This week’s edition covers a few timely updates and what’s coming up around the city.

There’s a quick note on a new plant-based product showing up at Farm Boy, a rundown of upcoming events, from a relaxed vegan potluck to a couple of Bellona Kitchen experiences, and a local activism action happening this weekend.

It’s a bit snowy out there today, stay safe everyone!

Week of January 15 - 21:

News:

• The Toronto Vegan Insider received an honourable mention on the recent Veg Out Podcast in an episode titled “The top 10 who made Toronto better for vegans in 2025.” I’m genuinely grateful for the recognition and want to thank the Veg Out team for the thoughtful work they do and for consistently putting out informative episodes.

• Farm Boy has expanded its private-label plant-based lineup with Farm Boy™ Plant-Based Grounds, now available in Natural and Chorizo varieties. The grounds are made with pea protein and oyster mushrooms and are positioned as a ground-meat alternative with no added colours or flavours. While Farm Boy has not publicly confirmed an exact launch date for the Plant-Based Grounds format, plant-based chorizo products under the Farm Boy name have been on shelves in earlier forms for several years, suggesting this is likely a newer format or line extension rather than a first-ever entry into the category.

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.)

• Vegan Potluck and Games

  📅 Date: Sunday, January 18, 2026

  🕒 Time: 12:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

  📍 Location: Scarborough Village Community Centre, 3600 Kingston Road 

  A Toronto Vegan Meetup potluck (bring vegan food for 4–6 people, start eating at 1:00 p.m., then games). 

• Vegan Cooking Class – Vegan Meats
  📅 Date: Monday, January 19
  🕒 Time: 6 p.m.
  📍 Location: College Street
  🎟️ Tickets: $125 per person (email [email protected] to book)

  A second session of Chef Johnnie’s vegan meats class, offering the same hands-on experience preparing a three-course meal with wine, followed by a shared dinner. Guests are invited into his kitchen to learn recipes passed down through his family.

• Vegan Chef’s Table at Bellona Kitchen
  📅 Date: Monday, January 20, 2025
  📍 Location: Bellona Kitchen (Jane Street)
  🎟️ Tickets: $35 per person email ([email protected] to book)

  Bellona Kitchen is hosting an intimate three-course prix fixe dinner featuring all-new menu items, with the chef guiding guests through each dish. This event is designed as an evening of connection, creativity and flavour, reflecting the restaurant’s handcrafted approach to its everyday menu.

Activism:

• FurFree Toronto Protesting LVMH and Loro Piana
  📅 Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
  🕒 Time: 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  📍 Location: 150 Bloor St West
  Animal Rights Toronto lists this as a FurFree Toronto action, with plans to meet at LVMH at 1:00 p.m. and move to Loro Piana at 2:00 p.m. (They note to check the Facebook event for updates.)

World Vegan News:

• A Veg News article reports that New York City’s newly elected mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has reaffirmed his commitment to banning horse-drawn carriages in and around Central Park, a position he supported even before his November 2025 election. Mamdani’s stance has renewed momentum in a long-running campaign led by animal advocates, including New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets (NYCLASS), which argues that the industry is outdated and harmful to horses. The issue has drawn high-profile support over the years, and recently gained pop-culture attention after German pop star Kim Petras publicly backed the mayor’s goal.

In the Near Future:

*(more info will come closer to the dates)

• Toronto Vegan Drinks – New Year Edition
  📅 Date: Friday, January 30
  🕒 Time: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
  📍 Location: Nuttea – Nut Mylk Café, 637 Bloor Street West

  Toronto Vegan Drinks kicks off 2026 with a cozy winter meetup at Nuttea, a plant-based café known for nut-based beverages and vegan treats. This monthly social event takes place on the last Friday of each month and is open to vegans and non-vegans alike. Expect a relaxed evening with 100% plant-based food and drinks, plenty of conversation, and a welcoming space to reconnect with familiar faces or meet new people.

• Winterlicious
  📅 Date: Friday, January 30 - February 12

  Winterlicious is the City of Toronto’s annual prix fixe dining promotion, and reservations are set to open January 15. For 2026, the City says there are “more than 240 restaurants” participating, with multi-course prix fixe menus at set price tiers: 

  On the City’s official Winterlicious restaurant finder, restaurants can be filtered by dietary options including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free and when you click vegan there are still 44 restaurant options.

• Waistline & Waffles
  📅 Date: Saturday, February 22
  🕒 Time: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. EST
  📍 Location: 915 Midland Ave
  🎟️ Tickets: $45–$55

  Waistline & Waffles is a soca-inspired fitness and food event hosted by Melanated Vegan, combining movement, music, and a Caribbean-style plant-based brunch. The event begins with a 60-minute soca fitness class that’s open to all levels, followed by brunch and time to connect with the community. The fully plant-based menu includes plantain waffles, hot honey fried oyster mushrooms, tofu scramble, fresh seasonal fruit, and smoothies, with hydration provided throughout.

• Animal & Vegan Advocacy Summit Canada

  📅 Date: Thursday, May 21 – Sunday, May 24, 2026

  🕒 Time: (multi-day conference; specific daily times not listed on the event page)

  📍 Location: Sheraton Centre Toronto, 123 Queen St W 

  ART’s listing links out to AVA International’s event site and notes it’s a multi-day gathering for advocates, researchers, organizers, and others working on systemic change for farmed animals. 
  

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