Get veggie with it

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This article was published 11/09/2017 (2942 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For many Winnipeggers, veganism is more than the latest trend — it’s a way to live compassionately with animals, the planet and themselves.

University of Winnipeg associate professor Jason Hannan is helping to organize Winnipeg’s first VegFest, a free event meant to educate and offer resources on what he refers to as compassionate living.

“It’s a chance to learn something new,” Hannan said. “It’s not cornering someone and pointing a finger at them. It’s about an invitation to a lifestyle that revolves around compassion.”

The event takes place at the Axworthy Health and RecPlex at the University of Winnipeg on Sat., Sept. 16, and will feature six keynote speakers: Carol J. Adams, Krista Hiddema, Mimi Kirk, Camille Labchuk, Leilani Münter and Dave Nickarz, as well as activities and vendors.

“When we tell people what VegFest is about, a lot of people don’t have a concept of it, so when we’ll tell them is that it’s like Ribs Fest, except with carrots,” Hannan said.

“What this event does is it serves as an umbrella, so it serves to bring together people who are concerned about animals… concerned about the planet… and people who are concerned about health, and provides this overarching roof or that creates a sense of community, and that’s something that really needs to happen.”

Hannan said while many organizations and agencies that deal with all of these issues exist in Manitoba, they don’t often cross paths or get a chance to meet.

“We see vegetables and a plant-based diet as a kind of unifying answer to all three (animals, planet, health) of these separate areas,” Hannan said.

Visitors will get a chance to sample food from a variety of vendors, including Affinity Vegetarian Garden, Arabesque, Charisma of India, Diversity Foods, Feast, Harman’s Ethiopian, Stella’s and the Velvet Glove — all vegan, of course.

“We’ll also have Winnipeg’s first-ever vegan mac and cheese contest,” Hannan said.

“The message is it’s fun, food and knowledge so we just invite people—they don’t have to be vegan, we would love it if meat eaters came — to join us for a day.”

The night before VegFest, Fri., Sept. 15, organizers are also hosting a kick-off party (or as they call it, a “booze and schmooze”) with the keynote speakers at the Little Brown Jug (336 William Ave.) from 7 to 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.