Hello Insiders, and welcome back for another Thursday edition. This week is a big one with Mother’s Day on Sunday, and the newsletter is packed with ideas for celebrating—whether that means a vegan high tea at Avelo, a pastry box pickup from Fatty Bear, or just spending time with someone special at the Planted Expo.

The expo returns to the Enercare Centre on Saturday and Sunday with over 200 plant-based vendors, cooking demos, panels, and even a vegan fashion show—easily one of the biggest weekends of the year for the vegan scene in Toronto.

Also in this issue: registration is now open for Veg Eco Camp, updates on activism events, and news from Mexico City as it moves to curb violence in bullfighting.

Scroll down for details and tickets.

Green Zebra delivers fully vegan, ready-to-eat meals across the GTA, with new menus every week. Meals arrive fresh, never frozen, and are made with whole food ingredients—no shortcuts. It's a convenient option if you're looking to eat plant-based without the prep.

Week of May 8 -14:

News:

• Registration Now Open: Veg Eco Camp

  Veg Eco Camp is back for 2025, running from July 6–12 at YMCA Cedar Glen in Schomberg, just 40 minutes north of Toronto. Open to youth aged 9–17, the week-long overnight camp offers a fully vegan menu, outdoor adventures like high ropes and archery, and workshops on animal rights, environmental awareness, and mindfulness. The cost is $845 per camper, with financial assistance available. Registration is capped at 70 campers, so spots may fill quickly. To register, visit the official site

• Mother’s Day Vegan Pastry Box from Fatty Bear
  Fatty Bear is offering a special vegan Mother’s Day Pastry Box for pickup on Sunday, May 11 at their pop-up location (1607 Dupont St). The box includes an almond croissant, blueberry lemon cheesecake danish, butter croissant, and a cardamom coffee roll. This is also their second-to-last weekend at the space, so it’s a good time to visit if you haven’t yet.
  Order here

Events:

• Planted Expo Toronto 2025: Canada's Largest Plant-Based Event
  📅 Date: Saturday-Sunday, May 10-11, 2025, 10:00 AM
  📍 Location: Enercare Centre
  🎟️ : Planted Expo Tickets
  Planted Expo Toronto returns this weekend, May 10–11, at the Enercare Centre (Hall D), bringing together over 200 plant-based and sustainable exhibitors. The event features a lineup of speakers and cooking demonstrations, including sessions by Jason Fonger on plant-powered athletics, a panel on building animal-free systems with Nital Jethal and others, and cooking demos by @Plantcrazii Lloyd Rose and @hotforfood's Lauren Toyota. Attendees can also enjoy a vegan fashion show hosted by Vikki Lenola and discussions on political transformation in the plant-based movement. Tickets range from $15 to $20, with free admission for children under 12. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the official site

• Focaccia Bread Art Class
  📅 Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
  🕒 Time: 1 PM to 4 PM
  📍 Location: Wishbone AR Lab - 600 Bay St Suite 308
  More info: Here
  Learn how to create your own quick-rise, medium tray-sized focaccia bread masterpiece at this hands-on vegan bread art class led by Czarina. The cost is $55 per person, and participants are asked to bring their own baking tray.

• Vegan Afternoon Tea for Mother’s Day at Avelo
  📅 Dates: Saturday–Sunday, May 10–11, 2025
  🕒 Time: Various seatings
  📍 Location: 51 St Nicholas St.
  🎟️ Tickets: Reserve your table

  Celebrate Mother's Day with a thoughtfully curated vegan afternoon tea, featuring a selection of finger sandwiches, scones, and decadent sweets, all crafted with love and care, served with a pot of tea. The menu includes savoury items like wild leek scones, croissants with camembert cheese and smoked kojify carrots, cucumber sandwiches with almond boursin cheese, potato terrine, and tomato phyllo tarts. Sweet offerings feature strawberry, mango, and hazelnut macarons; raspberry and vanilla opera cake; almond cranberry cake; blueberry scones; and sable butter cookies.

  This special afternoon tea will continue for the following two weekends, May 17–18 and May 24–25. Please note that specific venue details and ticket information are not provided.

• Mother’s Day High Tea at Animal Liberation Kitchen
  📅 Date: Sunday, May 11, 2025
  📍 Location: Animal Liberation Kitchen, 100 Broadview Avenue
  🎟️ Reservations: Email [email protected] Liberation Kitchen is offering a special vegan High Tea for Mother’s Day, featuring a selection of sweet and savoury bites served in their signature wholesome, plant-based style. Reservations are required via email, and seating is limited.

Activism:

• Mother’s Day Vigil for the Cows
  📅 Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
  🕒 Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  📍 Location: St. Helen's Meat Packers Ltd, 3 Glen Scarlett Rd
  🎟️ Tickets: Not required

  Organized by Toronto Cow Save, this vigil aims to honour mothers of all species by drawing attention to the exploitation inherent in animal agriculture. The event will take place outside St. Helen's Meat Packers, a slaughterhouse in Toronto. Participants are encouraged to join in solidarity to advocate for the rights of animals and to commemorate the maternal bonds disrupted by industry practices. For updates, please refer to the official Facebook event page.

• Premier Doug Ford’s proposed Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act has sparked concern among environmental groups and Indigenous communities, as it introduces sweeping changes that would weaken environmental protections, undermine endangered species legislation, and diminish Indigenous rights. Key provisions include the creation of “Special Economic Zones” where select corporations could bypass environmental laws and planning rules, and the replacement of the Endangered Species Act with a weaker Species Conservation Act. Critics argue this would pave the way for unchecked development, including projects like the Eagle’s Nest mine in the Ring of Fire, without full environmental assessments. Public consultation on the bill is open until May 17, offering a narrow window for opposition.
  Tell the government: Ontario is not for sale

World Vegan News:

• Mexico City—one of my favourite cities—has just taken a major step toward animal protection by banning violence and killing in bullfights. The reform, passed by the city’s Congress, prohibits the use of sharp objects and sets a ten-minute time limit for each bull’s appearance, marking real progress in recognising animal sentience. While groups like World Animal Protection welcomed the decision, they’re calling for a full ban on using bulls, cows, and calves in shows altogether, citing continued suffering from transport stress and noisy environments. Still, this is a landmark moment in the global movement to end bullfighting.

Product of the week:

This week’s pick: e.l.f. H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen
It’s still surprisingly difficult to find makeup that’s both vegan and cruelty-free—a lot of brands claim one but not the other. That’s one reason e.l.f. has built such a loyal following. The brand has long been certified cruelty-free by PETA and all its products are 100% vegan. This week’s pick is the e.l.f. H2O Proof Eyeliner Pen—a waterproof, smudge-resistant liquid liner with a precise felt tip. It’s designed to last all day without fading and is especially popular for sharp wings and tightlining. A solid choice for anyone looking to replace their liner with something more ethically made.

*If you decide to purchase this product I do receive a commission which helps support this newsletter and is very much appreciated 🙏🌱

In the Near Future:

*(more info will come closer to the dates)

• Vegan Afternoon Tea for Mother’s Day
  📅 Dates: Saturday–Sunday, May 17–18 & 24-25
  🕒 Time: Various seatings
  📍 Location: Avelo
  🎟️ Tickets: Reserve your table

  A plant-based take on traditional afternoon tea, this seasonal offering includes a carefully crafted menu of savoury and sweet selections served with a pot of tea. Highlights include wild leek scones, croissants with camembert cheese and smoked kojify carrots, cucumber sandwiches with almond boursin cheese, and tomato phyllo tarts. Sweet options feature a variety of macarons (strawberry, mango, hazelnut), opera cake with raspberry and vanilla, almond cranberry cake, blueberry scones, and sable butter cookies.

• Lunch Meetup at Hawker Vegan Restaurant
  📅 Date: Saturday, May 17, 2025
  🕒 Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
  📍 Location: Hawker, 291 Augusta Ave
  🎟️ Tickets: Not required, RSVP mandatory

  Join a small group for lunch at Hawker, a all-vegan spot in Kensington Market known for its good reviews and reasonable prices. Attendance is capped at 10 due to the restaurant’s size, and RSVPs are only encouraged for those fully committed to attending, to avoid no-shows that can impact the business. Host Sid K. notes the meetup often includes casual chats about music and culture — and may even include an impromptu 12-string guitar performance, weather and inspiration permitting.

• 6th Canadian Plant-Based Nutrition Conference 2025
  📅 Date: Saturday, May 24, 2025
  🕒 Time: 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  📍 Location: Ontario Bar Association, 20 Toronto Street
  🎟️ Tickets: Available via Eventbrite

  Hosted by Plant-Based Canada, this full-day hybrid conference will feature expert-led presentations on the role of plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine in preventing and managing chronic disease. Aimed at both healthcare professionals and the public, the event will include keynote talks from Dr. Chris Gardner (Stanford) and Dr. Tushar Mehta, as well as a plant-based breakfast, hot lunch, snacks, and a closing networking session. Attendees will also have the chance to connect with organizations like the Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank, Plant-Based Treaty, and Forward Food. Talks will be accessible for three months post-event for all ticket holders.

• Vegan Potluck and Walk to Doris McCarthy Trail
  📅 Date: Sunday, May 25, 2025
  🕒 Time: 12:30 PM – 5:30 PM
  📍 Location: Scarborough Village Community Center, 3600 Kingston Rd
  🎟️ Tickets: Not required

  Organized by Scarborough Vegans, this monthly community event begins with a vegan potluck at 12:30 PM, with food served promptly at 1:00 PM. Attendees are asked to bring their own reusable dishes and ensure any shared food is fully vegan. Weather permitting, the group will eat outdoors. After the meal, participants will take a relaxed walk to the scenic Doris McCarthy Trail and Gates Gully. All are welcome, including vegan-curious individuals, and the walk will proceed at an easy pace with breaks.

• Plant-Based Toronto TTC Ad Campaign Launch Party
  📅 Date: Saturday, June 7, 2025
  📍 Location: The Redwood Theatre, 1300 Gerrard Street East,
  ⏰ Time: 7:00 PM – 2:00 AM
  🎟️ Tickets: Eventbrite (Early bird discount until May 18)
  🌱 This event celebrates the launch of the Plant-Based Toronto ad campaign, which will run across Toronto’s two main TTC subway lines throughout June. The campaign features 22 local leaders from the food industry and non-profit sector advocating for a more plant-based Toronto.
  The launch party will bring together members of the plant-based community, including foodies, creators, and influencers.

• 2025 Toronto Animal Rights March
  📅 Date: Saturday, July 12, 2025, at 12:00 PM
  📍 Location: Queen’s Park.
  🔗 Event link
  The annual Toronto Animal Rights March returns this July as part of a global movement demanding justice and legal protection for animals. Organized by local activist groups including No Low – Plant Powered, the event invites participants to unite in solidarity for animal liberation. Full details to be announced—participants are encouraged to save the date and invite others.

• Vegandale Toronto 2025
  📅 Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
  📍 Location: Woodbine Park
  🎟️ Tickets available: Here ($$ increase after today)
  Vegandale returns to Toronto for another full day of food, music, art, and ethical consumerism—all 100% vegan. While specific vendors and performers have yet to be announced, past events have featured global plant-based brands, bold branding, and an unapologetically vegan atmosphere.

• VegTO Fest 2025
  📅 Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025 (11:00 AM – 7:00 PM) & Sunday, September 21, 2025 (11:00 AM – 6:00 PM)
  📍 Location: Nathan Phillips Square.
  🎟️ Free admission
  🌱 VegTO Fest announced it will return for its 40th anniversary with the theme Eat. Innovate. Transform. Expect two full days of plant-based food vendors, guest speakers, and community-driven experiences focused on the future of sustainable and compassionate living. More details to come closer to the date.
  

Do you have a business or event that you think should be listed? Email us at [email protected] to submit a request.