Lifelines January and February 2006 Donald Watson Remembered Watson coined the term “vegan“ Volume 20, No. 1 onald Watson, founder of The Vegan Society in 1944 (with Elsie Shrigley) and inventor of the word “vegan,” passed away Don November 16, 2005 at the age of 95. Watson had not eaten meat for 80 years and had been vegan for over 60 years. He celebrated his birthday last year by climbing a mountain. Two years ago he said, echoing George Bernard Shaw’s forecast for his own funeral, “there’ll be the spirits of all the animals I’ve never eaten.” continued on page 7 No, it’s not difficult... Happy New Year! it’s as easy as (vegan) pie! The Year of the Dog by Lucy M. Sportza begins January 29, 2006 y message is simple: being a vegan is not difficult. In fact, any difficulties are Features Mfar outweighed by the joyful aspects of 2006 TVA Board . 4 being a vegan and I simply can’t imagine living my life any other way. Message from the ED . 5 I’m often confronted with the expectation that Recipe: Chocolate Pudding . 5 veganism is hard. And, I readily admit, I fell into Don’t you have to carefully Veggie Challenge Stories . 8 that trap as well. I assumed being a vegan would plan your diet? be fraught with difficulties and that I would Well, of course you do and no, not Vitamin D and You . 9 frequently question my decision and yearn for a really. Everyone should pay close atten- Review: La Dolce Vegan . 10 simpler life. I believed this because it is what I was tion to what they are eating — vegan, told and what I had read about veganism. And vegetarian or omnivore. It is clear from the inces- Columns so, I went along my merry vegan way for some sant news reports on obesity and diet-related The Inside Story . 2 time answering, “well, yes, it can be challenging, chronic health problems, not to mention the but really, it is what I believe, so...” In truth, there public service ads reminding people to eat their Events . 3 were some hard times, particularly before I met 5 to 10 fruit and vegetable servings a day, that Volunteer Profile . 5 other vegans. And there have been some nerve- people need to pay more attention to what they Reaching Out . 5 wracking moments, such as the first time I told a are eating. A peek into the average grocery cart is doctor my child was going to be following a vegan enough to convince me that most people need to Tikka Tastes Toronto . 11 diet — armed though I was with information seriously reevaluate their eating habits. News: The Thrust Report 12 supporting my choice, not to mention the very I do not feel any need to sit down and chart healthy kid by my side. out what I am eating every day and calculate the Veg. Directory Update . 14 I have often been confronted with three par- amount of each nutrient I am consuming, how- Discount List . 15 ticular issues: the need to carefully plan a vegan ever, which is the image some people apparently diet; having a healthy pregnancy; and raising a have of vegans. Notice Board . 16 vegan child. continued on page 6 A Publication of the Toronto Vegetarian Association (TVA) The Voice of Toronto’s Vegetarian Community has a great deal of experience with TVA, Lifelines The Inside Story having worked with us since 1997, mostly ISSN 0834-3543 as our Food Fair Manager. In addition, Toronto Vegetarian Association New board members she has acted as Office Manager and 17 Baldwin Street, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON M5T 1L1 At our Annual General Meeting Membership Secretary. tel 416-544-9800 fax 416-544-9094 on November 24, nine directors were email [email protected] or [email protected] web www.veg.ca acclaimed to our eleven-member board. Goodbyes Editing and Layout The two vacancies may be filled by the Three board members were unable to Michael Chambers new board during the year. Included in continue on the board this year. Advertising the nine elected directors are two new John Graber, a man of many hats includ- Jenny McQueen ([email protected]) directors: Dr. Sarah Keating and Kathleen ing that of Vice President and Outreach Discounts Pattison. They, along with our other board Director, has returned to university to Stephen Leckie members, bring a wealth of experience become a teacher. Since he is studying Copy Editing and Proofing and commitment to TVA. See page 4 for in Windsor, he is unable to attend board Mike Bordynuik, John Ewasyn, Stephen Leckie, Leela Mahabir, Colleen Shea, Lucy Sportza profiles of each of TVA’s board members. meetings or volunteer with us this year, he has indicated a desire to continue volun- Contributors Taunya Ahier, Jason Doucette, Kathleen Farley, John Graber, Stephen New president teering with TVA upon his return. John’s Leckie, Peter McQueen, Colleen Shea, Tikka Smiley, Lucy M. Sportza, Our bylaws state that the president of TVA dedication, multifaceted involvement and Gloria Studniberg may serve a maximum of five consecutive hard work will be missed. years in that role so that fresh ideas and Kate Kearney was new on the board Lifelines is published bimonthly by the Toronto Vegetarian Association (TVA). Opinions expressed by contributing authors and approaches are encouraged. It’s now my last year, but certainly left her mark with in advertisements do not necessarily reflect those of either TVA or time to step aside. Don’t worry though, her hard work on the Gala Team. She the editor. I will be staying on the board to share too has decided to become a teacher (is Readers are encouraged to submit information, articles, suggestions my experience and to continue our work. there something in the air at the Resource and corrections. Deadlines are the 20th of January, March, May, July, I have enjoyed working with our great Centre?). Good luck Kate! We look for- September and November. Please submit via e-mail to lifelines@veg. ca. We reserve the right to not print any material deemed inappropri- board members, employees, volunteers, ward to your return. ate and to edit submissions for clarity, consistency and space without and meeting many of our supporters. Speaking of spending time away from altering the writer’s intent. At the first meeting of the new Board of Toronto, our Planning Director, Matthew Not-for-profit groups take note Directors, Jenny McQueen was elected as Bates, has found that his business con- Original articles may be reprinted as long as credit is given unless stated otherwise. Free copies of articles are available by e-mail. your new President. Previously a trustee of tinues to demand too much of his time the Vegetarian Society of the U.K., Jenny and takes him overseas too often to con- TVA Mission Statement To help people in the Toronto area adopt and maintain a healthful, moved to Canada in 2000 — to marry me! tinue on the board. We are grateful that ethical and ecological vegetarian lifestyle. The Toronto Vegetarian She has been a member of our board for Matthew, who was our Vice-President Association was founded in 1945 and is a non-profit, registered the past five years, serving in several roles and President in the 1980s, has offered his charitable organization (119267532RR 0001). A vegetarian is some- one who lives on a diet free of meat, fish and fowl or the flesh of any including Outreach Director, Advertising continued advice and assistance in long- animal with or without the addition of dairy, eggs or honey. Director and Secretary. term and strategic planning matters. Advertising Happy New Year! The following advertising sizes are available: Restructuring TVA Peter McQueen 1/3 page – $125 We were fortunate to celebrate our 60th [email protected] 1/4 page – $95 1/6 page – $75 anniversary in 2005. While congratulat- 1/8 page (business card) – $50 ing ourselves on our and our predeces- 1/12 page – $40 sors’ achievements we also took a critical Call for exact sizes. There is a $25 minimum (plus $10 per graphic or photo) set-up charge unless camera-ready artwork is supplied. look at how to improve the organiza- From the Editor Classified ads are 30¢ per word. Non-commercial classified ads are tion. In November the Board of Directors free to members, space permitting. Receive 10% off the cost of unanimously decided to hire an Executive So many stories and so little space! A few advertising if you reserve ads in two or more issues. Members and Director to manage the day-to-day affairs articles planned for this issue will appear non-profit groups receive an additional 15% off. Prices exclude GST. of the organization under the direction in the March April issue of Lifelines. The of the board. By doing so we feel we are next issue is to be a travel issue, with stops building on our 60-year legacy for the in Hawaii and the U.K. In the future, future of TVA and the future promotion timely overflow stories may be published of vegetarianism. on our website. Until then, Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #40032704 I am pleased to announce that we you’ll just have to wait! have hired Kathleen Farley as TVA’s first Michael Chambers Lifelines is printed with vegetable-based inks. 20% Post Consumer, cover is 100% Post Consumer. Executive Director (see page 5). Kathleen [email protected] Lifelines January February 2006 2 Toronto Vegetarian Association www.veg.ca Vegetarian Events in the GTA For the latest updates and many more veggie events visit www.veg.ca/events Durham Lakeside Group Social/Dinner Group Vegetarians In Their 20s If you’re in the Durham region or are a RSVP to join us for delicious vegetarian/ VITT is a group that consists mainly of TVA member and would like to learn vegan food and great conversations at our single vegetarians in their twenties that more about a vegetarian lifestyle, this upcoming events.