Hello All and Welcome to Fall,

This is a very slow week and I think we are all getting adjusted to the colder weather. I hope more things will pick up soon.

But there is still something! You can join fellow vegans for lunch at Saigon Lotus, or mark your calendar for next week’s Halloween edition of Vegan Drinks, featuring Ethiopian flavours and festive fun at La Vegan on Danforth.

Also this week, we cover the latest activism updates and global vegan news shaping a more compassionate world.

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 October 23 - 29:

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.)

• Toronto Vegan Meetup: Lunch at Saigon Lotus (Yonge St.)
  📅 Date: Saturday, October 25, 2025
  🕒 Time: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
  📍 Location: Saigon Lotus (Yonge St. location), 687 Yonge Street
  A casual lunch hosted by Toronto Vegan Meetup at Saigon Lotus’s fully vegan Yonge Street spot. RSVP is handled on Meetup.

Activism:

• Animal Justice has intensified its campaign against Sobeys, criticizing the grocery chain for failing to deliver on its decade-old commitment to phase out eggs from caged hens. Despite public statements about increasing cage-free options, Sobeys has not implemented a concrete plan, prompting nationwide protests organized by Animal Justice throughout the fall. On October 11—following World Egg Day—more than 130 activists staged demonstrations at Sobeys and Empire-owned stores in nine cities, including Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver. Protesters highlighted the company’s use of “humane-washed” marketing while continuing to source from caged suppliers. Mobile billboards displaying footage from a Sobeys egg supplier circulated in major shopping areas, amplifying the call for corporate accountability. With growing public and media attention, the campaign is becoming one of the largest cage-free advocacy efforts in Canadian history.

World Vegan News:

• According to Ed Winters, The global fur industry has declined sharply over the past decade, with the number of animals farmed for their fur dropping from around 140 million in 2014 to about 20 million in 2024, according to Humane World for Animals. This shift is attributed to activism and growing bans on fur production and sales.

  Vogue and its parent company Condé Nast have announced they will no longer feature new fur in any editorial or advertising content, a policy expected to influence the fashion industry globally. Finally, Brazil has passed a law banning live vertebrate animal testing for cosmetics, joining 44 other countries—including Canada and the UK—in prohibiting such practices. The law also strengthens labelling requirements and promotes alternative testing methods, marking another step toward a cruelty-free future.

In the Near Future:

*(more info will come closer to the dates)

• Vegan Drinks: Halloween Edition
  📅 Date: Friday, October 31, 2025
  🕒 Time: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
  📍 Location: La Vegan Ethiopian & Eritrean Vegan Cuisine, 1450 Danforth Avenue
  💸 Cover: None — just support the host by ordering food or drinks

  This month’s Vegan Drinks gathering adds an Ethiopian twist to Halloween night, inviting guests for an evening of flavourful dishes, refreshing drinks, and conversation at one of Toronto’s best vegan spots. The event is open to everyone, whether vegan or simply curious, and serves only vegan food and beverages. It’s a casual, social evening.

• International Vegan Film Festival — Short Film Program
  📅 Date: Oct. 31 - November 2, 2025
  🕒 Time: Food vendors from 5:00 PM; screening runs 7:00 PM–10:00 PM
  📍 Location: OISE Auditorium, 252 Bloor Street West
  🎟️ Tickets: Festival passes and tickets via Zeffy
  The International Vegan Film Festival is back in Toronto this fall, expanding to three days with seven sessions at the OISE Auditorium from October 31 to November 2, 2025. The weekend includes a Short Film Program on Saturday, November 1, and the festival is offering individual tickets and flexible passes, with early-bird options available now via Zeffy. The IVFF notes the new multi-day format for 2025 and confirms OISE as the venue.

• Two Sisters Vineyards Winemaker Dinner at Avelo
  📅 Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
  🕒 Time: 7:00 PM
  💵 Price: $160 per person (plus tax and 18% service charge)

  Avelo is bringing back its popular winemaker dinner series with an exclusive five-course event featuring Two Sisters Vineyards. Winemaker Emily Royal and host Priya Rao of The Social Herbivore will guide guests through a curated selection of wines paired with each course, showcasing everything from elegant whites to full-bodied reds. Only one spot remains available, and previous dinners have sold out quickly.

• Intro to the Vegan Kitchen by Emily Zimmerman
  📅 Date: Sunday, November 9, 2025
  🕒 Time: 6:30 PM - 9 PM
  📍 Location: CSI, 192 Spadina Ave., #501
  🎟️ Tickets: $79

  Join chef and food justice activist Emily Zimmerman for a hands-on workshop exploring essential techniques and ingredients for plant-based cooking. This class introduces flavour-building methods such as marinating, braising, steaming, poaching, and fermenting, while offering practical advice for stocking a vegan pantry. Participants will cook a full breakfast-inspired menu, including a gluten-free vegan omelette, smoky yuba “bacon,” and handmade vegan sausages, finishing with poached pears and homemade coconut yogurt. Attendees will take home recipes, a tofu-egg spice blend, and a coconut yogurt starter to continue experimenting in their own kitchens.
  

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