Countdown to Compassion Week with author Marc Bekoff

Join internationally-renowned author Marc Bekoff for a fascinating exploration into the hidden world of animal emotions.

Sunday, May 16th at 4 pm
Hart House Music Room, University of Toronto
Tickets: $8 at the door, $5 for students

Q and A, and book-signing to follow.

Do animals experience happiness and grief, empathy and compassion, envy and anger? What do they think about and know? Marc Bekoff's ground-breaking research into animal thought and behaviour commands worldwide attention. Drawing on his academic research and personal experience, Marc's insights and observations about how animals play, solve problems and form friendships are sure to provoke serious questions about our relationship with animals.

About The Author

Marc Bekoff, Professor Emeritus of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder, is a Fellow of the Animal Behaviour Society and a former Guggenheim Fellow. He is author of 22 books, including The Emotional Lives of Animals, The Animal Manifesto and he has co-authored Animals Matter and The Ten Trusts with Jane Goodall.

About Compassion Week

Compassion Week is our attempt to start a conversation about the role animals play in our lives and to encourage people to explore compassionate alternatives. Compassion Week takes place from May 28 through June 6 at venues across Toronto. Stay tuned to compassionweek.ca and the Toronto Vegetarian Association Facebook group for upcoming event announcements throughout the month of May.

	Tweet if you love TVA! Come follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/torontoveg We’re on Facebook Join the Toronto Vegetarian Association Facebook Group to receive invitations to events and more! Want even more news? Want even more news? TVA members are entitled to a free customized version of VegE-News. Find out more.

Get your calendar out and start saving some dates because May is a busy month, full of events for Toronto's vegetarian community!

Starting with a lecture from renowned author Marc Bekoff on May 16th, and moving into a week-long series of events during Compassion Week beginning May 28th, there's no shortage of activities to keep you busy. Whether you're interested in food, academics, shopping or reading, there's something for everyone this month.

And it's not just TVA that's bringing you great events - check out the Readers' Classifieds to find out about Brendan Brazier's book signing tour and other great veg-related events coming soon to the city.

With spring arriving full force and the city's grass exploding with the bright yellow flowers of dandelions, there's no better time to feature dandelion greens as our food of the month and a recipe for Bittersweet Salad to go with it.

Don't Miss These Upcoming Events!

Marc Bekoff will speak about animal emotions on May 16th, and Compassion Week kicks off on May 28th with a talk by Michael Greger. Find out more in the TVA in Action section or on Facebook.

The Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale is just a few days away! Come celebrate this international event at the TVA Resource Centre!

There will be plenty of baked (and maybe some raw) goods to satisfy. Come on by and purchase some treats, then head up to the Resource Centre if you'd like to get your hands on some cookbooks so that you can get into the kitchen yourself!

Today Hyein and Liam have baked goods on the mind because of next week's Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale.  Adding further fuel to the fire are Liam's recent delicious experiences with two incredible vegan bakers in Toronto, Cupcaketionery and Sweets from the Earth.

Hyein talks a little bit about being vegetarian in Korea and her forbidden foraging practices. 

We also speak of the incredible vegan atmosphere at Brock University where they offer a concentration in Critical Animal Studies and have a fantastic vegan department policy.

Today's podcast is a surprisingly fart free 37 minutes.

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Brenda also talks about her new book, Becoming Raw, and a forthcoming updated version of Becoming Vegan.

She finishes off by speaking about the remarkable work done in the Marshall Islands to help with their diabetes epidemic.

This episode is a 4000 IU mushroom 37 minutes.

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	Tweet if you love TVA! Come follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/torontoveg We’re on Facebook Join the Toronto Vegetarian Association Facebook Group to receive invitations to events and more! Want even more news? Want even more news? TVA members are entitled to a free customized version of VegE-News. Find out more.

A lot has happened since March, and a lot more is coming before May!

TVA has been in the public eye hosting lectures for students, and using media outlets like the Toronto Star and T.O Night to ask omnivores to join the Meatless Mondays campaign. But in April we'll still continue supporting people who are ready to adopt a vegetarian diet through events like the Health Starts Here Cooking Series, and a bake sale to during the World Wide Vegan Bake Sale.

During Compassion Week in May, we'll encourage people to consider adopting a vegetarian diet not only by luring them with delicious food and impressive health benefits, but also by highlighting the ethical concerns with eating animals.

If the lives of animals interest you as well, make sure to check out our animal profile of the month on ducks and exciting news for elephants in India!

Don't Miss These Upcoming Events!

The World Wide Vegan Bake Sale will happen on May 1st. Nimisha Raja takes you around the world with her Health Starts Here Cooking Series. Find out more in the TVA in Action section or on Facebook.

New Discoveries

Vegan Danish Bakery (7718 Yonge Street, n. of John, Thornhill, 905-882-1331) is a Danish-style all vegan bakery and more! Their description: "We're vegan, we're Danish, and we bake! So, we started the Vegan Danish Bakery! Incredible vegan chocolates, delightful breads, fantastic cakes and pastries, awesome patés, Danish-style burger patties, spandour, kransekage, and marzipan treats!"  Sunny writes: "They have amazing truffles, pastries that they make upstairs! Just added a refrigerated display last week, so more items will come."

Lik's Vegetarian Kitchen (633 Silver Star Blvd. #F5, Steeles & Midland, 416-321-9088)
Min Min let us know about this fast food stall in a food court selling Asian vegetarian cuisine.There are over 100 items on the menu!

Two Girls Cooking (www.twogirlscooking.com, 647-342-7930) are raw, organic, gluten-free, vegan snack food producers. Their description: "Two Girls Cooking is committed to producing raw, organic, gluten-free, vegan snacks. Our vegetable based crackers and kale chips are handcrafted from live whole foods, in harmony with our earth. Dehydrated below 115 °F, all of the naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and deliciousness within vibrant whole foods are preserved."  See website for where to purchase. Available at many health food stores, including: Ambrosia Natural Foods, Organic Garage, Evergreen Natural Foods, Noah's, Panacea and Baldwin Natural Foods.

Business Opportunities

Rawlicious (3092 Dundas St W, w. of Keele, 416-519-7150) has launched the first raw food franchise system  in Canada! They write: "In an effort to make healthy and nutritious food accessible to a wider audience, Rawlicious is announcing that they are selling franchises across Canada. Our goal is to create hundreds of new raw entrepreneurs and provide truly healthy meals at moderate prices." Contact Angus Crawford or Chelsea Clark at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  or 647-349-4510 for more information. They are a living foods (raw) cafe, featuring delicious smoothies, salads, wraps, pastas, breakfasts and desserts. This cafe has a beautiful airy ambiance with backyard patio.

Closures

Olive Tree Organics (366 Bloor St E, w. of Sherbourne, 416-920-5003) has closed. They were an organic and natural food market.

Pearl Vegetarian (4080 Sheppard Ave, Unit 5, e. of Kennedy, 416-299-9322) has closed.

Update to Vegetarian Guides page

Vegan Guide to Prince Edward Island (P.E.I) (http://www.vegpei.com) 
Prince Edward Island isn't known for being super vegan-friendly. It is, however, easy to be vegan on the island with this guide.

New Veg & Vegan Options at large chains

Has anyone else noticed the "I heart vegetarians" ads from Thai Express and been a bit excited?! Dara writes to let us know: "I was just at Thai Express here in Toronto (the one around University and Elm) and they now offer a veg option for their Pad Thai, Pad Sew, stir-fries, and fried rices!  They leave out the fish sauce and even ask if you want the egg left out. Not sure if there are any other hidden animal ingredients though (ie. in any of the other sauces they use), but probably not if they are saying it is a vegetarian/vegan option." 

One of our volunteers wrote that she noticed Second Cup selling Sweets from the Earth cookies in her locality!  We've found out that all the locations that carry cookies and a few other Sweets From The Earth all-vegan goodies and have listed them below. If you are able to show your support, hopefully the chain will stock these treats in more locations.

Second Cup - Wilson & Dufferin  693 Wilson Ave, Downsview
Second Cup - York University  4700 Keele St, Unit #27 York Lanes Building, Toronto
Second Cup - York Mills Shopping Centre  311 York Mills Rd, Toronto
Second Cup - Lawrence Plaza  490 Lawrence Ave W, Toronto
Second Cup - Leslie  1881 Leslie St, Toronto
Second Cup - Mt Sinai  600 University Ave, Toronto
Second Cup - 642 Mt.Pleasant Rd, Toronto
Second Cup - Clark  441 Clark Ave W #13, Thornhill
Second Cup - Promenade Mall  1 Promenade Circle Thornhill,
Second Cup - Yonge & Hwy 7  8910 Yonge St, Unit #1 & 2, Richmond Hill
Second Cup - Main Exchange Plaza   800 Steeles Ave West, Vaughan
Second Cup - Rutherford  9330 Bathurst Ave, Vaughan
Second Cup - Westdale  1004 King St W, Hamilton



 

Easter is a celebration of resurrection and rebirth, so it is the perfect occasion for everyone – veggies and non-veggies alike – to enjoy a delicious meat-free meal. Check out our tips on what to serve and links to the best recipes.

Also included are quotes from Veggie Challenge participants who gave up meat for Lent, a link to a good article about a woman questioning the baked ham that has always formed the centre piece of her family's Easter dinner, and a crucifixion ad by PETA.

Image from Sonicwalker's Flickr site (creative commons).

After being featured last week in the Toronto Star, Meatless Mondays took to the radiowaves this Monday on CBC Radio's Here and Now!

In The Star article, Toronto Vegetarian Association Executive Director, David Alexander, talks about the reasons for going meatless one day a week.

"We think it's a great way for us to reach out to people who might not be ready to consider going completely vegetarian but who are interested in healthy eating, or they're interested in reducing their environmental footprint."

~ David Alexander

Read the story here

You Can Get Involved!

Everyone has the opportunity to participate in Meatless Mondays, even if you're already vegetarian!

Ask a friend or family member to join Meatless Mondays. Send them to meatlessmondays.ca and twitter.com/MeatlessTO.

Support Meatless Mondays. Make a donation to the Toronto Vegetarian Association to support our work on this campaign.

Spread the word. The Toronto Vegetarian Association is on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Use your social media tools to inspire people to choose a healthier, greener, more peaceful lifestyle.

Today there was a celebration of podcast co-hosts.  New co-hosts Lisa O. and Hyein endure being surrounded by veterans Jason, Angela, Liam and John.  The group is excited to talk about the book sale and cookie sale that took place at the Resource Centre.  Lots of books were sold, lots of people visited the resource centre, and lots of cookies were eaten. Thanks to everyone who came out!

Liam has a good question of the week: Who's your favourite vegetarian/vegan?  Some of the answers are Woody Harrelson, K-os, Colleen Patrick Goudreau, and Geezer Butler.

Some of the other topics of conversation on today's show:
- Eating take-out McDonalds in a vegetarian restaurant
- Boardwalk Chocolate's bunny buttons
- TVA's Woldwide Vegan Bake Sale contribution on May 1st
- Whole Foods has more vegan prepared foods (Hi Delphine!)

This episode is a donkeybooger 25 minutes.

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Spring cleaning and vegan cookies are invading the TVA Resource Centre!

Why the special occasion? The book we've all been waiting for since watching Terry Hope Romero's cooking demonstration at the 25th Annual Vegetarian Food Fair, Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar, is finally in the TVA office. Plus, we want to make space for ordering even more new books.

This Saturday, March 27th we'll be offering "oldies but goodies" cookbooks for $5 each or three for $10. Spend $20 or more and you'll get a free sampling of cookies made from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar.