Performers, A Recipe and Recommended Reading

Are you excited? We're excited! Less than two weeks remain until...

• More Food Fair Performers

The Food Fair wouldn't be complete without some singing, dancing and performing. Here are three more great acts to catch on the Toronto Star Stage.

• Focus on the Environment: Waste

Find out more about livestock and the impact of animal waste on the environment. It stinks!

• Recommended Reading for the Fair

An end to food is a scary thought, but thankfully it won't be happening before this year's Food Fair. Find out what we've been reading at the Toronto Vegetarian Association.

• Vegetarianism Trivia: Answers to Round 2

Could you figure out those vegan rock stars and herbivorous animals? Read more to find out how you did.

• Recipe Roundup: Crispy Tofu

No one can say no to this delicious and simple way of making tofu. Try it today.

• Another exciting Announcement: Children's passports!

Vote for us!

Before we resume our regularly scheduled eNews, please take a minute to cast your ballots for VegNews Veggie Awards . Our Annual Vegetarian Food Fair has been nominated in the Favourite Event category and Toronto has received the nod in the Favourite Veg-Friendly City category!

Please note: You can choose "Other" in any category to enter options that don't appear in the survey. For example, you could choose the Toronto Vegetarian Association your Favorite Non-profit or veg.ca as your Favourite Website. You could do that. We'll be your best friend.

Please click the image above to vote for Toronto, the Vegetarian Food Fair and the Toronto Vegetarian Association. Thanks for voting!

The 24th Annual Food Fair
September 5 - 7
Harbourfront Centre in Toronto
See veg.ca/foodfair for more details

Questions or Comments?

Where to Go, Who to See and How to Save a Tree

• Overview of the Food Fair Venue

 Don't know if you should you visit a tent, a room, a marketplace or a cafe? If you want to know more about Harbourfront Centre and the Food Fair, read on!

• Even More Vendors and Exhibitors

• Spotlight on Featured Performers

• Focus on the Environment: Land Usage

• A New Announcement!

• Vegetarianism Trivia, Round 2


It's your second chance to show off your veggie knowledge. Try to answer these trivia questions before the next issue of the newsletter arrives!

Did you know?

The Toronto Vegetarian Association is a charitable organization that relies on donations from people like you to achieve our mission –  to inspire people to choose a healthier, greener, more peaceful lifestyle. Without the support of our members, the Annual Vegetarian Food Fair would not be possible.

To find out more about supporting TVA, please visit our Membership & Donations page.

Questions or Comments?

Please contact Meaghan Miller via email (mmiller at veg.ca) or phone 416-544-8900.

Back by popular demand, it's the Food Fair eNews...

ISSUE 2: The Food, the Chefs and a Summer Salad

• Vendor and Exhibitor Spotlight

It seems only natural that at a Food Fair, someone should do some cooking! Read more to find out who's coming to show us their super chef skills by making some tasty vegetarian dishes.

Forward to a Friend!
If you know anyone else who would like to receive super Food Fair eNews updates, please send them here so they can receive all of our updates - the eNews sign-up form is at the top right hand side of the page.

With the 24th Annual Vegetarian Food Fair less than two months away, we're happy to launch the Food Fair eNews. You can sign up to receive future issues on sidebar of veg.ca or veg.ca/foodfair.

Without further delay, here's Issue 1!

ISSUE 1: Brazier, Baur and the Environment

• Introduction to the Food Fair Newsletter

Where did this newsletter come from, and what is it all about? Who's writing it? So many questions, so click this link for answers!

• Speaker Highlights: Brazier & Baur
  

Could that be super-athlete Brendan Brazier & animal activist Gene Baur? If you can name the non-profit that Gene Baur helps to coordinate, we'll get Gene to come to the Food Fair this year and sign books... heck, we'll get Brendan too!

• Focus on the Environment: What we eat & fossil fuels

As the price of gas is rising, you'll be glad to know that a vegetarian diet is fossil-friendly! This section is just the tip of the melting iceberg of facts about the environment and what we eat.

• Vegetarianism Trivia: Can you name the new 4 Food Groups?

Who doesn't love a challenge? Rack your brain, your bookshelf or your browser for the answers to these questions about eating meat-free!

Sign up to receive Issue 2! 

To receive future updates in your email inbox, just look for the sign-up form on the right hand sidebar of veg.ca or veg.ca/foodfair.

News Release: The Toronto Vegetarian Association calls for greater spotlight on reducing meat consumption in the fight against climate change. 

TORONTO – With the advent of Earth Hour, led by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), on March 29, the connection between energy consumption and climate change will be even harder to ignore. The Toronto Vegetarian Association (TVA), like WWF, actively promotes smaller carbon footprints and better environmental choices. However, we believe the link between climate change and meat consumption needs much greater public attention and action.

“Just as turning off the lights or reducing car usage helps, eating more vegetarian meals and less meat also benefits the environment”, says Stephen Leckie of TVA. “In less than 60 minutes people can indulge their taste buds and help the environment simply by opting for a vegetarian meal.”

TVA wants meat consumption to become a higher priority environmental issue given its proven link to climate change. A growing body of research supports the grave environmental costs of meat production:

• Raising livestock for food emits more greenhouse gases than all of the world’s cars and trucks.

• The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization calls the meat industry “one of the most significant contributors to the world’s environmental problems,” including acid rain, deforestation and water and land pollution.

• Going vegetarian would eliminate 1.5 tons of CO2 equivalent gas emissions per person, per year – an even bigger difference than switching from a SUV to a hybrid.

• Livestock production accounts for 30 percent of the entire land surface of the planet! 33 percent of all arable land is used to grow crops fed to animals, and an even larger area is devoted to grazing.

Looking for a veg-friendly way to get those pesky high school volunteer hours completed?

The Toronto Vegetarian Association is seeking responsible, dedicated, organized youth to assist with our V-Dot Youth Program.

Volunteers are needed to assist with:

• Coming up with ideas for events
• Organizing events - booking spaces, coordinating food donations, finding guest speakers and presenters
• Promoting events via Facebook, email, veg.ca listings, and word of mouth
• Tabling at relevant events in the Greater Toronto Area
  

V-Dot is a youth-led program whose goal is to inspire youth to become vegetarian/vegan, to provide resources to interested youth, and to help the community grow into one where vegetarian youth feel supported and respected.

For more details about how to apply, please visit the Toronto Vegetarian Association's Volunteer Page.

Applications are open until March 31, 2008. 

Toronto Vegetarian Association

Founded in 1945, the Toronto Vegetarian Association is a volunteer-driven charitable organization governed by an elected board of directors.

Our Board of Directors

For information about our Board of Directors or to find out how you can get involved, please contact our board President, Fraser Gibson.

Erica Bach
Arden Beddoes
Diane Burgin
Braven Corby
Fraser Gibson
Caroline Golinski
Alan Jaffee
Rajanthi Manivannan
Peter McQueen
Anna Pippus
JP Richards

Erica Bach

Erica is enthusiastic about the prospect of sitting on the TVA board of directors. A lawyer by profession, Erica has lived all over Canada as well as overseas in Southern Africa and South-East Asia. In the last seven years, her focus has been on international development issues as well as human rights legal work. She has worked for overseas national NGOs, an international organization and the Canadian government. In her professional development Erica has acquired strong advocacy and communications skills, as well as significant experience in policy development and implementation. In her current work, Erica has gained expertise in dispute resolution and interest-based negotiation. 

A vegetarian since age nine and vegan for close to 15 years, Erica has lived a plant-based diet in many parts of the globe. Both in Canada and abroad, she has been struck time and again by peoples’ lack of awareness of the connection between their food choices and social and environmental impacts. Erica moved to Toronto in July of 2010 and has been a TVA member since that time. She is deeply committed to the mission and values of the TVA, and would welcome the opportunity to be more actively involved at the strategic level. As a board member, Erica seeks to promote innovative ways for the organization to support people to adopt and maintain veg diets, and work creatively with the board team to promote initiatives that would broaden the membership base as well as and celebrate the work of the existing TVA community.  

Arden Beddoes

I have been vegan for almost two years. My inspiration to make this step came from my exceptionally persuasive partner, who was already vegan. When she forced me to confront the ethics of consuming animal products, I realized the practice is impossible to justify. As I learned more about the benefits of veganism - for the animals, for the environment, and for my health - I only became more certain that it was the right choice for me.

I became a member of the TVA shortly after I made this decision, and I have found the resources it provides to be immensely valuable in supporting my transition. I think the TVA does an excellent job of promoting the benefits of a lifestyle free of animal products in a safe and open manner, and of providing supportive resources to people who choose to live free of those products. I have been on the TVA's Nominating and Governance Committee since last spring. I want to join the Board of Directors to help the organization manage the governance issues it faces as a charitable organization and hone its strategy in promoting a healthier, greener, and more peaceful lifestyle. I am particularly interested in advancing and considering strategies to help increase the TVA's membership.  

I hold an undergraduate degree in economics and political science from Brown University, and I completed my law degree at the University of Toronto last April. My professional experience includes work in business law, investment banking, and sales. My experience has honed my communications and strategic-thinking skills, and I am excited to have the opportunity to put those skills to work in advancing the mission of the TVA.

Diane Burgin

Treasurer

Diane Burgin (B.Acc.Hon., CMA) has been a volunteer and member of the Toronto Vegetarian Association (TVA) for six years. She is a long-time vegan and loyal advocate for organic food. She has often donated her time and/or funds to many animal and environmental causes such as Farm Sanctuary, Toronto Wildlife Centre, World Society for the Protection of Animals, Greenpeace, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Toronto Cat Rescue, Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals, Toronto Humane Society, Eco Justice, and the International Fund for Animal Welfare. 

Diane has directly applicable skills for the TVA Board position: An undergraduate university degree in Accounting and her recent accreditation as a Certified Management Accountant. In addition to running her own business, she has worked for both small businesses and large corporations. Currently, Diane works as the Corporate Accountant for St. John’s Rehab Hospital, which is run similar to a not-for-profit organization. Having dealt with a wide variety of people in various professional and challenging business climates gives her strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 

After serving on the TVA Board over the last year, she is happy to see that there is good work being done by all and that the organization has so many dedicated volunteers. Diane is looking forward to continuing her work with the TVA and to continue contributing to the strategic direction of the organization.

Braven Corby

Braven Corby has been Vegan for 1 year. After thinking about it for 3 years, he made the drastic change to his diet from eating the S.A.D. diet. Braven has had his share or health problems including digestive issues, low energy, sleep disorders. After careful research and contemplating he decided to make the switch over night after attending a 3 day yoga / mediation retreat on the 2010 / 2011 new year’s eve weekend. Braven was also disgusted at the way animals have been treated on farms for many years. After attending this yoga retreat that his heart and soul took over and at that very point in time he felt it was time. He wanted to start of the New Year right and be a new and improved human being giving to the environment as well as helping his health.
 
Braven is a very avid chef in his spare time. He is preparing his own meals almost every day in his kitchen. He is in transition between careers from a career in acting to going back to school and training to be a professional chef, specializing in vegan and raw vegan type of diet after his completion of his program in a culinary institute. He has not yet determined which one he will attend.

He feels that he could be of great benefit to the TVA board of directors with his knowledge of the vegetarian/ vegan lifestyle and his great enthusiasm and passion for health and helping save animals from being killed.
 
He wants to be more involved and have direct input as to changes made in the future with regards to the TVA. Furthermore, he feels would be a great board member because he is very enthusiastic, ambitious, a great team player and possesses excellent communications skills and is a great listener.

Fraser Gibson

President

I have been a member of TVA’s Board for four years, President since 2008, on the Nominating & Governance Committee and leading strategic planning since 2007. I’ve volunteered for the Vegetarian Food Fair for over 10 years and have been actively involved in various Outreach events for TVA. I have also been one of the coordinators for Veggies of Halton & Peel (a TVA social group) although I now reside in Toronto.

I have previous board experience with non-profit arts organizations. In the workplace I’m a Vice-President at a national distributor of industrial fire, safety and environmental monitoring equipment and my responsibilities include facilitation of project teams and strategic planning. My specialty is supply chain management and I’m a professional member of the Logistics Institute.    

My journey to become a vegetarian started more than 30 years ago and approximately 9 years ago I adopted a vegan diet.  Early inspiration was from an environmental/political perspective, then health, and I finally awoke to the ethical perspective a little over 10 years ago, assisted significantly by presentations at the TVA Food Fair that highlighted the importance of compassion for animals. TVA programs have had a significant positive impact on my approach to food. It is an honour to be able to give back and help support the organisation.  

In 2011 we start implementing a new strategic plan and I look forward to working on those initiatives and helping build on the success of TVA. I will work hard at further strengthening the organisation and enhancing the effectiveness of our programs and the message we deliver.

Caroline Golinski

I have been a core volunteer with TVA for 8 years. I have staffed countless outreach events, volunteered at the Food Fair, sat on the youth committee, contributed ideas to the new strategic plan, and organized TVA's most active social group, VITT (Vegetarians in Their Twenties). My commitment to TVA won me an Ontario Volunteer Service Award in 2008.

In addition to my work with TVA, I founded the York Animal Rights Group at York University, and have completed internships at both PETA and Farm Sanctuary. My diploma in early childhood education, 10 years of experience working with children, and 5 years working in administrative roles have given me excellent organization, communication and leadership skills.



I went vegetarian half a lifetime ago, and have been vegan for the past 7 years. My motivation comes from a desire to see the end of animal exploitation, but I love the environmental and health benefits that veganism brings as well. 



I love TVA's mission: To inspire people to choose a healthier, greener, more peaceful lifestyle. My motivation to sit on the board of directors comes from wanting TVA to become even better at this mission. My interest in marketing and focus on results will be key in ensuring the greatest possible impact of our programs. We need to set clear goals, try out new marketing techniques, and take careful measurements so that we know which endeavours work best. I would like to see Google Analytics installed on veg.ca, a consistent message given to the public, and wider reaching marketing campaigns implemented. Then we measure, measure, measure to understand where our successes lie. TVA's programs do a great job of supporting and celebrating veg*ns. Moving forward, I would like to help ensure that we are even better at our mission, and inspire more people to move towards veg*n lifestyles.

Alan Jaffee

Secretary

My name is Alan Jaffee. I am happy to continue serving on the TVA Board of Directors. In support, I offer the Board the following relevant skills and experience:

• Legal education and licensure as a lawyer
• Worked as government health and privacy lawyer; also private sector legal experience
• Extensive policy development, advisory and analysis
• Communications, public and media relations as well as liaising with various levels of government and NGOs
• Excellent writing, editing, proofreading and communications skills
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, consensus-building, teamwork, computer, organizational and interpersonal skills   
• Project planning and management experience; chaired and participated as a member of numerous teams/committees
• Formal education/experience as healthcare professional
• Completed courses in nutrition and its effect upon health and disease prevention
• Graduate business education (MBA) including finance and accounting courses
• Operated my own small business 

My motivation for continuing to serve on the board:

I have been a vegetarian and TVA member since 1991, and have followed a vegan diet for 14 years. I remain passionate about promoting the vegetarian lifestyle as well as furthering the goals and growth of TVA.

I bring a balanced approach and viewpoint to the Board - one that espouses all of the strategic areas important to TVA: compassion for animals; healthy lifestyle; and environmental sustainability. I believe that TVA should continue as a “mainstream” organization, so that it can reach out to the widest possible audience interested in the vegetarian lifestyle, regardless of motivation. I also feel that TVA should endeavour to forge alliances/partnerships with like-minded organizations. 

My two years serving on the Board have greatly enhanced my understanding of the many issues facing TVA, and this experience has provided me with insight as to how to address the issues and challenges that may arise in the future. 

Rajanthi Manivannan

My extensive work experience and educational background makes me the ideal candidate to join the Board of Directors at the Toronto Vegetarian Association. I earned my undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Waterloo and have attained my professional designation as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).  I have worked in a variety of industries (banking, telecommunications, and retail) in the finance department supporting various sales organizations. Over the years, I have had experience managing operating budgets, producing monthly reporting packages, financially supporting multiple large-scale strategic initiatives, and building revenue projection models in order to optimize sales performance.  

Over ten years ago, I came across an undercover video produced by PETA highlighting the cruelties of factory farming.  After viewing the disturbing images, I vowed to give up meat and haven’t looked back since.  I have been vegan for the past three years and every day I find myself more committed to the cause and passionate about advocating the importance of a vegetarian lifestyle.  I have been volunteering with the Toronto Vegetarian Association for the past three years at the Annual Food Festival and multiple events throughout the year.  I have recently joined TVA’s fundraising committee and hope to bring my grant-writing experience to the team.  I have volunteered with Impact First International, a microfinance NGO, as a grant writer and am currently the lead Finance Officer with the recently launched non-profit, Networks for Change.  I expect that my contribution will help fulfill TVA’s core initiatives outlined in the three-year strategic plan.  Most notably, I hope to develop forecast models to optimize self-sustaining events and include measurement of their impact.  

Peter McQueen

Communications Committee Chair

I have a long history with TVA, having served on the Board of Directors for 26 years in various capacities including President. Currently I am the Chair of the Communications Committee. I have also volunteered on the Veggie Challenge Team. On the grassroots level, I often volunteer at TVA outreach opportunities. I became vegetarian 35 years ago, about half of that time I’ve been vegan.

I am currently employed as an elementary teacher, but I also have a degree in Business and a certificate in Human Resources Management, both of which give me insights into organizational development, accounting and marketing. As well as being a financial supporter of and occasional volunteer with many animal rights and environmental organizations, I am the founder of the Canadian Organic Growers, a registered charity, on whose board I served for about a dozen years.    

TVA needs to continue to be welcoming of all people, a big tent that includes vegans, vegetarians and those interested in veg*ism, whatever their motivations. We need to continue to promote plant-based lifestyle choices using a responsible multi-faceted approach. Our board and volunteers need to reflect and encourage the engagement of all. Furthermore, I believe we need to continue to build a strong team of volunteers and staff, activists and professionals, who will make TVA the best local vegetarian group in the world! TVA must continue to act strategically, learning from our past, refining and improving our techniques, and maintaining our balanced approach. Our diversity is our strength.

Anna Pippus

Vice President

I have been a vegetarian for most of my life. I have always loved animals, and as a child dreamed of growing up to become a veterinarian. I wound up taking a different path in life, and now hold a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from UBC and a Juris Doctor in law from U of T. I find this background quite useful as an activist: ultimately we are trying to inspire change at both the individual and societal levels. I am now pursuing a career as an animal rights lawyer.

I began volunteering with the TVA in 2009, writing letters, tabling at events, and distributing directories. I have also been actively involved in the animal rights community in Toronto, working with various groups doing everything from event planning to legal research. Previously, I worked as a rape crisis counsellor, during which time I gained insight into the operation of a charitable organization, including fundraising, community outreach, volunteer training, and communications strategizing. 

I think the Toronto Vegetarian Association is an exemplary organization. With limited staff and budget, it manages to have an enormous impact and reach many vegetarians and aspiring vegetarians. Winning people over to adopting a healthier, greener, more peaceful lifestyle depends on showing them how delicious and accessible vegetarian food is in a non-threatening way. The TVA does this well, and I want to assist in carrying out this mission. At the same time, I know I will continue learn a lot from the other intelligent, compassionate, and dedicated volunteers who contribute their skills and time to the TVA.

JP Richards

Co-Founder of Booty Camp Fitness Inc. (BCFI), JP helped grow BCFI from 1 to over 100 locations making it “the most women’s only fitness boot camps in Canada” in just over 2 years. Recently, BCFI earned a 2011 “HOT 50” award from Profit Magazine as one of Canada’s fastest growing companies. His latest start-up is MettaMeals.com, a revolutionary online software that creates highly personalized plant-based meal plans.  Previously the founder of Toronto SEO Company, an Internet marketing firm where he fine-tuned his craft in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Conversion Optimization (CO). In addition, JP’s work history includes 2+ years as a Communications Manager for a boutique public relations firm and 1 year as a Marketing Director for an experiential learning company.  

His skills include:

Marketing - Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Conversion Optimization (CO) & User-Friendliness, Web-Site Analytics, Social Media Marketing, Corporate Design & Branding, Sale Copywriting, Media Relations, Demographic Analysis,

Leadership & Added Value - Business Start-Ups & Aggressive Growth Strategies, Sales & Profit Forecasting, Corporate Image Development, Goal Setting & Incentive Planning, Company Mission, Vision, & Values Articulation, Cross-Departmental Supervision & Management,

Human Resources - High-Impact Presentations, Employee Pre-Screening, Recruiting, On-Line Want Ad & Job Posting Creation, “True Colours” Training, Employee Coaching & Empowerment, Performance Appraisals & Disciplinary Action 

I’m pumped about joining the TVA Board of Directors (BOD)! When I first became a vegetarian in 2005, the TVA Directory was my go to resource. Joining the TVA BOD is a way to give back and pay it forward.  JP would like to be actively involved in the Communications Commmittee, and is committed to conversion optimizing Veg.ca to be more user-friendly and convert more web visitors to TVA members. Also, he hopes to refocus overall TVA communications to increase TVA membership.