Vegetarian organizations

Canada

Animal Alliance of Canada
221 Broadview Ave., Toronto, M4M 2G3, 416-462-9541, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.animalalliance.ca
Long-term animal protection through advocacy and education. Lots of information available about animal protection issues across Canada.

Canadian Vegetarian Association
www.canadianvegetarian.org
The Canadian Vegetarian Association (CVA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the unification and advancement of Canada’s growing vegetarian community.

CHIP (Coronary Health Improvement Project)
www.sdachip.org/locations/
~~A world-leading, community-based, 4-week lifestyle improvement program. They advocate a vegetarian diet containing only 10-15% fat. Several programs across Canada.

Prince Edward Island

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.

Nova Scotia

Abolishing the Status of Animals as Property
http://www.asap-online.info/
ASAP Nova Scotia is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, dedicated to challenging the view of non-human animals as commodities for human use, and promoting respect and compassion for all animals. 

Halifax Association of Vegetarians
www.halifaxvegetarians.ca
Blog: www.halifaxvegetarians.blogspot.com
HAV - Halifax Association of Vegetarians - (formerly Atlantic Veg Association) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle and veganism, and to uniting vegetarians and those interested in vegetarianism in the Halifax area and in Nova Scotia.

Halifax Vegan Potluck group
http://halifaxveganpotluck.googlepages.com
We meet every second Sunday at 6pm at the Dalhousie Women's Centre, 6286 South Street, Halifax (beside the Dalplex). Everyone is welcome. Wheelchair accessible.

Quebec

Aequo Animo
www.aequoanimo.com
Aequo Animo is a nonprofit organization whose objective is to promote vegetarianism, the protection of animals, and the protection of the environment. Aequo Animo's methods consist primarily of informing and sensitizing the public about the ethical and environmental consequences of our consumption habits.  (Pointe-Claire, QC)

Montreal Vegetarian Association
www.vegemontreal.org
New (added Nov. 2006) The MVA is a bilingual non-profit organization promoting vegetarianism and its benefits. Their website provides French and English content for events, membership info, FAQ's, restaurant listings and much more. They organize social gatherings, cultural events and sports activities for ever growing community of vegetarians in Montreal. They have officially existed since August 2005 but have been active as an association since August 2004. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 514-410-2737.

Réseau Végéta*ien de Québec - Quebec City Veg Network
http://cf.groups.yahoo.com/group/RVQ-QCVN/
Yahoo Group for Vegetarians and Vegans from Quebec City and surroundings wanting to share recipes, information, and ideas.
Groupe Yahoo pour les végéta*iens de Québec, un lieu de rencontre pour ceux désirant partager recettes, informations, trucs, ou idées d'activités.

Vegan Québec
Quebec,  www.veganquebec.net
››› Vegan Québec s'adresse à toutes les personnes intéressées par l'alimentation et l'éthique VEGAN. Rencontres, recettes, articles, et liens.

Ontario

Barrie Vegetarian Group on Facebook
20 members as of Dec 02, 2008.

Hamilton Vegetarian Association
Update (March 2009): this group has stopped running.

Hamilton Vegetarian Society
www.hamiltonveg.ca
New (Jan 2009): We have networked with community and business groups around Hamilton to establish what is now the Hamilton Vegetarian Society. Our local section is dedicated to the increasing need to become locally self-sustainable. Our events section offers you all the activities we organize to bring the vegetarian community together.

Kitchener Waterloo Animal Advocacy Group (KWAAG)
www.kwaag.org
A new organization that started up in 2008. They fill the gap left behind by the disbanding of Waterloo Region Vegan Advocacy Group.

London: University of Western Ontario - Purple Veggies
purpleveggies.blogspot.com
We are the veg*n social group at the Univesrity of Western Ontario! Join us for cooking demos, discussions and our famous potlucks!

London Ontario Vegetarians for the Environment (LOVE)
Purpose: To foster respect and compassion for all living things. To bring to the forefront, the escalating environmental devastation to our planet caused by factory farming. To inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for people, animals and our environment.
   "We are hoping to establish a vegetarian association in London, Ontario. If you are interested (or know anyone who might be interested) in helping establish this association, please email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it " – Apr 22, 2007

Orillia Vegetarians
http://orilliaveg.blogspot.com/
The Orillia Vegetarian group meets once a month to enjoy good cooking and trade thoughts on topics like healthy diets and organic farming. Everyone is welcome. Contact us at orilliaveg [at] gmail.com

Ottawa, Hull: National Capital Vegetarian Association
The NCVA is a member-based organization formed to represent the interests, ideals and needs of the general public in the National Capital Region. Not exclusive to vegetarians, the NCVA is focussed on educating people about preventative ways to improve public health through plant-based foods.
Check out their 2007 Veg Guide. 

Sudbury: Northern Vegetarian Society
1303 Marcel St. Sudbury, ON P3E 4G2, 705-522-8582
www.ivu.org/nvs
They offer frequent guest speakers and potluck dinner meetings. Membership includes a quarterly newsletter and discount card. Sudbury has no vegetarian restaurants but there are places offering pasta in town, and for a truly good meal they recommend Alexandria’s.

Disbanded: Waterloo Region Vegan Advocacy Group
This grassroots organization aims to decrease the suffering of farm animals and increase awareness of health and environmental issues stemming from animal agri-business. They have monthly meetings and free PETA Vegetarian Starter Kits are distributed at many locations in the area.

Toronto Area

For veggie events see our Toronto Area events page. See our TVA Groups page for small groups that are part of Toronto Vegetarian Association.

A Stroll in The Park Walking & Adventure Club
416-484-9255  www.astrollinthepark.com
~~Fun for single nature lovers! Trips, walks, dinners and more!
››› Single Nature Lovers Wanted. Fun group nature walks on Sat. or Sun. Also, join us for our fun RSVP events. Dinner dates, band nights, movies, fireworks and more. Great day, weekend and holiday trips. Vegetarian option at all events. Our events are 99% single, but couples, groups and tourists are also welcome. Get a $40 Annual Membership Card and get 3 walks or RSVP event tokens Free!! (School walks / Special Interest weekday walks by request.)

Action Volunteers for Animals
P.O. Box 64578, Unionville, ON L3R 0M9, 416-439-8770
www.actionvolunteersforanimals.com
››› Hands-on work, especially with feral cats, and educational activities. A registered charity.

ARK II-Animal Rights Kollective
416-536-2308, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.ark-ii.com
~~ARK II is a non-profit animal rights group founded in 1984.
››› We seek to promote and protect the rights of all animals and foster their individual liberties through direct action, political action and public awareness campaigns. We will strive to build a world where animal liberation and human liberation become one in a fabric of mutual respect, tolerance and compassion.

LOV: Liberty Over Violence
416-871-7152  www.libertyoverviolence.ca
››› Liberty Over Violence exists to help all animals through public demonstration, educational campaigns, promoting a cruelty-free and compassionate lifestyle, and working towards changing legislation. LOV strongly believes that all nonhuman animals have inherent value and interests independent of their usefulness to humans. They deserve a life that is free from exploitation, confinement and suffering.

Toronto Vegetarian Association (TVA)
17 Baldwin St, 2nd Floor, Toronto M5T 1L1
416-544-9800 www.veg.ca/tva
Canada's largest and oldest vegetarian organization. Dinners, events, annual Vegetarian Food Fair, Veggie Challenge, newsletter, discounts, public resource centre, www.veg.ca. See our TVA Groups page for small groups that are part of TVA.

TVA Social Groups –
416-544-9800  www.veg.ca/groups

UofT Coalition for Animal Rights and the Environment
UTCARE
Founded in May 2004, they are currently the only group on campus that deals with animal rights. Through the education efforts of members, the promote ethical animal treatment and environmental sustainability. If you have a facebook account you can checkout their facebook page.

V. A. S. T. – Veg*n Adventures and Socials in Toronto
facebook.com/group.php?gid=72967065007
Veg*n Adventures and Socials in Toronto (and beyond) offers a range of activities for those who are vegan/vegetarian/veggie-friendly. Our activities have have ranged from hiking in Rouge Valley, to ice skating, vegan camping, indoor climbing, to vegan bbq/potlucks. Formally called "TVA Adventures."

Wild@Heart has disbanded but L.O.V has formed in their wake

York Animal Rights Group (Part of OPIRG-York)
www.yorku.ca/opirg/Working%20Groups.html (from this page you can download a word document of their directory of veg-friendly places to eat on campus. Here is a web version: York University Keele Campus vegetarian directory )
New (Sept. 2006). Purpose: To educate York University's community about issues of animal rights and what individuals can do. We are a peaceful, non-violent, law-abiding, consensus-based group. We promote a vegan lifestyle, and support individuals in their transition to a cruelty-free lifestyle. We will be doing lots of tabling and leafleting throughout the year, as well as holding special screenings and presentations. We are interested in holding joint on-campus events with related groups, so please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any ideas!
    For more info, drop by OPIRG's office on the 4th floor of the Student Centre or contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it "

Manitoba

Winnipeg Vegetarian Association
www.ivu.org/wva/
A non-profit group dedicated to fostering and encouraging vegetarianism in Winnipeg through social and educational activities.

Saskatchewan

Regina Vegetarian Society
www.reginavegetariansociety.org
A non-profit group dedicated to promoting the health and environmental benefits of a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. The Society  hosts potlucks evenings, dinners, restaurant outings, film nights and other public events. They welcome vegetarians, vegans, and those who would like to reduce their consumption of animal products. A one-year membership costs $10.

Alberta

Calgary Vegetarian Society
www.calgaryveg.com
(403) 261-9628 / (403) 283-7292, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Vegetarians of Alberta
988-2713, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
www.planet.eon.net/~voa/  

BC

EarthSave Canada – v
Vancouver, BC  www.earthsave.ca
~~A non-profit, educational organization promoting awareness of the environmental, ethical and health consequences of our food choices.
››› Regular vegan potlucks in the Vancouver area. Quarterly newsletter. Office / Library / Bookstore open 12:00pm – 4:00pm, Tuesday – Saturday. Members and public welcome!

Liberation BC
    Active animal rights group in Vancouver. http://liberationbc.org

Vancouver Island Vegetarian Association
www.islandVeg.com
Formed in the autumn of 1980 to serve as a source of encouragement and information on the vegetarian way of life for people of Vancouver Island and surrounding areas. 

Vancouver Vegetarian Association
www.VancouverVeg.com - no longer active

United States

For local American groups go to www.ivu.org and select "USA" (or a particular State) and "Vegetarian & Vegan organisations & websites".
• SoyStache also has an extensive list at: www.soystache.com/vegorg.htm

AZforAnimals – a Phoenix Area List-Serve run by Julie Nicolazzi. She sends out notices on activities and events in the Arizona area to help animals. AZforArizonas-subscribe (at) yahoo.com or JulesInAZ (at) cox.net

EarthSave
EarthSave promotes a shift toward a plant-based diet by raising awareness of the ecological destruction linked to the production of "food animals." Many local chapters.

Mercy For Animals
Mercy For Animals promotes a vegan diet through public education and advertisement campaigns, research and investigations, rescues, working with news media, and grassroots activism.

North American Vegetarian Society
Promotes the health, environmental and compassionate benefits of a meat-free diet. 

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM)
5100 Wisconsin Ave NW, Suite 400, Washington DC
www.pcrm.org 202-686-2210
  Doctors and laypersons working together for compassionate and effective medical practice, research, and health promotion. Our membership consists of over 6,000 physicians and 100,000 lay people. We have many resources for the clinician and the layperson about healthy diet, and humane science. Additionally, we do our own clinical research on diet and health.
  They have an excellent Vegetarian Starter Kit.

Vegetarian Resource Group (Baltimore, MD)
A non-profit organization which provides a wealth of information to the vegetarian community. They have many articles and recipes (all searchable), guides, books, tips, nutritional information from dieticians, and you can even play the VRG game!

Vegan Action
Educates the public about the benefits of a vegan lifestyle through public outreach campaigns. Vegan Action Challenge: Host a vegan/vegetarian dinner party for 3 or more non-veg friends, and you may win a $20 Amazon gift certificate and McVegan T-shirt. Also has an online catalogue of T-shirts and books.

VivaVegie (New York)
An organization which devotes itself to the task of vegetarian street advocacy.

International

For vegetarian groups in various countries go to www.ivu.org and select a region and "Vegetarian & Vegan organisations & websites".

Animal Friends Croatia
Organization for promoting of animal rights and vegetarianism, with their own "Veggie Guide" of restaurants in Croatia.

Christian Vegetarian Association
An international, ecumenical fellowship of Christians advocating plant-based nutrition.

EarthSave International (see listing under United States)

International Vegetarian Union
The major aim of IVU is to further vegetarianism worldwide by promoting knowledge of vegetarianism as a means of advancing the spiritual, moral, mental, physical and economic well-being of humankind. The TVA is a member of the IVU.

Supreme Master Ching Hai Meditation Association
They follow five precepts: The first one being "Refrain from taking the life of sentient beings" (meaning no meat, fish, poultry or eggs). They also have a project called Alternative Living – "encouraging people to switch to a vegetarian diet, having compassion toward our animal friends and avoiding deadly disease such as bird flu. Here you will find vegetarian recipes and very convincing information in multi languages."

Vegetarian Union of North America
Their mission is to promote a strong, effective, cooperative vegetarian movement throughout North America. They are the North American regional arm of the International Vegetarian Union. TVA is a member of VUNA.

VeggieJews

Veggie Jews is an international vegetarian and animal rights organization with a long established Yahoo Group at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/veggiejews. You can also learn more about them on their website: www.veggiejews.org .