This week’s edition is a bit on the lighter side when it comes to events, and honestly, that might be the cold talking.

Between the snow, the wind, and the general urge to hibernate, it feels like the city is collectively staying indoors right now.

That said, there are still a few things worth flagging, including a cozy community event and some good food-related reading to keep you inspired while you wait out the winter.

Product of the Week

Each week, I highlight a vegan product that I genuinely use, enjoy, or think is worth knowing about. These may include food items, kitchen tools, supplements, or other vegan-friendly products. Some of the links in this section are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase (at no extra cost to you). This helps support the time and work that goes into The Toronto Vegan Insider, and I’ll only ever share products that align with the values of this community.

Week of January 22 - 28:

News:

• VegNews has put Toronto firmly in the spotlight with its 12 Mouthwatering Ways to Eat Vegan in Toronto Right Now, calling attention to how the city’s vegan dining scene continues to push boundaries while staying grounded in global influences. The article highlights a wide range of spots, from refined tasting-menu destinations and elevated sushi to bakeries, casual takeout, and long-standing local staples. The piece emphasizes creativity, technique, and cultural breadth rather than trendiness, reinforcing Toronto’s reputation as a place where vegan food is both innovative and deeply satisfying across many cuisines and neighbourhoods.

• Beyond Meat has announced the launch of its new Beyond Beef Value Pack, now rolling out to more than 1,300 stores across Canada. The frozen format offers over 2.5 times more Beyond Beef than standard packs, with two larger units per box, while keeping the same formulation made from ingredients like red lentils, faba beans, and avocado oil. Beyond notes that each serving contains 18 grams of protein, 1.5 grams of saturated fat, and no GMOs or cholesterol.

• Recently there have been multiple reports that The Body Shop has quietly dropped its claim to be “100% vegan.” After becoming the first global beauty brand to have all its products certified as vegan by The Vegan Society in early 2024, the company has reintroduced a small number of products containing animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax and no longer markets its entire portfolio as completely vegan. While most products are still vegan-labelled and all remain vegetarian and cruelty-free, the shift has drawn criticism from some in the vegan community for the lack of clear communication about the change.

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 Pop-up Brunch
  📅 Date: Sunday, January 25, 2026
  🕒 Time: 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
  📍 Location: 108 Dundas St W, 2nd Floor
  🎟️ Tickets: Available via Eventbrite (from ~CAD 44)

  This weekend brunch pop-up by 5 Principles Cuisines features a buffet-style spread of vegan favourites like tofu scramble, BBQ drum-style items, mac ’n’ cheese, soups, wraps, salads, and more. Kids under 12 can attend free (letting the organizers know in advance).

World Vegan News:

• In a recent edition of his Good News Roundup, Ed Winters shared several encouraging developments for animals already taking place in early 2026, highlighting concrete policy and infrastructure changes around the world. He points to the Netherlands’ new nationwide ban on the public sale and use of fireworks, which came into effect on January 1 and is expected to significantly reduce fear, injury, and death among animals caused by unpredictable fireworks in residential areas. In the United States, Colorado has completed North America’s largest wildlife overpass, allowing animals such as elk, deer, bears, and mountain lions to safely cross a major freeway and potentially cutting wildlife–vehicle collisions by up to 90 percent. The roundup also highlights a landmark legal decision in Peru, where stingless bees in parts of the Amazon have become the first insects in the world to be granted legal rights, recognising their right to exist, thrive, and be protected—an outcome driven by collaboration between Indigenous leaders, scientists, and environmental advocates.

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.

• Learn Veganic Online Gardening Course
  📅 Date: February 11 to March 30, 2026
  🕒 Time: Optional live sessions on Wednesdays from 12:00 to 2:30 p.m. ET (Feb 11–Mar 25) plus optional Q&A meetups on Mondays from 12:00–1:00 p.m. and 8:00–9:00 p.m. ET (Feb 16–Mar 30)
  📍 Location: Online
  🎟️ Tickets: Registration required (early bird pricing available through January)

  Learn Veganic is a multi-week online course focused on growing fruit and vegetable gardens using fully veganic methods, without chemical inputs or animal-based fertilizers such as manure or bloodmeal. The course covers topics including veganic fertility, soil health, composting, permaculture, biodiversity, perennials, and techniques suited to a wide range of growing spaces, from balconies and community plots to backyards and homesteads. Participants receive 14 hours of lessons, 7 weeks of optional live Q&A sessions, and access to an online learning platform with course materials available for a full year after the course ends. The program is open to gardeners of all experience levels and is designed to be followed live or at a self-paced schedule.

  This event sounds really interesting. I first learned about veganic gardening from my dad when he transitioned his garden to a fully vegan approach a few years ago. It was eye-opening to see how deeply animal agriculture shows up in places you wouldn’t expect, and to learn that there are practical ways to avoid it.

• Vegan Valentine’s Potluck and Games
  📅 Date: Sunday, February 15
  🕒 Time: Arrival from 12:15 p.m.; eating starts at 1:00 p.m.; event runs until 5:00 p.m.
  📍 Location: Scarborough Village Community Centre

  This community potluck hosted by Scarborough Vegans invites attendees to celebrate Valentine’s Day together with food and games. Guests are encouraged to wear pink or red and bring a vegan Valentine’s-themed dish to share, enough for 4–6 people. To avoid duplicates, participants are asked to note what they plan to bring in advance. The afternoon begins with food, followed by games — bringing a game to share is welcome. Attendees should bring their own plates, utensils, cups, and are responsible for their own clean-up. The event is open to vegans, vegetarians, and veg-curious folks, as long as all dishes brought are fully vegan.

• 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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