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Inaugural vegan fest launches in Victoria

Variety of activities planned for organizers' first-ever festival
Vegan Festival Sarah Kramer 1
Sarah Kramer

Cooking classes, ukeleles, juggling and even a reality-show style competition will come together on Canada Day to celebrate all things vegan.

The festival, running from noon to 5 p.m. July 1 at Market Square, will also feature activities for kids and a full schedule of presentations on topics such as activism, nutrition and others.

“We’ve assembled a crack team of amazing local vegan volunteers to organize this most fantastic festival,” said co-organizer Sarah Kramer, author of several vegan cookbooks. She’ll also host a game called Canada’s Next Top Vegan.

The festival builds on the momentum of four vegan shops established in Victoria: Kramer’s boutique, called Sarah’s Place; Vshoen, Green Cuisine and Lotus Pond.

“It’s amazing it’s taken this long to see this type of festival here, as Victoria is known as being a top vegan-friendly city in North America,” said Dave Shishkoff, festival co-organizer and Canadian correspondent for Friends of Animals, an international animal advocacy organization active in Victoria for the last six years.

“An event like this proves that Victorians are progressive and forward-thinking, and concerned about animal issues and willing to act on that concern.”

rholmen@vicnews.com