For over 60 years, the Toronto Vegetarian Association has been working on behalf of vegetarians in our city. Originally a group that simply organized dinners, over the years the association has published two cookbooks, created an annual directory, set up a publically-accessible resource centre, and annually hosts the largest vegetarian food fair in North America, with an attendance of over 15,000 people. Membership in the association has grown to over 1000 people.

Over the past two years, executives, staff and volunteers have worked to create a strategic plan up to the year 2010. With efforts concentrated on different areas for each of the three years, the TVA has determined to focus on the issues of Environment for 2008, Health for 2009 and Compassion for Animals in 2010.

The recently released strategic plan outlines how the TVA will not only increase membership, but how various campaigns will inspire others to try a vegetarian diet, question current farming and eating practices, increase awareness of health and nutrition issues related to eating meat, and to truly consider where their food comes from in terms of treatment of food animals.

The plan also addresses other issues and concerns that may assist in broadening their membership base and in getting their message out, such as ensuring that all vegetarians feel welcomed and included in the TVA’s programmes; attracting and keeping volunteers; being heard and acknowledged by the media; ensuring that both vegans and lacto-ovo vegetarians have a voice in Association decisions, and in addressing fears and concerns prevalent in non-vegetarians.

At the recent annual meeting where the strategic plan was unveiled, Executive Director Kathleen Farley and Development Coordinator David Alexander addressed the group with information on the great advances made by the TVA in the past year because of their volunteers. Through volunteer work on the Veggie Challenge, youth programmes and at the annual Food Fair, membership and donations are up and the message of the TVA is spreading.

With continued dedication, the TVA hopes to see their message reach many more Torontonians as they spend the next three years addressing key issues that are of concern not just to vegetarians, but everyone in our society.

Copies of the Strategic Plan will be available on the Toronto Vegetarian Association website, where the podcast of the annual general meeting is also available for download.