With Halloween falling on Friday and Game 6 of the World Series bringing the Blue Jays one game away from the championship, it’s shaping up to be an exciting week in Toronto.

There’s plenty happening in the vegan scene too — from the grand opening of Soy Boys in Leslieville to festive events like Vegan Drinks: Halloween Edition and the International Vegan Film Festival.

This week’s edition also highlights some great spots for vegan Halloween treats, a milestone update from the Veg Food Bank, and new plant-based news from around the world, including strong growth forecasts for the vegan dairy market.

Also, If you’ve been enjoying these newsletters, it would mean a lot if you shared them with friends or anyone who might like to follow along. It helps keep this project sustainable and is always much appreciated. They can sign up easily at torontovegan.ca.

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 30 - November 05:

News:

• With Halloween around the corner, there are a few great spots in Toronto where you can stock up on vegan treats for trick-or-treaters or your own stash. Good Rebel (1591 Dundas St W) is fully vegan and currently has a strong selection of Halloween-themed sweets, including No Whey Choco No No’s minis and other vegan chocolate bars. Over in Little Italy, The Candy Bar carries a curated “Vegan” collection with treats like vegan KitKats, UK imports, and dairy-free licorice — perfect for those who want something a little different.

• The Veg Food Bank announced both a major milestone and an urgent call to action in its latest update. This September, the organization served its 500,000th meal worth of whole food, plant-based groceries—an achievement that follows its 10-year anniversary and reflects the ongoing support of donors, volunteers, and partners. However, the group stressed that food banks exist because of government failure and highlighted its “Put Food Banks Out Of Business” campaign, which advocates for a guaranteed livable basic income to eliminate poverty in Canada. Supporters are being urged to email their Member of Parliament and the four federal party leaders before the campaign’s email service expires this Friday. The appeal comes as food insecurity reaches record levels, with one in four Canadian households struggling, including 2.5 million children and disproportionately high rates among Black, Indigenous, and single-parent families.

• In a recent article, Toronto Life highlighted AiFam’s (102 Harbord Street) Primavera Perfetta Vegan sandwich as a standout plant-based option in Harbord Village. The piece praised its layered combination of grilled eggplant, roasted peppers, semi-dried cherry tomatoes, and arugula, noting that the flavours make “a solid case for eschewing meat.” The sandwich is finished with a garlicky house-made vegan aïoli and balsamic glaze, which the magazine described as elevating this “plant-based masterpiece” — all served on AiFam’s signature bouncy bread for $16.50.

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.)

• Soy Boys Leslieville Grand Opening
  📅 Date: Thursday, October 30, 2025
  🕒 Time: 3:00 PM to midnight
  📍 Location: 1056 Queen Street East
  🎟️ Details: No tickets required

  Leslieville’s new vegan burger spot, Soy Boys, is celebrating its grand opening with a launch party featuring $5 burgers and $5 pints from 3 PM until midnight. The event will include all beers, ciders, and burgers at this special price for the night.

• 2025 International Vegan Film Festival
  📅 Date: Friday, October 31, 2025 – Sunday, November 2, 2025
  🕒 Time: Starts 5:00 PM on Oct 31; various sessions Friday through Sunday (ending at 10:00 PM on Nov 2).
  📍 Location: OISE Auditorium, 252 Bloor St W
  🎟️ Tickets: Available via the festival website.
  A three-day weekend festival celebrating vegan-film culture in Toronto. The program covers categories such as animal advocacy, environmental protection, lifestyle and more. It kicks off with a Halloween-style evening on Oct 31, then runs full day sessions on Nov 1 and Nov 2. The inclusion of refreshment stands from local vegan vendors is a highlight. It’s a great mix of culture + vegan community.

• Vegan Drinks: Halloween Edition
  📅 Date: Friday, October 31, 2025
  🕒 Time: 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
  📍 Location: La Vegan , 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 great 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 and hopefully you can make some new friends.

• Chef’s Table
  📅 Date: Sunday, November 3, 2025 (College St) & Monday, November 4, 2025 (Jane St)
  🕒 Time: 6:00 PM
  📍 Location: Bellona Kitchen (College St / Jane St locations)
  🎟️ Tickets: $30 per person

  Bellona Kitchen is hosting two intimate Chef’s Table evenings, featuring a three-course prix fixe vegan menu crafted with all-new dishes. These gatherings are designed to celebrate connection, creativity, and community around the table, with the chef personally sharing the stories behind each course.
  

• Winemaker Dinner – Two Sisters Vineyards at Avelo
  📅 Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
  🕒 Time: 7:00 PM
  📍 Location: Avelo Restaurant, 51 St Nicholas St
  🎟️ Tickets: $160 per person (plus tax and 18% service charge); $30 deposit required — one booking still available

  Summary: Avelo is hosting an exclusive five-course vegan wine pairing dinner in collaboration with Two Sisters Vineyards, known for producing elegant terroir-driven whites and full-bodied reds from Niagara-on-the-Lake. Winemaker Emily Royal and host Priya Rao of The Social Herbivore will guide guests through each wine and course pairing, offering insights into both the wines and the culinary design. A limited-seating event — and currently, there’s one spot left for this intimate experience.

Activism:

• Cube of Truth: Toronto
  📅 Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
  🕒 Time: 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
  📍 Location: Not specified (typically central Toronto; check the local AV Toronto Facebook group for updates)

  The Cube of Truth is a street outreach campaign organized by Anonymous for the Voiceless, using video footage and public dialogue to expose the realities of animal agriculture and promote veganism. Volunteers wear plain black clothing and display footage on laptops or tablets while engaging passersby in one-on-one conversations. Masks, signs, and outreach materials are provided. Participants are required to complete the AV Masterclass and review the Outreach Flowchart before attending.

World Vegan News:

• A new market-report estimates that the global plant-based dairy products market — currently valued at around US $20 billion (2024) — is projected to reach US $34 billion by 2030, growing at about a 9% compound annual growth rate. The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to lead with roughly a 35% share, driven by rising awareness of lactose intolerance, increasing disposable incomes, and expanding plant-based options in mainstream retail.

In the Near Future:

*(more info will come closer to the dates)

• 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.

• Vegan Afternoon Tea – Autumn Menu
  📅 Dates: Saturday–Sunday, November 15–16 and November 22–23, 2025
  🕒 Time: Afternoon service (exact times not listed)
  📍 Location: Avelo Restaurant, 51 St Nicholas St.
  🎟️ Reservations: Required

  A seasonal vegan afternoon tea experience featuring a new autumn menu of both savoury and sweet items. Savoury selections include garlic & almond scones, chickpea-tofu “egg salad” sandwiches, boursin almond cheese and tomato gyoza tarts, and a cashew-root vegetable terrine. For dessert, guests can enjoy hazelnut and fruit macarons, alfajores with vegan dulce de leche and coconut, canelés de Bordeaux, carrot cake, and pumpkin-spiced scones. A cozy option for November weekends with fully plant-based offerings.

• New Year’s Eve 5-Course Tasting Menu at Avelo
  📅 Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2025
  🕒 Time: Seatings available from 5:00 PM – 7:15 PM
  📍 Location: Avelo Restaurant, 51 St Nicholas St
  🎟️ Tickets: $120 per person (prepaid; $30 deposit required) — reservations available via Avelo

  Avelo is ringing in 2026 with a special New Year’s Eve five-course vegan tasting menu featuring exclusive dishes created for the occasion. Guests will be welcomed with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine (or a non-alcoholic alternative). Optional wine pairings are available for an additional $45. The evening offers an elegant, plant-based fine-dining experience in an intimate downtown setting.
  

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