Toronto Vegetarian Association facts for kids

The Toronto Vegetarian Association (TVA), also known as VegTO, is a group that helps people in Toronto, Ontario, learn about plant-based eating. It's a non-profit organization, which means it uses its money to help people, not to make a profit. Since 1945, the TVA has been inspiring people to choose a healthier, greener, and more caring lifestyle by eating more plants.

Discover VegTO: Plant-Based Living

The Toronto Vegetarian Association is run by volunteers. They work to show people how eating plant-based foods can be good for their health, the planet, and animals.

Annual Veg Food Fest

Every September since 1985, the TVA holds a big event called the Annual Veg Food Fest. It takes place at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto. Over 40,000 people visit this festival each year! It's the biggest event of its kind in the world.

The Veg Food Fest has also inspired similar events, called VegFests, in the United States. Visitors can learn about vegetarian topics and try many different plant-based foods from all over the world.

Other Fun VegTO Activities

The Toronto Vegetarian Association does many other things to help people. They have a website with lots of information. They also have a resource centre where you can drop in and ask questions. There's even a list of restaurants and businesses in Toronto that offer vegetarian and vegan options.

Take the Veggie Challenge

One popular project is the Veggie Challenge. This challenge asks people who don't usually eat plant-based to try a vegetarian or vegan diet for one week. It's a fun way to explore new foods!

Bake-Offs and Parades

The TVA also hosts special events like the Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-Off. In 2015, over 500 people came to this event to enjoy delicious vegan treats. They also had the Veggie Parade, which marched through downtown Toronto and ended at Kensington Market.

Seasonal Markets

Since 2019, the Toronto Vegetarian Association has also hosted two annual markets. There's a Veg Spring Market in April or May. And a Holiday Market takes place in late November. These markets are great places to find plant-based products and gifts.

Meatless Mondays Campaign

In 2010, the Toronto Vegetarian Association teamed up with other groups. They worked with Earthsave Canada and Lundi Sans Viande to start a Canadian Meatless Mondays campaign. This campaign encourages people to eat no meat on Mondays. It's a simple way to help the planet and try new foods.

Become a VegTO Member

You can become a member of the Toronto Vegetarian Association for a small yearly fee. Members get a special Toronto Veg Card. This card gives you discounts at over 120 restaurants and health food stores in the Greater Toronto Area.

Members also get a magazine called Lifelines. It has articles about vegetarian restaurants, cookbooks, fashion, and healthy eating. Plus, members can go to special events throughout the year. These include bus trips to local farmed animal sanctuaries, where you can meet rescued animals.

See also

• Vegfest
• North American Vegetarian Society
• International Vegetarian Union
• List of vegetarian organizations