Tag: vegfest

Veg Fest Returns to Ottawa After Hiatus — Free Entry for All!

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For Immediate Release

VegOttawa Fest 2025 will be Ottawa’s biggest veg-focused event since 2019, and admission is free!

May 12, 2025 – On Saturday, July 5, residents from across Ottawa and the surrounding area will come together for VegOttawa Fest 2025, a fun and inspiring one-day event hosted by VegOttawa Association. The festival will run from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM indoors at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre and will be free to attend (donations at the door are appreciated). 

VegOttawa Fest 2025 will be the city’s first veg fest since 2019 and with plant-based living more popular than ever, this year’s event promises to be Ottawa’s biggest and most exciting celebration of plant-based food and sustainability yet.

The festival will have something for everyone: foodies, vegans and vegetarians, health-conscious individuals, environmental advocates, animal lovers and those curious about plant-based living. We invite attendees to join us for a day filled with delicious food, inspiring guest speakers, cooking demonstrations and more.

What to expect at VegOttawa Fest 

The tradeshow is the heart of VegOttawa Fest, and in 2025, over 70 veg-friendly organizations from Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal are expected to exhibit. From businesses selling prepared foods and delicious goodies to take home, to merchandise, apparel and non-profit organizations, there will be lots to explore. 

VegOttawa Fest will also feature a full day of programming, with expert panels covering topics from health and nutrition to animal welfare laws and advocacy. There will be cooking demonstrations and a workshop about eating vegan on a shoestring budget as well.

Finally, VegOttawa Fest will have activities for families, local musicians, dedicated areas to connect with others, and specialists who can answer questions about nutrition and health.

For an up-to-date list of exhibitors and the speaker program, and for details on how to get to the event, please visit the VegOttawa Fest website. 


There’s still time to participate!

Exhibitor spots are over 80% booked, but companies interested in exhibiting can still sign up to do so online. We invite veg-friendly businesses and makers of food, drink, personal care, services, lifestyle, crafts and more to apply as soon as possible.

Organizations interested in sponsoring VegOttawa Fest can also express their interest online. Sponsor support is integral to the success of large community events like veg fests.

Finally, individuals who support VegOttawa’s mission and work and make a contribution to the volunteer-run and not-for-profit festival, or volunteer for the event by signing up here.

For Media Inquiries

For interviews and other media-related inquiries, please contact: 


About VegOttawa Fest

VegOttawa Fest is a celebration of plant-based living! Free to attend and open to everyone, this event is a great place to try new foods, meet new people, and learn about the vegan movement. Visit vegottawa.org/fest for more details. 


About VegOttawa Association

VegOttawa is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting vegan lifestyle, community and business in Ottawa and surrounding areas. Originally founded in 2006, VegOttawa has since been working to raise awareness about the environmental, ethical, and health benefits of plant-based eating. VegOttawa Fest plays a vital role in bringing together individuals, businesses, and organizations across Canada, committed to creating a healthier, kinder, and more sustainable future.

VegOttawa Fest Promo Video

Meet NCVA Vegan Cupcake Challenge judge, Ian Capstick

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Veg Fest and The NCVA Vegan Cupcake Challenge is less than two weeks away! Ottawa’s best amateur vegan bakers are no doubt immersed in a frenzy of last-minute baking and testing as they vie for the title of the NCVA Vegan Cupcake Champion and the fabulous prize package that accompanies the prestigious title.

As of now, there are 18 entrants to the competition, so it’s going to be fierce! And delicious.

Today in the last part of the “Meet Our Judges” series we introduce Ian Capstick.

Ian Capstick, principal of MediaStyle, an Ottawa-based communications firm, has been saying ‘thanks’ with cupcakes since he opened up shop.

His enthusiasm for baking has manifested in the sponsorship of an unconference about cupcakes known as Capital Cupcake Camp. With hundreds of entries, t’s definitely the largest cupcake event in Ottawa. Which means Ian Capstick knows cupcakes.

While MediaStyle is not a cupcakery, Ian believes that cupcakes are meant for sharing, much like the communications work MediaStyle does online.

Meet NCVA Cupcake Challenge judge, Ron Eade

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For Part 3 of our 5 part Meet the Judges series we get to know the Ottawa Citizen’s own Ron Eade.

Ron Eade has been the food editor at the Ottawa Citizen, the capital region’s largest newspaper, since 1998. He is also the authour of Omnivore’s Ottawa, a blog encompassing all things food in the Ottawa region.

While Ron is far from vegetarian, he does have an appreciation for good food in whatever form, and has attended Veg Fest as a patron in both 2009 and 2010. In 2011 he joins the NCVA as a guest judge for the NCVA Cupcake Challenge.

At home he regularly experiments in the kitchen and tests new dishes on his wife, Nancy, and young son, Graeme. Most of those dishes are not vegetarian.

On May 1, Ron will be found eating far too many cupcakes for one person, along with the other NCVA Cupcake Challenge judges. Already announced: CBC’s Stu Mills, and the incomparable Auntie Loo. More to come!

NCVA Cupcake Challenge – Meet Our Judges – Part 1 – Auntie Loo

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Hey everyone,

We’ve had such an AMAZING response to the Cupcake Challenge and we’re really looking forward to seeing and of course TASTING all your creations!

For those of you that haven’t signed up for a chance to have your cupcake named Ottawa’s best vegan cupcake, please click here

We kick off the Meet Our Judges series with none other than Ottawa’s own queen of vegan cupcakes….Auntie Loo!

Auntie Loo’s is a small vegan bakery here in Ottawa. Ms. Loo learned to cook at the knees of her family members, and the majority of what she produces are these very recipes- veganized! Auntie Loo firmly believes that if you want a dessert, it had better taste like one. Auntie Loo’s uses organic products whenever possible, and works with and purchases from small local businesses.

Most people want to know the story, so here it is: Put up to having a vegan treat table at the 2004 Ladyfest Ottawa Craft Sale by her sweet-toothed roommates, Ms. Loo had never even considered baking as a career. Overwhelmed by the response, Auntie Loo’s was born.

Nowadays, Auntie Loo’s Treats can be found in several locations around Ottawa, including her storefront at 507 Bronson Avenue.

Did you miss Veg Fest guest speakers? Here’s your second chance.

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We have been very fortunate to be able to anchor our two Veg Fests with top notch speakers on what we consider to be the key reasons to live a veg lifestyle: Health, Environment, and Animal Rights.

Unfortunately some of our volunteers were among those who were not able to see the speakers make their presentations (that includes Corrie and I, the event organizers). There were also many others who either couldn’t make it to the event, or couldn’t tear themselves away from the excitement happening upstairs.

But there’s good news: The NCVA now has each of the speaker’s presentations online! You can download or stream them here.

Just to recap…

In year one, 2009, we had the good fortune of welcoming Brenda Davis R.D., who is an author of seven books and one of the most well-known experts wordwide on vegan and vegetarian health. She gave two informative and compelling talks. Our presentations that year were rounded out by Montreal’s Yasmin Fudakowska Gow, a yogi and environmental activist who participated in a 2008 Climate Change awareness tour of 21 university campuses across Canada sponsored by the David Suzuki Foundation, and Jason Halvorson, an animal right activist whose activism has made waves from coast to coast.

In year two we had some real heavy heavy hitters: Gene Baur, founder of Farm Sanctuary, Dr. Michael Greger M.D., a physician, author, and internationally recognized professional speaker on a number of important public health issues including veganism, and Jae Steele, a Toronto-based registered holistic nutritionist living in Toronto and cookbook authour.

So be sure to listen to them, and share them with your friends and family! And stay tuned for news on Veg Fest ’11, which is being held May 1 at the Glebe Community Centre.

Veg Fest ’09 and ’10

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The NCVA is small, but mighty: In 2009 and 2010 we put on two Veg Fest events at Ottawa’s Glebe Community Centre, which attracted a combined 4,000 attendees! Pretty amazing for a tiny, 100% volunteer-run organization.

Each Veg Fest (title sponsored by The Table Vegetarian Restaurant: http://www.thetablerestaurant.com) featured roughly 30 exhibitors, three food demonstrators, and three guest speakers. A silent auction raised funds for the NCVA. Other sponsors have included ZenKitchen, Green Earth Vegetarian Restaurant, Rainbow Natural Foods, and Market Organics.

Our guest speakers have included high profile names including Brenda Davis, RD (www.brendadavisrd.com), Jae Steele (www.getitripe.com), Gene Baur (www.farmsanctuary.org), and Dr. Michael Greger (www.drgreger.org).

We are currently sorting out the details for Veg Fest ’11. Stay tuned for more information!