondary schools (grades 8-12), the toolkit empowers student clubs and educators to advocate for plant-based food choices. It includes step-by-step guides for starting clubs, tips for campaigns, letter-writing templates, petitions, school announcements, fundraising ideas, and success stories from other schools to inspire meaningful change.

In addition to its focus on farmed animal welfare and plant-based education through initiatives like PlantUniversity, VHS runs programs that improve the lives of companion animals, advocates for policy changes to protect all animals, and engages communities across British Columbia in building a more humane and sustainable future.

How to go Vegan in Ottawa

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By Louise Phillips

So, you live in Ottawa, and you’ve decided to take the plunge and go vegan.

Congratulations, you have joined thousands of your fellow Canadians in helping to promote animal liberation and environmental sustainability. However, after googling “how to go vegan” you are likely overwhelmed by the numerous recipes for tofu scramble and reviews for vegan cheese. Veganism is a global movement, but it is helpful to look locally when you start your vegan journey.

This guide will take you through the Ottawa vegan scene and provide tips on how to thrive as a vegan in the national capital. It will cover everything from local take-out options to social gatherings where you can meet fellow vegans. While this guide is primarily for new vegans, existing vegans might find some helpful tips here too.

Vegan Groceries

Over the past few years grocery stores have stepped up their game to provide a greater variety of vegan goods. Most Loblaws, Metro and Walmart stores in Ottawa stock vegan staples, including tofu, plant-based milk, veggie burgers and legumes. Here are some local grocery options that offer a decent selection of vegan food if you want to expand your culinary horizons.

 Farm Boy  (locations across Ottawa)
Farm Boy locations tend to be slightly more vegan-friendly than your average Loblaws. Look in the bakery section for delicious vegan croissants, cookies, and cupcakes. Farm Boy also has its own vegan cheese range and offers other exciting vegan foods such as kimchi dumplings and chocolate spread.

Whole Foods (951 Bank St)
Whole Foods can be on the pricier side but it has a greater variety of vegan options than the average grocery store. You will find different types of cheeses in the refrigerator section, along with a decent selection of non-dairy desserts, vegan candies and mock-meats. 

Natural Food Pantry (locations across Ottawa)
Natural Food Pantry is a local natural food store that sells a tonne of vegan goodies, including dairy and egg-free versions of your favourite chocolate and SoyCurls, a delicious meat substitute. 

Vegan Cooking and Nutrition

If you’re new to vegan cooking you have likely browsed food blogs like It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken or VeganRicha for recipes and meal inspiration. The web is a treasure trove of excellent vegan recipes but here are a couple of local sources to expand your options. 

The Ottawa Public Library
The Ottawa Public Library has an impressive selection of vegan cookbooks. These cookbooks offer everything from recipes for easy mid-week meals to inspiration for party food to impress your friends. You can check out the library’s collection of vegan books here.

Amy Longard Nutrition
Amy Longard is a plant-based nutritionist here in Ottawa. She hosts cooking classes and coaching sessions for those interested in cultivating a healthy lifestyle. VegOttawa members enjoy 10% off of Amy’s virtual cooking classes.  

Restaurants and Take-out Options

As a new vegan you have plenty of restaurant and take-out options to explore in Ottawa. Check out this link on the VegOttawa website for a comprehensive list. Here is a brief selection of restaurants that are especially popular within the Ottawa vegan community. 

Wei’s Noodle House (610 Bronson Ave)
Wei’s Noodle House is a take-out staple among vegans in Ottawa. It has a dedicated vegan menu with takeout favourites like pad thai, spring rolls and general Tso tofu. Try the spicy peanut soup and you won’t be disappointed. 

Hometown Bar & Grill
Hometown Bar & Grill is a sports bar with a dedicated vegan menu. Hometown is a great place to watch the game with your friends and to try vegan versions of your favourite pub foods, including wings, pizza and lasagne. 

Chickpeas (500 Terminal Ave)
Chickpeas is a fully vegan falafel restaurant in the Trainyards area. It sells a range of falafel sandwiches, salads, hummus and soups. VegOttawa members save 10% off on all orders.

Gong Fu Bao (365 Bank St)
Gong Fu Bao is a bao restaurant that hosts a vegan night every Wednesday. This is a great option if you are craving bao and other treats like Hong Kong (plant-based) Milk Tea but haven’t found a good vegan alternative. 

St. Elsewhere (826 Somerset St W)
St. Elsewhere is a vegan fine-dining establishment with a menu of food and cocktails. If you are looking for somewhere to entertain a first date or celebrate a milestone birthday then St. Elsewhere is the ideal place.

Meet other vegans!

One of the biggest struggles that new vegans face is a lack of social connection with others who share the same values and lifestyle. Interacting with other vegans can make the process of becoming vegan less isolating and more fun! Vegan social meet-ups are also a good opportunity to ask long-time vegans about nutrition, recipes, the best dupes for animal-based foods and more. Luckily, Ottawa has a flourishing vegan social scene with events that span a variety of interests!

Ottawa Vegan Meet-Up
If you are looking to meet new vegans over drinks and conversation, check out Ottawa Vegan Meet-Up. Ottawa Vegan Meet-Up takes place from 7pm-9pm on the last Thursday of each month at St. Elsewhere. There are plans to host Ottawa Vegan Meet-Up picnics in the summer. Sign-up to the Ottawa Vegan Meet-Up email list to learn about future events! 

Ottawa Vegan Nature Club
The Ottawa Vegan Nature Club meets monthly to walk the many beautiful trails in and around Ottawa. If you like exercise, fresh air and the great outdoors you can find out about future hikes by checking out the Ottawa Vegan Nature Club facebook page.

Ottawa Vegan Book Club
The Ottawa Vegan Book Club meets near the end of each month to discuss fiction and non-fiction books through a vegan lens. Check out the Ottawa Vegan Book Club facebook page to get up to date on meetings and to vote for future reads.

Student Groups 
If you are a student in Ottawa, you can find fellow vegan classmates at Animal Rights Carleton or the University of Ottawa Animal Rights Association. While participation in these groups ebbs and flows from year to year, they offer a good opportunity to get involved in activism and social events during your studies. 

Keep up to date with a variety of vegan events in Ottawa by following the VegOttawa on Instagram and on Facebook. 

Vegan Holiday Food

The holidays can be a challenging time for vegans as some traditional foods and treats contain animal products. However, the following bakeries/eateries offer some tasty local vegan options to enjoy over Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah, Eid, Thanksgiving and Lunar New Year. These eateries are open all year for you to enjoy in between holidays!

Strawberry Blonde (111 Richmond Road and 767 Silver Seven Rd Unit 17, Kanata)
Strawberry Blonde is a gluten-free and vegan bakery that really excels when it comes to holiday treats. It offers creme egg brownies and chocolate eggs at Easter, hamantaschen for Purim, sufganiyot for Hanukkah and yule logs for Christmas.

Keepin It Vegan (3 Chartwell Ave, Ottawa)
Keepin It Vegan is another vegan bakery that sells excellent vegan holiday treats, including hot cross buns for Easter and sufganiyot for Hanukkah. They also offer standard and custom birthday cakes.

Alkadoursweets (2269 Riverside Drive, Unit #141 – in Billings Bridge Shopping Mall)
Alkadoursweets sells vegan baklava and other delicious middle-eastern desserts that are perfect for Eid celebrations and other gatherings throughout the year.

Little Jo Berry’s (1305 Wellington St. W)
Little Jo Berry’s is a delightful vegan bakery that usually sells Christmas and thanksgiving meals for one in case you are the only vegan at an omni dinner. They also have a wonderful selection of goodies for Valentine’s Day in case you want to treat yourself or your significant other. 

Yugi Rolls
Yugi Rolls is a vegan food business that sells vegan mooncakes for Lunar New Year. They are famous for their vegan egg rolls, which you can find fresh online on UberEats (available Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 4:30-7:45pm) or in person at Congregation Machzikei Hadas (2310 Virginia Dr) on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 3:30-7:30pm. Checkout the Yugi Rolls website and Instagram page for info on occasional pop-up events. You can also find frozen Yugi Rolls in the freezer section of Little Jo Berry’s.

Health and Beauty

The range of vegan and cruelty-free personal care products available in Canada has rapidly expanded since Canada banned animal testing for cosmetic products in 2023. You can find options for body wash, deodorant, toothpaste, hair dye and more at your local Shoppers Drug Mart or Rexall but if you want to shop more locally then check out the following options:

Terra 20 (1130 Wellington Street West and 197 Trainyards Drive)
Terra 20 is a store that sells a range of cruelty-free, vegan and environmentally conscious products, including dish soap, laundry soap, make-up, shaving supplies, personal care products and cleaning supplies.  

Herb & Spice (375 Bank Street)
Herb and Spice is a local health food store with a decent collection of vegan soaps, shampoo/conditioner and make-up. 

Saaboon Soap (595 Gladstone Avenue)
Saaboon is a local vegan institution. Their soaps and other skincare products are cruelty free, and vegan with lots of zero waste options. VegOttawa members get 15% off of each order.

Headspace Hair Studio (1530 Merivale Road)
Headspace Hair Studio is run by Gabby, a very welcoming and talented hairstylist. She operates the only fully vegan hair studio in Ottawa. VegOttawa members get 10% off of each visit.   

Visit and Support Farmed Animal Sanctuaries

The Ottawa region is home to at least three farmed animal sanctuaries that take care of non-human residents who would otherwise be harmed in the animal agriculture industry. It is a good idea to visit or volunteer at farmed animal sanctuaries to remind yourself why you became vegan in the first place.

Penny Lane (1795 Du Lac Rd, Saint-Pascal-Baylon, ON)
Penny Lane Sanctuary has been rescuing animals since 2013. Their current residents include horses, pigs, cows, bunnies, and cats. Check out Penny Lane’s website for information about volunteering with the animals and follow their Facebook and Instagram pages for updates on events at the sanctuary.

Sweet Sanctuary Animal Rescue (Mississippi Mills, Ontario)
Sweet Sanctuary offers a lifetime home to pigs, chickens and horses. Their volunteer program is full at the moment, and they do not have any scheduled public visits. However, keep an eye out for fun vegan-friendly fundraising events, including trivia nights!

Secondhand Stories
Secondhand Stories offers private tours of their adorable chicken gang on an appointment basis. Visit their online used book store for great deals on awesome reads. VegOttawa members get a 20% discount on all book orders!

Please tell us about anything we’ve missed in the comments!

Discover and Save at Ottawa’s Vegan-Friendly Spots!

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By Joyce Santos

On a Sunday evening, as Spring finally arrived, the Ottawa veg community gathered together at Hometown Sports Grill for VegOttawa Association’s 2024 Annual General Meeting. If you haven’t been to Hometown yet, look for the large vegan symbol displayed on their restaurant on Bank St., and pop in to try their impressive vegan menu. Ottawa’s only urban mushroom farm, SePi Mushrooms, had the brilliant idea to bring samples of their gourmet mushrooms, which Hometown cooked up into delicious lion’s mane skewers and blue oyster mushrooms on vegan pizzas. It was a great vibe with members of the veg community connecting with new like-minded friends. We heard some feedback about how helpful our blog posts are at highlighting member discounts. So on that note, let’s explore more of our vegan-friendly partners to help you decide where to pop into next with your VegOttawa membership.

Cinnaholic

How many times have you encountered the sweet smell of cinnamon at a shopping mall only to keep on walking and wishing for vegan options? Luckily, you can head over to Cinnaholic Lansdowne or Kanata for their gourmet cinnamon rolls that are 100% vegan. Their long list of toppings include fresh fruit, pretzels, vegan marshmallows, streusel, chocolate sauce and more. Their fully vegan menu also features Cinnacakes, cookies, brownies, cookie dough, cookie cakes and mini buns! They also offer catering for special occasions and events. Members save 15% on the entire menu. Find them at cinnaholic.com and on Instagram @cinnaholic.ottawa.

Chickpeas

Ottawa’s first and only falafel and hummus eatery, Chickpeas is 100% vegan and made from scratch! With several types of hummus, you can order a mixed plate to try them all – a colourful display including Red Beet, Mango, Avocado, Black Bean, Red Pepper and Jalapeño hummus served with pitas. They also have falafel wraps and bowls, salads, lentil soup, and unique specials like Fatteh and Koshari. The falafels are like no other and incredibly fresh. Find them at Ottawa Train Yards, chickpeasottawa.ca, and on Instagram @chickpeasottawa. Save 10% on their entire menu with a VegOttawa membership.

BanhMiYes

Bánh Mì was ranked number one in Best Sandwiches in the World 2024, according to tasteatlas.com. Ottawa is very fortunate to have our own vibrant Vietnamese-style sandwich shop featuring vegan Bánh Mì made from scratch with freshly-baked bread, vegan mayo and fresh veggies. Their menu includes the Vegan Tofu, Vegan Shredded Pork and Vegan Chicken Bánh Mì; as well as the Tofu or Vegan Chicken Vermicelli. Members save 10% on the vegan menu in store (Hintonburg & Merivale locations). Find them at banhmiyes.com and on Instagram at @banhmiyes.ottawa.

Keepin’ It Vegan

This exclusively-vegan bakery has cozy seating, a viewing window to peek behind-the-scenes and a variety of prepared take-home goods. With a red seal trained chef, they are famous for their vegan croissants including almond and chocolate, and the display case is filled with dreamy gourmet desserts like macarons, nanaimo bars and cheezecake. You can pick up freshly baked loaves of bread (GF options available) and enjoy sandwiches, muffins, cookies and hot drinks. They even have a kid-friendly space on Toddler Tuesdays from 9am-1pm. If you have a party coming up, you can pre-order their specialty cakes and customize your design. VegOttawa members save 15% on their entire menu. This women-run business is located at Craig Henry Plaza in Nepean and you can check out their menu at kvbakery.ca and on Instagram @keepinitveganbakery.

Maverick’s Donut Company

This local business bakes gourmet donuts from scratch daily, with several vegan options as well as vegan mini-mavs! Their menu changes seasonally and these donuts are a fantastic treat to bring to parties or surprise your friends at a meetup. Enjoy vegan donuts in their seating area with a hot coffee, or when seasonally available, try the vegan vanilla soft serve on top of a vegan donut! You can also custom order special designs on the donuts for special occasions. With several locations across Ottawa, VegOttawa members save 10% on up to 6 vegan donuts in store. Learn more about them at mavericksdonuts.com and Instagram @mavericksdonuts.

Saaboon

A stylish and urban boutique on Gladstone Ave. – Saaboon features locally handmade vegan soap and skincare that is plant-based and zero-waste with all-natural ingredients. The bar soap collection includes botanical soap made with fresh herbs, flowers and premium essential oils and they also carry body balm, lip balm, utility deodorant and more. This shop also now offers a variety of unique potted plants which makes this the perfect one-stop-shop for gifts. Check out their Instagram page @saaboon for behind-the-scenes reels showing how they make these specialty vegan products. Treat yourself to well-protected and nourished skin and save 15% on all soap and skincare from this vegan-owned shop, online at saaboon.com and in-store at 595 Gladstone Ave.

Thali and Coconut Lagoon

A bustling and vibrant dining spot with large windows facing the corner of O’Connor and Laurier — Thali is a perfect mix of casual and elegant atmosphere. It’s a fantastic spot for a lunch with colleagues, a night out with friends or dinner to celebrate a special occasion. The Traditional Vegan Thali is a delicious platter of curries and basmati rice. Other vegan menu items include Chickpea Curry, Eggplant Masala, Vegetable Samosas and Croquettes. 

Their affiliate restaurant, Coconut Lagoon, also features award-winning chef Joe Thottungal and his team. Their upcoming Earth Day Candlelight Celebration features an exquisite  6-course vegan menu including Jackfruit & Soya Biryani and grilled pineapple on vegan ice cream. VegOttawa members enjoy 10% on vegan menu items at Thali and Coconut Lagoon (including their special event menu). These restaurants are inspired by the incredible Kerala Cuisine found on India’s South West Coast. Find them at coconutlagoon.ca and thaliottawa.ca.

Copper Branch

We love this fully-vegan plant-powered restaurant located in Barrhaven. Our favourites are the Oven Baked Nachos, General Tao Bao Buns, Copper Burger Deluxe, General Copper Bowl and the delicious Coffee Cake Muffin. They also have amazing vegan pizzas on GF cauliflower crust! The dining area is spacious and welcoming, and you can pop in for a morning latte, all day breakfast, or meet up for evening drinks. Members save 10% at Copper Branch Barrhaven. Check out the menu at www.eatcopperbranch.com.

Strawberry Blonde Bakery

This bakery is a dream come true for those with alternative diets and food allergies – enjoy a treat without having to worry about cross contamination. They have a variety of beautifully- decorated desserts, including cookies, cupcakes, brownies, cake pops, donuts and handmade chocolate! Strawberry Blonde was recently voted top gluten-free bake shop in Ottawa! They have treats for special occasions, pre-order cakes (we love the Queen Elizabeth!) and savoury options like pizza buns and take & bake tourtiere. You can also spot their treats at several stores in the Ottawa area and they also have an online shop. They are 100% gluten-free, vegan, nut-free and kosher. Find them at store.strawberryblondebakery.com and on Instagram @blondebaking. VegOttawa members save 10% in-store at both locations (Westboro and Kanata).

Zengarry Fauxmagerie

Many are familiar with this local favourite – vegan cashew cheese that comes in many varieties including Sundried Tomato & Basil, Garlic & Fine Herb, Zesty Dill and Double Cream (great in recipes too). They also make vegan pesto and feature unique recipes on their website. VegOttawa members save 15% online and at their store in Alexandria. Check out their Instagram @zengarryveg and their online shop at zengarry.com.

Secondhand Stories

With all this talk about food, here’s one that isn’t food-related but you can find their books at some of our restaurant partner locations! Starting out as an online gently-used book shop, Secondhand Stories is now also a Non-Profit Chicken Sanctuary with 100% of book sales going to support the lovely rescued chickens. Follow them at @secondhandstories_ on Instagram for their awesome chicken content. VegOttawa members save 20% on Secondhand Stories books, which means you can buy even more books to help support this incredible sanctuary. 

Yugirolls

If you haven’t heard about Yugirolls, we’re not sure where you’ve been hiding! Well-known for their vegan egg rolls, they have a large exclusively-vegan Chinese food menu featuring Yugiballs, BBQ Bao, Salt and Pepper tofu and lots more. Check out their delivery options and pickup hours, and follow them on Instagram at @yugirolls. VegOttawa members save 10% on catering orders, as well as select pop-up events. 

Van Tran Photography

Yugirolls’ owner is also the professional photographer behind Van Tran Photography, specializing in artistic portraits and headshots. Check out the stunning collection of photos on Instagram @vantranphoto. VegOttawa members save 10% on photography services in Ottawa and surrounding areas. Also check out the Vegan Camera Project @thevegancamera featuring beautiful portraits of rescued animals to help support local animal sanctuaries!

Animal Justice

Animal Justice is Canada’s only national animal law non-profit. Animal Justice lawyers work to pass strong new animal protection laws, push to hold industries accountable for abusing animals, and fight on behalf of animals in court. You can help support their mission by checking out their online shop at shop.animaljustice.ca featuring Unisex and Women’s Tees, Tote Bags, Athletic Wear and more. VegOttawa members save 15% on online store items and all proceeds from sales go to support their mission for animal protection.

Head Space Hair Studio

A hidden gem on Merivale Ave. – Headspace Hair Studio is a vegan and cruelty-free salon with services including cuts, highlights, colour, wellness treatments and more. Enjoy a completely vegan and inclusive experience with gender-neutral pricing. VegOttawa members save 10% on in-store services. Book your appointment at headspacehairottawa.com and check out the fashion-forward styles on their Instagram page @headspacehair.ottawa.

VegOttawa members can find exclusive online discount codes when they log into their membership, and display their membership from a mobile device at point-of-purchase. In case you missed it, read our recent blog posts Ottawa’s Ultimate Vegan Pizza Round Up, and our Plant-Powered Perks blog featuring our newest partners, Find Your Light Life Coaching, Luxe Teeth Whitening and Amy Longard Nutrition. If you’re not a VegOttawa Association member, 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 an Ottawa business with vegan-friendly items or services, send us an email at info@vegottawa.org to receive our latest partnership info and join our growing list of business partners.

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.

NEW DISCOUNT! Soungui Fitness

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Soungui Fitness will now offer a 15% discount off of new gym memberships, personal and partner training, virtual classes, and their awesome Soungui Fitness apparel to VegOttawa Association members!
Check them out on facebook, instagram or their website for information on services offered. Sign up or add a hoodie to your cart, enter the VegOttawa discount code and save!

Soungui Fitness is a medium focused on getting people from where they are to where they would like to be or have the potential to be.


“At Soungui Fitness we aim to motivate you to maintain an active lifestyle through personalized training and the development of long-lasting, healthy habits. Whether you’re just starting your fitness journey, or you’re a disciplined athlete, you’re in capable hands with Soungui Fitness’ holistic approach to wellness. Healthy living doesn’t just mean fitness, it also means promoting mental and spiritual wellbeing. Our fitness philosophy is centred around vigorous activity, a careful diet, mindfulness and promoting mental health.“

THANK YOU TO ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! MORE DISCOUNTS ON THE WAY!

If you are not a VOA member yet or need to renew your membership, click here.

NEW DISCOUNT! PlantEd Project

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PlantEd Project will now offer a 15% discount off of their Community and Private plant-based cooking workshops to VegOttawa Association members!
Check out their beautiful website (linked above) for more info. about PlantEd Project, their workshops, recipes, blog posts and more!

PlantEd Project is a women-run small business in Ottawa. Co-founders Jackie and Georgia are dedicated to making vegan cooking fun, easy, and accessible.

PlantEd Project provides the tools and resources to help you incorporate plant-based cooking, eating, and living into your daily life.

We offer Virtual Cooking Workshops where you can learn new plant-based recipes, pick up some vegan cooking tips and tricks, and spend time with like-minded people – all from the comfort of your own home.

Join us for a bi-weekly community session or book your very own private session with a group of friends, family, or colleagues. Join us in our journey and discover just how easy it can be to make sustainable choices three times a day.

THANK YOU TO ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT! MORE DISCOUNTS ON THE WAY!

If you are not a VOA member yet or need to renew your membership, click here.

“Eating You Alive” Documentary Screening and Q&A on November 21, 2017

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On November 21, 2017 from 6-10pm at St. Paul’s University, the NCVA will be hosting a screening of Eating You Alive, a documentary about the link between chronic disease and nutrition, and how a plant-based diet can help to prevent and reverse certain chronic diseases. The event will include a talk and a Q&A with Dr. Jennifer Purdy, MD, and Susan Macfarlane, RD.

Tickets are $5 each and can be bought through the Eventbrite Page.

Here is the schedule for the evening, as I found it on the Eventbrite Page:

Featuring leading medical experts and researchers, Eating You Alive takes a scientific look at the reasons we’re so sick, who’s responsible for feeding us the wrong information and how we can use whole-food, plant-based nutrition to take control of our health—one bite at a time. Trailer: https://goo.gl/8JLL7B

6pm – Dr. Jennifer Purdy GP and Susan Macfarlane RD will open the evening with a short talk. Dr Purdy will speak to the link between chronic pain and diet.

Dr. Purdy is a family medicine doctor in Ottawa. She has a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from eCornell, and she is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

Susan Macfarlane is a Registered Dietitian who specializes in plant-based nutrition, eating disorders, weight management, and sports nutrition.

6:30pm – Screening of EATING YOU ALIVE (1hr 50mins).

8:30pm – Q&A / Dr Purdy and Susan will address concerns and questions until 10pm

Please bring your own bottled water. The Green Door is across the street, on Main St, if you’d like to eat before arriving. It offers plenty of vegan options.

Giving Kids a Plant-Based Education

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By Carolyn Harris

A new school year is starting, and kids are going to be learning about health and nutrition at school. Unfortunately, much of the nutrition information taught in schools today is based on Canada’s Food Guide, which is biased in favour of the meat, dairy, and egg industries. In fact, when the 1992 version of Canada’s Food Guide was released, the meat, dairy, and egg industries successfully lobbied the government to increase the recommended number of servings of these products. More recently, the 2003 version of the Food Guide was revised by a panel that included food industry lobby groups. More information on this subject can be found in this article.

With pizza days, Subway sandwich days, and milk delivery being considered the norm in elementary schools, it can be helpful for veg teachers and parents to take some time to teach their students and children about healthy plant-based nutrition.

Both scientific studies and anecdotal evidence show us that people at all stages of life– including children– can be perfectly healthy on a vegan diet. Moreover, vegans and vegetarians are less likely to suffer from various chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, and more. Raising kids on a plant-based diet, as long as it is done properly, is a great way to teach them healthy living, compassion, and sustainability– values that will guide them throughout their lives.

If you’re an educator or a parent looking to teach your kids or students about plant-based eating, there are many educational resources available. Here are just a few of them.

The Physician’s Committee For Responsible Medicine (PCRM) provides resources for schools that promote a healthy vegan diet. Elementary school students can enjoy these “Power Plate” colouring pages that illustrate the elements of a healthy meal, along with this word-search puzzle and extra colouring sheet.

Teachers and parents can educate themselves on the ins and outs of vegan nutrition for children in PCRM’s adorable “Nutrition for Kids” PDF booklet. (Seriously, the way they’ve styled the fruits and veggies is so cute– check it out for yourself and you’ll see what I mean!)

More materials to use in the classroom, including printable posters, can be found on PCRM’s “Resources for schools” webpage, and resources for parents can be found under “Resources for Parents”. PCRM also gives advice to those looking to introduce more vegan options in their cafeterias. Students can follow these tips, while parents and educators can find advice on the resources pages mentioned above.

For older (high school age) students, “The New Four Food Groups” poster can be printed out and distributed to students, or used as a wall chart.

The Vegan Society (in the UK) also provides resources that can be used in schools, such as vegan food guide posters that kids can colour. The posters can be ordered from The Vegan Society’s online store— each pack contains a black-and-white poster to be coloured in, as well as a full-colour poster, and on the back of the poster are nutritional recommendations.

The Vegan Society also sells a colourful vegan nutrition chart that shows from which foods one can get different vitamins and minerals– a great thing to have on the wall of a classroom, playroom, or kitchen to encourage kids (and adults) to eat a wide variety of vegetables and other healthy vegan foods!

In addition, vegan parents may find that getting kids involved in preparing vegan meals– and explaining in depth to the kids why the family is vegan– can help kids become committed to veganism in the long term.

What resources and strategies do you use to educate kids about plant-based nutrition? Let us know in the comments below!