Welcome to the Toronto Vegetarian Association's Volunteer CommunityVolunteer NewsVolunteer ProfilesVolunteer Submitted RecipesVolunteer Stories Volunteer News
May 2012: Sally Grande has done it again! This time she's got a great article about the health benefits of vegetarianism in an online blog for Boomer's. Check it out here. February 2012: Congrats to TVA volunteer, Sally Grande, who's beautiful carrot paintings were highlighted in a local Oshawa paper recently. Click here to see the article, and make sure to visit her website to see more of her paintings! January 2012: More TVA volunteer celebrities! Already famous within the TVA community for their amazing design work on Food Festival posters, starting and organizing Veggielicious and volunteering in the Resource Centre, Sean Ohlenkamp and Lisa Blonder-Ohlenkamp recently made headlines with their viral youtube video. Click here to see the video, although we're sure you probably already have! Not only did the video immediately get countless views, it even landed them an article in the Toronto Star. November 2011: Congratulations to TVA volunteer, Tikka Smiley, whose recipe for a vegan pot pie made her a finalist on the Food Network's Recipes to Riches! Her episode aired on National TV Wednesday, November 9th and made a wonderful statement about how delicious vegetarian food is. The intro to the show even included a mention of her volunteer work for TVA, thanks Tikka! Click here to watch her episode online. October 2011: On Friday, September 23rd approximately 60 TVA volunteers got together to celebrate the success of the 27th Annual Vegetarian Food Festival. All festival volunteers were invited to the thank you party, catered by a local vegan catering company. More than 200 volunteers make the Annual Vegetarian Food Festival possible in roles as wide as volunteer checkin, TVA outreach, cooking demo assistants, program distributors and much more. Special congratulations goes out to the winners of the festival membership contest: Valerie De Grandis, Kelleigh Bell and Ashkon Hobooti, who signed up the largest number of new members.
July 2011: Congratulations to Lisa Pitman, who was voted favourite Toronto Vegetarian Association volunteer in this year's Volunteer Survey. If you haven't yet met Lisa, you would recognize her from TVA outreach events, staffing the bookstore at the Vegetarian Food Festival, running cooking demonstrations at the Vegetarian Food Festival, or from her stellar annual event, the Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-Off! Congratulations also goes out to Lisa Bergart, who won the random draw in the survey for a free TVA t-shirt and cookbook!
Congratulations to volunteers at the York University Health Fair who did an astounding job of signing up 94 people to the Veggie Challenge! That means 94 people made the commitment to try a vegetarian diet for one week! January 2011: Congratulations to Kasia Mychajlowycz of the TVA Letter Writing Team, who spread the word that ducks and geese deserve respect and consideration when her Letter to the Editor was published in the National Post on January 14th, 2011. Way to go Kasia! Click here to see Kasia's letter. December 2010: Congratulations to the winners of the 2010 Tofu Awards that were presented at the 2010 Annual General Meeting, for outstanding volunteer achievements on behalf of TVA. Volunteer ProfilesTony Davison Rachel PowerJosey KitsonCaroline GolinskiLisa Blonder-OhlenkampNeil Baker
James Smart
You'll be surprised to hear that with all of that volunteering, he still finds time for his interest in fitness, working out six days a week and regularly meditating as well. He also likes spending time in the kitchen, something that became an interest of his when he went vegetarian nine years ago and began tweaking recipes and putting his own spin on things. One of his greatest pleasures is being around people, whether it be camping, volunteering, house parties or playing board games at Snakes and Lattes, which is one of the reasons he joined TVA in 2002 and began volunteering in 2003. He says he likes helping out because he gets to learn new things and meet great people. So stop by the Resource Centre on a Wednesday evening so you can meet James for yourself! David Hunt
He started doing so because of his compassion and concern for animal suffering and his desire to see more people evolve to a veggie way to lessen that suffering. He says "TVA is the best way to do this because of the long history of reaching out to the public to send the message of trying to live a more peaceful and compassionate life, and the commitment of great volunteers who run the TVA. I know TVA makes a big difference in getting people educated and informed about the veggie life and in embracing compassion for animals." Before or after spending many of his Saturday or Sunday mornings or afternoons getting TVA tables ready for these important outreach events, he enjoys reading, playing pool, golf and he's recently taken up guitar too! He's recently made a career switch to the Wind Energy Industry after working for 23 years as a Registered Massage Therapist. Now check out one of his favourite recipes, the Quinoa Salad with Black Beans and Mango from Veganomicon (posted in the recipes section). Kelly Sprague
Once Kelly moved to the city, it wasn't long before she got involved with TVA and began volunteering at the Resource Centre, a perfect fit for Kelly who was looking to socialize and chat with other people, and was eager to answer people's questions amidst others who also have great knowledge about vegetarianism. Udai Srinivasan
Every non-profit organization dreams of having someone with fundraising expertise to keep the organization thriving and able to afford the best resources to reach the largest audience possible. We're so fortunate at TVA to have Udai as a board member and volunteer who does just that! Udai comes to TVA with a professional fundraising background. He completed his MBA at Schulich with a specialization in non-profit management. Now, he finds himself back at York University where he works as a major gifts officer. As both a board member and chair of the Fundraising and Membership Development Committee, Udai has used his experience and knowledge to build a culture of giving and launch innovative new fundraising campaigns that have kept momentum going as we started new programs last year like Compassion Week. When not spending countless hours building TVA's capacity, you're likely to find Udai hanging out at his local Starbucks. Oh wait, even there you'll probably still find him with his laptop in hand, dreaming up some new initiative to build TVA's financial stability. Shivangi Trivedi  What the world needs is more people like Shivangi whose contagious enthusiasm and outgoing personalities inspire people to try a vegetarian diet. Shivangi is yet another of our allstar outreach volunteers who tables at community festivals and trade shows, telling people about the benefits of a plant-based diet and answering questions about the how-to of going vegetarian. And as a vegetarian since birth, Shivangi is certainly well positioned to answer people's questions! She says that her most memorable TVA experience was the first time she volunteered with us, at a table at Pedestrian Sunday. She recalls that even though it was raining from time to time, there were still people who stopped by the booth and wanted to talk to so many people about the benefits of vegetarianism. "That was the first time I ever felt that I could change something about the sorry plight of countless innocent animals and that felt great."
Tony Davison
By the time the race came around in September, Tony was no stranger to TVA. Upon moving back to the GTA in 2009 and seeing one of TVA's tables and books for sale at a health show, he knew right away he wanted to get involved as a volunteer. He was excited about the idea of getting people interested in the nobleness of becoming vegetarian. Since then, he's quickly become one of our all-star outreach volunteers, tabling at different community events throughout the GTA and inspiring people to adopt a vegetarian diet. We're forever grateful to now have him setting other animals free every time he staffs a TVA table at an outreach event and motivates another person to go vegetarian!
Rachel Power
If you're a TVA outreach volunteer, by now you've probably seen the Meatless Mondays postcards we distribute at outreach events to encourage people to commit to cutting meat out of their diets at least once a week. The person behind those gorgeous postcards? Meet Rachel Power! Rachel has done design work for TVA that has included the Meatless Mondays postcards as well as a soon-to-be-released media kit. She began volunteering with TVA because she wanted to give back after finding support and information from the organization when she was making her own transition to a vegetarian diet. If you like what you see in Rachel's design work, take note! She works as a freelance graphic designer with her own business, Power by Design. Rachel gives back to the community in more ways than one, by offering special design services for non-profits that support animal rights and green initiatives. We're looking forward to seeing what beautiful work Rachel will surprise us with next! Thank you Rachel! Josey Kitson
Josey brings with her a wealth of experience from her role as a Project Manager at the World Society for the Protection for Animals. There, she oversees WSPA's companion animal projects, and it is this experience that has given her such fantastic insight on how TVA can grow its programs to be more successful and reach larger goals. But that's not all that Josey has done with TVA. She's also led training sessions for staff and board members on setting and reaching goals, and has taken an active role in helping create our next strategic plan. On top of volunteering with TVA, and working in animal protection, she's also busy helping animals in other ways, such as volunteering with Wheatens in Need on behalf of her lovely Wheaten Terrier. Josey is strong, passionate and she gets things done. Who better to have chairing one of TVA's committees and revitalizing programs to inspire people to choose a healthier, greener, more peaceful lifestyle? Caroline Golinski
Is there anything Caroline hasn't done at TVA? Let's see. She's one of our long-time, expert outreach volunteers. She's volunteered in almost every capacity at the Annual Vegetarian Food Fair, from tabling, to Veggie Challenge, to volunteer checkin to event assistant, and she's helped us come up with ideas for our 2011-2013 strategic plan. On top of that, all along the way she's managed to find time to run VITT - Vegetarians in Their Twenties, a social group that meets for sports outings, dinners and picnics. Caroline's devotion to animal rights spreads beyond TVA. As a student at York University, she was president of the York Animal Rights Group, a working group of OPIRG that attended tabling events and even produced their own vegetarian directory for the Keele Campus. Her work with TVA and other non-profit organizations has inspired her to change careers. She is looking for a job in the non-profit sector so she can work on improving the world full-time. Caroline is one of those pillars of support we turn to on countless occasions. Thank you Caroline!
Lisa Blonder Ohlenkamp  Lisa O, as she's affectionately referred to at TVA, moved to Toronto only a year ago, yet we've had the delight of getting to know her quite well in this short period of time! She's a regular Saturday Resource Centre volunteer, as well as a frequent host of the Toronto Vegetarian Podcast, and she coordinated Toronto's first Veggielicious festival in spring 2011! We've been so thrilled to meet and work with Lisa as she's brought such wonderful enthusiasm and initiative. In addition to helping TVA, her and her husband, fellow TVA volunteer Sean, are foster parents for the Toronto Cat Rescue, and she's got her own blog too! (blonderland.blogspot.com) While we hope to continue to work with Lisa for years to come, she admits her dream is return to her hometown and open up her own vegan bakery and cafe. In the meantime, you can continue to listen to Lisa chat about her plant-based adventures on the TVP on Saturdays, or drop into the Resource Centre to meet her in person! Neil Baker
He's also been involved with TVA in a number of other roles, including the two terms he served on TVA's Board of Directors, and as a volunteer at the Annual Vegetarian Food Fair. And on top of supporting TVA with people power, he's also one of our monthly donors, providing ongoing financial support to help fund our programs. In his other life outside of TVA, Neil works in Natural and Organic Sales for UNFI Canada. In fact, he can even help hook you up with cases of vegetarian products at wholesale prices (please inquire if you'd like us to put you in touch). In his spare time, he says he loves "sports, sports and more sports!", along with movies, hiking, yoga, cooking, and rollerblading with his dog and partner in crime, Murphy. We thank Neil from the bottom of our hearts for all that he does.
Favourite Recipes from TVA VolunteersGaram Masala Gobi Broccoli and "Cheese" SoupChili Con BulgurEthiopian Lentils and KaleChickpea CutletsComfort SoupVegan Cheese Sauce
In a small saucepan, whisk together the dry ingredients. Add the liquid and oil and combine thoroughly. Stir over medium heat until mixture becomes thick, then add the mustard or tahini. This sauce is great for macaroni or cooked vegetables. Lauren's Famous Carrot CakeMakes one 9” cake Cake Ingredients
Cake Directions Preheat oven to 350C. Grease a 9” pan. Whisk ground flax seed and water together in a small bowl, set aside. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, and spices in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix brown and white sugars, sunflower oil, and vanilla until well combined. Add flax seed/water mixture and pineapple. Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix until just combined. Fold in grated carrots. Be careful not to overmix. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cake cool in pan 10 minutes, move to cooling rack to cool completely before frosting. Icing Ingredients
Icing Directions Beat cream cheese and margarine with an electric mixer until smooth and fluffy. Add vanilla, lemon juice, and salt. Sift in 2 cups of icing sugar. Beat until combined. Add 1 more cup of icing sugar and beat until smooth. If a thicker icing is desired, add ¼ C more icing sugar at a time until reached. Use icing to frost cooled cake. Extra icing can be stored in a sealed container in fridge for use on cookies, cupcakes, or eaten with a spoon. Spinach PappuIngredients
2 tbsp oil 1/2 tsp cumin 1/2 tsp mustard seeds 1 tsp salt 1-1/2 tsp freshly ground ginger 3-4 green chilies 10-15 curry leaves 1 cup toor dahl a big bunch of well chopped spinach 1 medium-sized white or yellow onion chopped 1/2 cup (loosely packed) of chopped coriander 1.5 cups of rice cookedInstructions 1) Cook one cup of dahl either in a pressure cooker or on a stovetop, and remove from heat. 2) Sautee cumin and mustard seeds in oil until you hear a popping sound from the mustard seeds. 3) Stir in chopped onions and sliced chilis into mustard seeds and cumin - cook onions until they start to turn translucent. 4) Stir in chopped spinach. Cook the spinach well (it will shrink a lot!). 5) Stir in dahl, curry leaves, ginger and salt. Add a few cups of water to bring to a soupy consistency - this is served on top of rice! Squeeze in half a lemon if you like your pappu sour. 6) Cook well (covered). Serve generously on rice.
Stuffed Okra Ingredients
Directions Wipe okra with wet cloth and air dry (ensure that the okra is dry). Cut the tops and slice the okra longitudinally so that it can be stuffed In a bowl mix the 1 tablespoon oil with the rest of the ingredients to make a paste. Slightly more water or oil can be added. In a non-stick pan, spread a tablespoon of oil. Fill the okra and place them on the pan. Heat the pan without cover at low temperature on the cooking range for 15-20 minutes. The okra should be left slightly crunchy. Garam Masala Gobi Ingredients1 head cauliflower Directions: Break apart the cauliflower into florets and place in casserole dish or dehydrator tray. Blend macadamia nuts in high power blender with olive oil. Add lemon juice along with celtic salt and cayenne pepper. Pour sauce over florets and massage it in. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or dehydrate at 145 for 1-2 hours. Sprinkle with cilantro. Broccoli and "Cheese" SoupYou can use either all broccoli, or a combination of broccoli and cauliflower in this recipe, and may opt to make it dairy-free by using faux cheese. Ingredients3/4 cup water Directions: In a large saucepan, combine water, cauliflower/broccoli, potatoes, celery, carrots, and onion. Boil for 5 to 10 minutes, or until tender. Set aside. Melt butter in separate saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour, and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and gradually stir in milk. Return to heat, and cook until thickened. Stir in vegetables with cooking liquid, and season with salt and pepper. Stir in cheese until melted, and remove from heat. Chili-Con Bulgur from La Dolce Vegan Ingredients
Directions: In a large saucepan on medium heat, sauté the onions in oil until translucent. Add the carrots, celery, green peppers, and garlic and sauté for an additional 2-3 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients, bring to a boil, then reduce heat. Simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Ethiopian Lentils with Kale (adapted by Caroline from a recipe online) Ingredients
Directions Chickpea Cutlets from Veganomicon Lisa says this recipe is a favourite because it's a quick and easy patty, and it's not too hard to vary it up with different flavors depending on what you have on hand. Ingredients
Directions In a mixing bowl, mash the chickpeas with the oil until no whole chickpeas are left. Add the remaining ingredients, and knead for about three minutes. Preheat a large frying pan on medium heat. Meanwhile, divide the dough into four pieces. Knead each piece and flatten and stretch to be a roughly 4 by 6 inch cutlet. Add a thin layer of oil to coat the pan. Cook the cutlets on each side for 6-7 minutes. You may need to add more oil when you flip sides. If you like, you can also bake the cutlets instead of frying. Bake them at 375 for 20 minutes on one side. Then flip and bake for 8-10 minutes on the second side. Comfort Soup This is Neil's self-proclaimed "comfort soup of choice", and it comes from PETA's Compassionate Cookbook. Ingredients
Directions Saute the onions and carrots with oil for 5-10 minutes. Add all other ingredients (minus the lemon and balsamic), and stir and bring to boil. Simmer for 40-50 mins - you will probably have to add water after 20-30 mins so be aware. Add lemon juice and balsamic to taste if using.Volunteer Stories Submit your volunteer story to volunteer@veg.ca! Tell us about your experience volunteering for the Toronto Vegetarian Association and inspiring people to choose a healthier, greener, more peaceful lifestyle. |
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June 2-9, 2012Celebrate the many benefits of veg |
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The Toronto Vegetarian Association is proudly supported by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which builds healthy and vibrant communities in this great province. |
April 2011: Approximately 20 TVA volunteers, staff and board members got together for 
a board game party to celebrate National Volunteer Week on Sunday, April 10th. Attendees enjoyed yummy soup, cupcakes and more while diving into games such as Scrabble and Dogopoly in the city's west end. This free event was made possible thanks to the generous donations of local vegan businesses 
March 2011: The Toronto Vegetarian Association wanted to thank the many volunteer columnists and editors that make our newsletter, Lifelines, possible, so we invited them to a free lecture and cooking demo from local chef and nutritionist Marni Wasserman! Seven of Lifelines dedicated volunteers learned about calcium rich plant-based foods and tried out Marni's delicious spinach patties and carob-fig brownies!
What hasn't James done for TVA? He's volunteered for years at outreach events, he's worked in many different capacities at the Annual Vegetarian Food Festival, and most recently he's become a regular member of the Wednesday Resource Centre crew.
One of our most common volunteer opportunities is tabling at outreach events, and many of you have probably done just that at least once! Well if you have, you can thank David Hunt. David is one of our trusted set up and tear down volunteers, meaning he's the man responsible for driving the materials to and from the TVA office and setting them up at events like the Green Living Show and Pedestrian Sunday.
Kelly grew up in Guelph, but lucky for us, she recently moved to Toronto! After working as a registered massage therapist, Kelly decided to go back to school for holistic nutrition, bringing herself and her baking business (
Get ready - get set - go! That was Tony Davison crossing the starting line at the 2010 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront 1/2 Marathon this past September. Tony was one of more than 15 runners on the Toronto Vegetarian Team at the race, and he did an amazing job running his first half marathon and raising funds to support TVA.
Josey Kitson joined TVA's Programs Review Committee two years ago, and since then has been invaluable to adding clarity, focus and organization across all of our programs. 
Neil is part of the glue that holds TVA together. As one of our set up and tear down volunteers, Neil plays a critical role in getting TVA to a wide variety of community outreach events throughout the year where we distribute fact sheets and encourage people to sign up for the Veggie Challenge and try going vegetarian for one week.