Welcome back to the Insider!

A last-minute heads-up: Fauna Connections is streaming today, actually it’s starting right now… from noon, and Toronto Pig Save hosts Anne Dinshah at Wishbone this evening.

This weekend, VegTO Fest returns to Nathan Phillips Square and I’m sure it will be packed with people so I hope to see you there :)

Looking ahead to Tuesday, The Walrus Talks: The Power of Animals brings seven short talks downtown.

In the news, Canadian-made UnButter is rolling into Healthy Planet locations across Ontario alongside listings at Farm Boy and Whole Foods, and Plantasia Natural Foods says an online shop with home delivery is coming soon.

And in world vegan news, McDonald’s Canada has launched the McVeggie nationwide. Order it without mayo or Habanero sauce to keep it vegan; the fries here are vegan as well.

Buy Vegan — Your vegan-only catalogue for Canada

Everything listed is verified vegan and orderable in Canada. Compare prices across retailers, see where to buy, and skip the label decoding. It’s a catalogue of vegan products and point you to the shops that sell them. As a new site, feedback and suggestions are always welcome.

What it is (and isn’t)

• Vegan-only catalogue: every item verified—no label decoding.

• Canada-ready: listings checked for Canadian shipping or local availability.

• Where to buy & price look-up: we strive to list all retailers so you can compare.

• Not a storefront: we don’t sell; we point you to the places that do.

New this week:

New listings roll out weekly as we grow toward a comprehensive vegan database for Canadian shoppers. Let’s vote with our dollars—and Buy Vegan.

Week of September 28 - 24:

News:

• Canadian-made UnButter, a shea-based, allergen-friendly butter alternative announced expansion into Healthy Planet stores across Ontario, alongside listings at Farm Boy and Whole Foods Market Canada; the company says the product is suitable for cooking, baking and spreading, and is launching in multiple flavours.

• Plantasia Natural Foods, a fully vegan health-food and grocery shop at 265 Scarlett Rd near Scarlett & Eglinton, says it will launch an online store in the coming days that adds home delivery. Its website currently displays a “working on something amazing” placeholder noting the shop will be operational soon. The store describes itself as a budget-minded spot for plant-based staples, organic produce, dairy alternatives and eco-friendly household essentials, and has been posting Instagram updates ahead of the web launch. Delivery coverage and a firm start date haven’t been published yet.

Events:

(Please note: Event details are provided as accurately as possible at the time of publishing. We recommend checking directly with organizers or venues for any updates or cancellations before attending.)

• Fauna Connections 2025 (virtual)
  📅 Date: Today, Thursday, September 18, 2025
  🕒 Time: 12:00 PM – 5:30 PM
  📍 Location: Online
  🎟️ Tickets: Free registration via Luma
  Apologies for the late heads-up but today there is a free, research-focused symposium hosted by Faunalytics bringing together academics and advocates with practical insights for animal protection work. Good option to stream while you ease into the weekend.

• Relationships Vs. Vegan Values: An Interactive Discussion with Anne Dinshah
  📅 Date: Thursday, September 18, 2025
  🕒 Time: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
  📍 Location: Wishbone Animal Rights Lab, 600 Bay Street, Suite 305
  A friendly, discussion-style evening with Anne Dinshah (American Vegan Society) on navigating relationships and social situations as a vegan. Hosted by Toronto Pig Save at Wishbone.

• VegTO Fest!
  📅 Date: Saturday, September 20 – Sunday, September 21, 2025
  🕒 Time: Saturday 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Sunday 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  📍 Location: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West
  🎟️ Tickets: Free, just show up or RSVP via Eventbrite
  Canada’s largest free-to-attend vegan festival turns 40 with 100+ vendors, food, products, community orgs and programming across two days in the heart of the city. Outdoors, kid- and dog-friendly. I will be there hanging-out at Animal Liberation Kitchen’s booth so come say hi :).

Activism:

• The Walrus Talks: The Power of Animals
  📅 Date: Tuesday, September 23, 2025
  🕒 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
  📍 Location: Isabel Bader Theatre, 93 Charles Street West
  🎟️ Tickets: $12–$20 via Eventbrite
  Seven short talks exploring how animal welfare intersects with public health, the food system and the environment, presented by The Walrus with support from World Animal Protection.

The Toronto Vegan Restaurants Guide 2025

World Vegan News:

• McDonald’s Canada has launched the McVeggie nationwide after successful tests in BC, Ontario, and New Brunswick. The patty is made from vegetables and soy (including carrots, green beans, zucchini, peas, soybeans, broccoli, and corn) and comes on a sesame bun with shredded lettuce; to make it vegan, order it without mayo or Habanero sauce, which contain egg. McDonald’s fries in Canada are vegan, making it easy to pair the sandwich with a plant-based side. The chain is also adding two other meat-free options—a grilled cheese Happy Meal and a lettuce-and-tomato Snack Wrap—as it responds to growing demand for lower-meat choices among Canadians. Executives and franchisees say early feedback has been strong, positioning the McVeggie as a new permanent option for guests seeking plant-based fast food.

In the Near Future:

*(more info will come closer to the dates)

• Soul Collective: Terrarium Night
  📅 Date: Wednesday, September 24, 2025
  🕒 Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
  📍 Location: Café Allwood
  💵 Price: $95 per person

  Soul Collective is returning to Café Allwood with another evening of terrarium-making. Participants will create their own miniature worlds while reflecting on the quiet ritual of patience and care. It’s hosted at Café Allwood, a café with great vegan options, and the event is more than a creative workshop — it’s a fundraiser, with 100% of proceeds supporting the My Jamaica Heaven Fund, which builds schools and orphanages in Jamaica. Guests leave with their own finished terrarium, carrying a piece of the night’s purpose home with them.

  To RSVP, email [email protected] or text 647-575-0877.

• Animal Law & Advocacy Conference 2025
  📅 Date: Friday to Sunday, September 26–28, 2025
  🕒 Time: Full-day programming; Friday includes a student conference and evening reception
  📍 Location: Toronto Metropolitan University
  🎟️ Tickets: Available at alaconference.ca
  The 7th annual Animal Law & Advocacy Conference, hosted by Animal Justice, returns to Toronto this fall with three days of sessions, networking, and plant-based catering. Formerly known as the Canadian Animal Law Conference, the event has broadened its focus to include advocates and community leaders beyond the legal profession. Programming kicks off Friday with a dedicated student day and a welcome reception, followed by two days of workshops and panels featuring Canadian and international experts in animal law and advocacy. Early bird tickets are now available online.

• Toronto Vegan Drinks — Fall vibes
  📅 Date: Friday, September 26, 2025
  🕒 Time: 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
  📍 Location: Nuttea – Nut Mylk Café, 637 Bloor Street West

  A casual monthly social at Nuttea with 100% plant-based drinks and snacks; expect Nuttea’s creamy nut-mylk beverages plus baked goods from Bad Attitude Bread, an open patio (weather permitting), and name tags to make mingling easy. There’s no cover—guests are encouraged to support the host by purchasing a drink or treat.
  

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