This weekend marks two exciting firsts for Toronto:

Saturday – Veggies take to the streets for the inaugural Toronto Veggie Pride Parade. Organized by a proud group of veggie activists, the parade begins at 11:30am on Asquith Ave @ Yonge St - visit veggieprideparade.ca for details.

Sunday – The Toronto Vegetarian Association's first-ever Compassion Marketplace takes over the Artscape Wychwood Barns from 11am to 7pm with cupcakes, volleyball, music, food and more

Compassion Marketplace to celebrate with food, art & ideas

Toronto’s first-ever Compassion Week marketplace of food, entertainment and ideas is set to take place this Sunday, June 6 at Artscape Wychwood Barns, located at 601 Christie St from 11am to 7pm.

11am – More than Breathing (myspace.com/morethanbreathing)

12pm – jae steele discusses her new book, Ripe From Around Here (domesticaffair.blogspot.com)

1pm – The Peek-a-boo Puppets Musical

1:30 to 2:45pm – Volleyball: V*gan Adventures & Socials in Toronto vs The Public

3pm – Animal ethicist David Sztybel

5pm – Sheri Delaney describes her work at Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary (storybookfarmprimatesanctuary.com)

Organized by the Toronto Vegetarian Association, this free marketplace marks the conclusion of Compassion Week – a series of events exploring the role that animals play in our lives and encouraging people to explore compassionate alternatives.

“Toronto is really a city of festivals,” according to David Alexander, Executive Director of the Toronto Vegetarian Association. “With the success of our Vegetarian Food Fair, we’re convinced that festivals are a fun way for people try new foods, learn about new products and consider new ideas."

Food offerings include the premier of PinkHart Diner, who will offer “Home Style Classics with a Side of Change.” Business-owner Alecia Bolan is stepping out on her own after 17-years in the restaurant business to change the landscape of the kind of food that’s available to vegetarians. “I’m tired of saying ‘I wish they made Vegan this or that,’” says Bolan. “PinkHart diner is taking over, and yes we are going to eat everything again.” She hopes her food will show new vegetarians and curious meat-eaters that vegetarians don’t have to give up familiar favourites.

Other exhibitors include The Cupcake Tree, Front Door Organics, Toronto Cat Rescue, Liberty Over Violence, World Society for the Protection of Animals, Green Earth Vegetarian Cuisine, and Veggie Paradise.

We hope you can join us this weekend as we celebrate of compassion for animal