Vegetarian Cooking

The purpose of the group, based on the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, is for people to meet and talk about their artistic challenges in any field (painting, writing, music etc.) and encourage each other to break their creative blocks and fulfill themselves in their art. If you find people who are sympathetic, you may want to form your own group, meeting regularly to explore the book and supporting each other in their artistic journeys. I have gone through 2 such clusters and can say that it is a very powerful experience. Why not come to a meeting and see for yourself?

**Sunset Satsangs 🌅** Join us for a relaxed evening in the park as the sun sets behind the Toronto skyline. *A satsang is simply a gathering to sing, breathe, and connect. The word is Sanskrit, meaning "good company" or the company of the Truth. It's a calm hour to unwind, meet kind people, and enjoy being together in nature.* *No experience needed, just an open heart.* We sing Sanskrit mantras in call and response style, where our musicians and singers lead a line and everyone echoes it back. No need to be a good singer, just enjoy the moment. 🎶 As the music builds, stress melts away, and expert instructors guide us into a powerful breathwork and meditation toward the end. When the music returns, people find themselves simply savouring the sound and the sunset. Bring a blanket and a friend, and settle in for golden light and good company. 🤍 🗓 June 14th ⏰ 7:30 PM onwards 📍 Riverdale Park, 550 Broadview Ave All are welcome, come as you are.

Weekly Monday night online meditations in a welcoming community 35-minutes of sitting meditation practice followed by interactive sharing, discussion We experiment with different solo meditations, from restful absorption to creative visualizations, mindfulness-style noting (of various mind-body components), loving-kindness, sound meditations, choiceless awareness and many others. You don’t need to follow any of these techniques if you don’t want to – some people prefer to stay with their tried-and-true regular practice. The CEC is passionately nonsectarian – both humanistic and contemplative traditions are represented. Check our website for more sit details: http://cecmeditate.com/calendar/ Since Covid-era lockdowns began in 2020, we've hosted these on zoom. zoom link: [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/799184864?pwd=UXIvUkZ4QVBZQ0Q2VUh0Y2NNVnJkQT09](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/799184864?pwd=UXIvUkZ4QVBZQ0Q2VUh0Y2NNVnJkQT09) Starting May 2026 we're meeting in person in Toronto AND online. Come sit with us!

**Awesome first day of summer is here!** Potlucks are full of terrific food & lovely faces - a great opportunity to socialize over deliciousness. Let's celebrate our sunny memories with a Vegan Potluck at Christie Pits Park - located beside Christie subway station. This is your chance to meet other like-minded individuals and be part of a vibrant community! Make sure to bring a *vegan* dish to share, or to eat if you're not into the sharing thing. In order to limit waste, please bring your own reusable plates, water bottle, utensils and serving ware and all will be yum! Bring your picnic blanket(s) and water to stay hydrated if you'd like. Feel free to bring a project to chill with after eating - soccer ball, frisbee, volleyball, board games, cards, a guitar or speaker, your ping pong or crochet set or just your fabulousness! Some rules - *For the new vegans, first timers, or veg curious, please ensure that the food you bring to share be* all \*plant-based, so no honey or dairy/cheese/yogurt/butter/cream etc., and obviously no eggs/fish/poultry/meat or any animal-derived ingredients like food colours or additives. When in doubt, Google is your best friend! A reminder to please label the ingredients you used. Some vegans care about the fact that you may have fried meat in a certain fryer before frying their vegan food in the same oil. Mindfulness and minimalism goes a long way in creating a positive and meaningful experience for all. * All garbage and recyclable items must be thrown out by the end of the party. * The park must be left reasonably clean at the end of the party/event. This means no large spills, excessive garbage/debris, or personal belongings can be left after the event. * Guests don't have to be Vegan, but must respect this is a Vegan event and bring only Vegan foods * No alcohol - the venue doesn't allow for this * Bring your own reusable plates, utensils and serving ware * Help cleaning up after the event is over. Any mess or damage will jeopardize the ability to have events at this venue again **Allergy Alert** \*Please include an ingredient list, so people with allergies can make good life choices. Consider bringing a gluten-free or nut-free or sugar-free dish to share. Extending caring to more than just sharing! **Please note:** Food that contains animal and animal by-products are not allowed. Also, please bring your own utensils/containers to eliminate single-use waste. Please get in touch with one of the organizers directly on Meetup or use the Comments area if needed. As in the past, we'll hope to find a table in the main pavilion in the center of the park, however there are no guarantees as it is first-come, first-serve, on a busy summer afternoon. We will update the page with a specific map/coordinates on the day of. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Join us at our vegan-friendly social climbing session! We welcome all vegans, vegetarians, or anyone who is curious about the lifestyle and/or interested in eating more plant-based. No climbing experience is necessary. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a first-time climber, all are welcome. We will be bouldering, top roping, and using autobelays - feel free to join whichever activity you're interested in! For those who are climbing for the first time, not to worry as it is quick to pick up and we are happy to provide some pointers on technique. You can boulder or use the autobelays after getting a quick orientation from the staff at the gym. For top roping, we're happy to belay any of our attendees. **Fees**: * $28 admission fee, plus rentals Climbing shoes are strongly recommended (disclaimer: rental shoes are not vegan as they contain suede/leather). Harnesses are only necessary for top roping and autobelay, however this gym is primarily a rope climbing gym. * Shoe rental: $7.00 * Harness rental: $7.00 Remember to sign the [waiver](https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/5f121ea156df1/web/) before you hit the rocks! You can sign the waiver online or in person once you arrive. Make sure to arrive at the Bloor location, there are multiple Basecamp locations! Happy climbing! 🧗‍♂️🌱 Note: Clean indoor shoes are allowed to be worn, however we highly recommend using climbing shoes otherwise your experience will be negatively impacted.

Our friends, please [register for FREE](https://calendly.com/innerpath-yog/sunset-yoga) before the event! Join us for a fun, relaxed yoga practice with a beautiful sunset as your backdrop — right by the Statue of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. Danilo and Tia guide Hatha/Vinyasa flow classes that blend breathing exercises, restorative postures, and active sequences to strengthen both body and mind. All levels are welcome. Classes are donation-based — pay what you can. Please bring a yoga mat or sarong and a water bottle. Follow us on Instagram @innerpath.yoga Come practice, breathe, and connect with our community. 🙏 Namaste.

**Please note the only way to register for this adventure is on [our website.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/intro-foraging)** **Knowing how to safely and sustainably forage is one of the oldest skills there is, and one that's been largely lost in modern life.** This one-day workshop will reconnect you with the wild plants growing all around us. You'll learn how to spot, identify and confidently harvest a range of common edibles, alongside developing the kind of attentive eye that turns every walk in the woods into something richer. You will learn: * How to identify Ontario's most common wild edibles by their leaves, flowers, roots and seasonal cycles * How to tell edible plants apart from their toxic lookalikes * Where to look for different types of edibles * The principles of ethical and sustainable foraging **Who It's For:** Anyone curious about the food growing right under our feet. No prior foraging experience required. For those with some background, this is a great chance to fill in gaps and build confidence with new species. **About this series:** The Survivalist Series is an expert-led set of courses designed to develop applicable and life-saving skills in the outdoors. Keep your eyes peeled for more courses on many other topics as they become available. ***NB: Foraging comes with its own set of risks. For the purposes of this class, we do not condone the consumption of any wild edibles.*** **Highlights** **Expert Instruction –** Our amazing expert guide will teach you everything you need to know in a safe and approachable way. **Wild Edibles Library –** Build a working knowledge of the most common wild plants in our region, along with the lookalikes you'll want to avoid. **Sustainable Harvesting –** Learn the rules of ethical foraging so you can take only what you need without harming the ecosystems you're walking through. **Event cost: $80+HST (for explorer members) - $40 optional transport available.** **Register [here.](https://www.wildernessunion.com/adventures/intro-foraging)** **About Wilderness Union** Wilderness Union is deliberate about building an outdoors community that connects you to the life-changing magic of the outdoors and helps you find your people. Members range from 20-40 years old. The group is a mix of GTA locals and newcomers to Toronto from within Canada and abroad. Attendance numbers on Meetup don't reflect our actual event attendance - we typically have 15-20 community members at each event. Large enough that there's someone new to meet but small enough that it's not overwhelming! ***Learn more at our website [www.wildernessunion.com](https://www.wildernessunion.com/)***

**🍜 Small Group Dinner: Hand-Pulled Noodles & Great Conversations** Join us for a cozy and intimate dinner at Mogouyan Hand Pulled Noodle 磨沟沿老字号兰州牛肉面 — known for its authentic Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodles and comforting flavors. This is a small, curated gathering designed for genuine connections. No loud crowds or overwhelming group sizes — just a relaxed setting where everyone can enjoy good food and meaningful conversation. **What to expect:** * A small group (around 4–6 people) * Fresh, made-to-order hand-pulled noodles * Friendly, easygoing atmosphere * Natural conversations and new connections **Who should join:** Anyone who enjoys good food, meeting new people, and prefers a more personal, low-pressure social experience. **Event details:** * 📍 Location: Mogouyan Hand Pulled Noodle * 📍 Address: 760 Yonge St, Toronto * 🕒Time: 8pm-8:10pm 💵 Everyone pays for their own meal **Event Fee** $3.99 (small fee to secure your spot and reduce no-shows) *(U can attend both the ROM and Dinner event for the same fee. No need to pay twice)* **Cash** \- In person when you arrive at event **Etransfer** [themoja@outlook.com](mailto:themoja@outlook.com) (use password **meetup**) **Credit Card** - [Pay via Stripe](https://buy.stripe.com/00w5kD1dac4SaUk1hT0oM01)

Sleep in on Sundays. When you've had your fill of pajama-time, roll out and have some tasty brunch with your fellow Humanists!

**Our June novel is: *The Eights* by Joanna Miller** **This month’s novel is set during World War I. It’s a 20th-century historical fiction story about friendship and war, with coming-of-age elements and a slightly haunted tone. The book is 384 pages in print and 10 hours and 9 minutes on audiobook.** Oxford, 1920. For the first time in its one-thousand-year history, Oxford University officially admits female students. Burning with dreams of equality, four young women move into neighboring rooms in Corridor 8. Beatrice, Dora, Marianne, and Otto—collectively known as The Eights—come from all walks of life, each driven by their own motives, each holding tight to their secrets, and are thrown into an unlikely, unshakable friendship. Dora was never meant to go to university, but, after losing both her brother and her fiancé on the battlefield, has arrived in their place. Politically-minded Beatrice, daughter of a famous suffragette, sees Oxford as a chance to make her own way - and some friends her own age. Otto was a nurse during the war but is excited to return to her socialite lifestyle in Oxford where she hopes to find distraction from the memories that haunt her. And finally Marianne, the quiet, clever daughter of a village pastor, who has a shocking secret she must hide from everyone, even her new friends, if she is to succeed. Among the historic spires, and in the long shadow of the Great War, the four women must navigate and support one another in a turbulent world in which misogyny is rife, influenza is still a threat, and the ghosts of the Great War don’t always remain dead.

Join us Saturday, June 20th at 10am for a gentle beginner-friendly yoga flow at the Columbus Park of Roses with Victoria, one of our very own vegan community members and certified yoga teacher! Whether you’re brand new to yoga or a long time practitioner, this class is designed to help you slow down, stretch, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. Expect a relaxed, accessible flow focused on easing tension, moving mindfully, and leaving you feeling a little more grounded. All levels welcome! Bring water and a yoga mat (or towel if you don’t have a mat). A suggested donation of $10 is appreciated, but payment is absolutely not required to attend and enjoy class. A Venmo QR code will be available on-site for anyone who would like to contribute. The class duration will be one hour from 10-11am. After class, we’ll head to Pattycake Bakery for anyone who wants to keep the good vibes going over delicious sweets and conversation 🌱

Join us Saturday June 20th after yoga for drinks and sweets at this delicious Vegan co-op bakery. Mingle with likeminded Columbus Vegans🤩 We will aim to sit outside after purchasing items and hopefully taking in lovely weather. Special note on parking: Please try to park along Acton, Richards and/or Chatham streets so as to free up the lot at the back of the building for pick-up orders. Thank you. 😊 Patty Cake offers everything from cupcakes, cookies, cakes, muffins, whoopie pies, as well as gluten free goodies. They also have coffee, oat milk and cold brew. You can view them on their website [here](https://www.pattycakebakery.com/goodies)

Welcome, readers! Our June read is ***Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible*** ***Voyage*** **by Alfred Lansing.** A work of nonfiction, and one of the most astonishing survival stories in history, we follow Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew after their ship is crushed by Antarctic ice. Stranded in one of the harshest environments on Earth, the men endure months of isolation, freezing temperatures, and near starvation—yet refuse to give up hope. Lansing brings their ordeal to life through vivid detail and firsthand accounts, capturing both the brutality of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. At its core, the story is a powerful testament to leadership, perseverance, and the unbreakable will to survive against impossible odds. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **all** **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

The restaurant’s website doesn’t have the dinner menu listed. I took a picture of the dinner menu.