Green Living Show: April 15-17 In Toronto

Green Folk: Don't forget, the Green Living Show - the most awesome eco-show of the year - is taking place this weekend, April 15-17, at Direct Energy Centre in Toronto.  This year's show looks like the best yet, with amazing main stage speakers such as Rachelle Lefevre and Sarah Harmer, fantastic attractions such as the Green Business Forum and the awesome new Green Jobs Forum, and over 400 exhibitors of fantastic eco-friendly products. You can take a break and grab a sustainable bite at the delicious Farm Fresh Fare and even take home some goodies from the new Good Eats Market.

And, a bonus: Remember that old cell phone you have kicking around from 10 years ago? Bring it - or any number of old electronics you have taking up space - to be recycled and Samsung will give you free admission to the show. Score!

This show is my absolute favourite for scouring new eco-finds, tasting brilliant eco-foods and just generally getting energized about living an eco-friendly life. Don't miss it!

Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair: April 24, 2010

It's that time again! This year on Earth Day, the Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair will be happening again at the RA Centre on Riverside Drive in Ottawa, celebrating Green Living ideas, products and services. A fantastic day is planned, with excellent exhibitors such as Ecocentrik Apparel, Eco-TAV Creations, ecomama and more, food exhibits including The Red Apron and the Ottawa Farmers' Market Association, and much much more. Much more.  There's also an eco-artist display and the Eco-award ceremonies recognizing individuals, groups, organizations or businesses that have made a significant contribution to protecting the environment and promoting conservation and sustainability.  And, awesome?  Admission and parking are both free (especially bike parking.)  See you there!

Green Living Show - Tickets giveaway!

It's baaaack!

The Green Living Show is on again from April 23-25 at Direct Energy Centre in Toronto. This show is fantastic. It's Canada's largest green consumer show, with 400+ exhibits, a wonderful sustainable food court, excellent new vendors, green seminars and more. Last year I found an amazing number of new eco-products that have made it into rotation for everyday use around here. If you're in the GTA or can make it there that weekend, this is an excellent, informative and entertaining way to spend an afternoon - and you'll also get fabulous deals on some of your favourite eco-brands.  In addition, the Green Toronto Awards are taking place on Friday.  The City of Toronto's environmental awards of excellence honour and celebrate the individuals, organizations and companies leading the way to a cleaner, greener and more liveable Toronto.

And hey, guess what? As part of the Green Living Network, I've scored some tickets to give away - whooohoooo!  Just reply in the comments and let me know which of the attractions you'll be looking forward to the most. Leave your comment - and a way for me to contact you - by Wednesday April 14 to ensure I can get the tickets to you on time.

But even if you don't get a ticket here, don't worry. Just bring some electronic waste for recycling, and Samsung will pick up your admission ticket. Not a bad deal.

See you at the show!

Green Toronto Nominations are open

Hey gang! The lovely folks at Green Living are looking for the greenest people you know - read on!

Who’s the greenest of them all in Toronto? Nominations are now being accepted for the 2010 Green Toronto Awards, the City of Toronto’s environmental awards of excellence. The City of Toronto, in partnership with Green Living, invites residents to nominate local individuals, companies and organizations leading the way to a greener Toronto.

A winner in each of nine categories will receive an award and $5,000 to donate to a registered charity of their choice:
• NEW! Local Food — leadership in creating, managing and promoting local food.
• Community Projects — volunteers in action to green our neighbourhoods.
• Energy Conservation — systems and technologies which reduce and conserve energy.
• Environmental Awareness — leadership in raising eco-awareness.
• Green Design — leadership in innovative and sustainable green design and architecture.
• Green Roof — leadership in green roof and living wall projects.
• Leadership — individual leadership which transforms our environment.
• Water Efficiency — leadership in managing and reducing water use.
• Youth — Toronto youth (18 and under) leading by example.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, February 12, 2010. Nominations may be submitted online at www.toronto.ca/greentorontoawards.

"Torontonians are environmentalists by nature and we celebrate those who are making a real difference in our city," said Mayor David Miller. "I encourage residents to make a nomination and help us recognize the individuals, organizations and companies that are leading the way to a greener, more liveable Toronto."

The Green Toronto Awards ceremony will be hosted by Mayor David Miller and Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone on Friday, April 23 on the Main Stage at the Green Living Show, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. In the past three years, Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto’s government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.

Fashion High's Green Christmas Market - November 28

Found this gem in my inbox - so great to see more and more of these eco-friendly markets popping up everywhere, making green gift giving easy!

When the season of consumerism comes around it’s easy to get ‘wrapped’ up in all of the shiny holiday festivities and forget about the commitment you have made to the environment. But don’t wallow in holiday shopper’s remorse; balance the scales by picking up some unique and sustainable gifts from the Green Christmas Market!

The fourth annual Green Christmas Market is back with fervor and now organized by local fashion organization Fashion High. Hosted at the Cambrian Hall, Green Christmas boasts a collection of local artists, designers and even chefs who all work within an eco-friendly discipline. Pick up some nibblies by Say See Bon Patisserie, find wearable art at Kulus Designs, and even some for your walls with the Petri Dish, plus many many more!

Make label reading one less thing you have to do this year, all of Green Christmas’ vendors are 100% local and eco-friendly! “Each vendor had to fall under at least one of two categories- Recycled: using pre-existing materials to create something new. Or Sustainable: using a material that is considered natural and low-impact like organic fibres,” explains Kristi Carignan, Board Member of Fashion High and Lead Organizer of Green Christmas.

Fashion High’s Green Christmas Market- a one day celebration of uniquely sustainable gifts: Saturday November 28th at the Cambrian Hall (215 East 17th Ave-just off Main Street) from 11am-5pm. Admission $2 (children 12 and under free)

For full vendor listing please visit The Green Christmas Market Blog.

Toronto Green Living Show: The aftermath

This is the first year I've managed to get to the Green Living Show in Toronto - and it was fantastic. Tons of vendors showing environmentally friendly products for house, home, beauty, baby, food... the list was endless. I had a fantastic lunch at the Farm Fresh Fare area, where you tried samples of delicious foods from diverse and fantastic food providers. I drooled over the selection of wines at the Grapes and Hops tasting area, checked out the speakers at the Green Living main stage, and strolled around tons of great booths.

Unfortunately due to a combination of "huge pregnant lady syndrome" as well as "Why would you shut down the DVP for an entire weekend Syndrome", I didn't get to spend quite as much time at the show as I would have preferred. Still, here's the list of the vendors I chatted with or whose booth I stopped by... and just to show you the size of the show, I by no means visited all the booths, I would say I roughly visited half! The great news is, plenty of them love ecochick too and lots have cool reviews, giveaways, discounts and other fun stuff coming up right here in the coming days and weeks. Til then, have fun checking out the links.

Attitude Environmental Products
Some Things Cozy Home Decor and Gift Items
Booda Bellie Organic Clothing
Green Cricket
Green Bean Studios
En Ville Event Design and Catering
Aveda
Malivoire wine
Organic Evolution
Sigrid Natural Skin Care
Featherstone Estate Winery and Vineyard
Southbrook Vineyards
Green Platypus
Planet Forward
Otterbottle
Credo Bags
ecoLiving Cleaners
Loblaws PC Green
Delta Chelsea
Motorola
Toyota
Brick Street Bakery
Ontario Cheese Society
Fenwood farm
The Organic Cotton Company
Childish Notions
Camerons Brewing
Inniskillin Wineries
Winery to Home
Sustainable Gift
Green Beaver
The Stop Community Food Centre
SteamWhistle Brewery
Live Clean
Aromatic Health
Baby On The Hip
Arising - Women in Nature
Pistachio
Green Students Fundraising
Pumped
Stratus Wines
Bullfrog Power
Forest Stewardship Council Canada
Front Door Organics
Green Earth Organics
AmiDog and AmiCat
Grass Roots Store
Me to We Responsible Style
Retire Your Ride
Healthy Environment For Kids
Mapleton's Organic dairy
Sanyo
Eco-handbags.ca

Toronto Green Living Show - You want tickets? We have tickets!

Tickets are gone - thanks for playing!

Hey, ecochick. You busy the weekend of April 24-26, 2009? You gonna be anywhere near the Big Smoke? Then I bet you would love to take in the Green Living Show, being held at Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto. From their website:

There are many reasons to attend the Green Living Show:

* Discover the latest new green products and services from hundreds of exhibitors
* Gain earth-friendly advice and useful information for your daily life
* Play and learn in the Bienenstock Natural Playground and Amphitheatre presented by ING DIRECT
* Taste mouth-watering dishes and artisanal foods at the Farm Fresh Fare presented by Toyota
* Preview unique prototypes and fresh ideas at the Living Green-Ovations exhibit
* Be inspired by celebrities, eco-leaders and local personalities on the Green Living Main Stage presented by The Home Depot
* Learn the secret tips and techniques of top chefs on the Green Living Cooking Stage presented by Samsung
* Sample Ontario’s finest wines and organic beers in the Grapes & Hops Tasting Pavilion
* Take a spin in the latest hybrid vehicles at the Green Living Test-Drive
* Shop for healthy foods at the popular Food & Beverage Market
* Catch a flick at the Planet in Focus Film Screenings
* Get on your running shoes and run or walk 5K in the Earth Run
* Take a break and refresh in the Planet Forward Lounge
* Meet the totally cool, hip, fun, funky ecochick (OK, I added that one).



You convinced? You want two tickets? You're in luck. I have a bunch of tickets to give to YOU. Conditions for putting these tickets in your hot little hands:

- you can use the tickets (ie you live in TO or can make plans to be there)
- you comment on this post by Monday, April 20 at 12 noon EDT telling me what you're most looking forward to checking out at the Green Living Show (click the link for more details!)
- you leave me a way to contact you (if you use your Blogger profile make sure there's an email address in there somewhere, or just leave me your email addy in your comment) so that I can arrange getting the tickets to you if I randomly pick your name.

Good luck - hope to see you there!

Green Toronto Awards - deadline February 27 for nominations!

Hey Toronto/GTA ecochicks, do you know someone who has been an amazing influence on others in the area of living green? Then you should make sure that person gets the recognition they deserve by nominating them for a Green Toronto Award. The city of Toronto wants to recognize the people who are making Toronto a cleaner, greener and more liveable city. Individuals, organizations and companies are eligible to win. You can nominate someone in categories as diverse as Community Projects, Energy Conservation, Environmental Awareness, Green Design, Green Roof, Leadership, Market Transformation, Water Efficiency, and Youth. The selected winners will be honoured at a ceremony in April in conjunction with the Green Living Show, and will also have a $5,000 donation made to a registered charity of their choice.

But don't delay: The deadline is February 27, 2009 (tomorrow!) So hustle! And good luck to your nominees.

Midnight in the Garden: Fashion Takes Action's Green Gala, Saturday Nov 8

From the inbox: I would love to attend this event. Wonder if we can make it to TO for the weekend...

Toronto ON., October 27, 2008 – Canada’s Greenest Fashion Events - The Sustainable Style Show and the Green Gala, will take place on Saturday November 8th at the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto’s Historic Distillery District. This year’s Green Gala theme is Midnight in the Garden, and there will be many stars shining bright.

A mix of professional models and Canadian media and celebrities will rock the runway: City TV’s List West, and Anne Mroczkowski, Sun TV host and Juno nominee Tara Slone, Fashion Television’s Mary Kitchen, recording artist Lily Frost, jazz artist Larra Skye, The Hills After Party’s Jessi Cruikshank, fashion expert Moe Kelso of CBC’s ‘Steven and Chris’, Rogers TV’s Candice Batista, and Cosmo TV’s Jacqui Skeete. MuchMusic VJ Hannah Simone will emcee, and acclaimed artist Tara MacLean will perform live!

This year’s designers are: Project Runway Canada winner Evan Biddell, TFI New Labels winner Eugenia Leavitt, Nada Yousif, Katya Revenko, Jason Meyers, Carrie Hayes, Zoran Dobric, Thien LE and Damzels in this Dress. Nine of these designers recently showed at L’Oreal Fashion Week.

The Sustainable Style Show will take place on the same day from 10am to 5pm and will feature a group of hand-selected, quality, eco-friendly fashion and beauty vendors selling products and holiday gift ideas to the eco savvy consumer. This is the first green event to focus solely on fashion and beauty and admission is $10 at the door. The Green Gala will be held from 8pm to 12am and tickets are $75 and $85 in advance and $100 at the door. Tickets are available online at www.fashiontakesaction.com. Both events will raise funds for Environmental Defence and Fashion Takes Action.

Planet in Focus Festival - Free Passes for This Weekend!

The Planet in Focus festival is on this weekend in Toronto! From October 22-26th, 2008, Toronto will host more than 100 environmental film screenings in addition to panel discussions, a special children’s program and industry workshops for budding eco-filmmakers.

Planet in Focus promotes the use of film and video to frame and explore social and ecological focal points, and as a catalyst for awareness, discussion and action.

As David Suzuki says, "Nothing could be more important than the potential educational value of environmental film."

With this ethos on our sleeve, we strive to screen the most creative, insightful, and inspirational programming available. We reach out warmly to both new and traditional audiences, aiming to create a welcoming and energized forum where environmental art, science, industry and activism can come together.

The festival is complemented by year round programming with a hands-on video workshop for youth, the Cross-Canada Tour and other special events. Each day’s program features pre and post-screening discussions, panels, workshops and networking events, designed to further engage with the films’ subjects, and foster dialogue and community amongst audiences, filmmakers and broadcasters.

Want a pair of All-Access Passes?? Just comment on this post. First come, first served. You need to be in the GTA and plan on attending the event. If you're first, you can take two tickets; if the first person only needs one, there's one more up for grabs. Good luck!

Herbfest: Celebrating a healthy lifestyle

Eastern Ontario (and even Western Quebec!) ecochicks: The Annual Midsummer Herbfest will be taking place on Sunday, July 27th in Almonte, Ontario.

More than 100 neat vendors will be there including local producers, organic producers, and folks who have been featured on ecochick before such as Urban Forest. There are also features such as a chef cook off, local food vendors offering a wide selection of culinary favourites from around the world, herbal Tea Tasting, mini-markets showcasing gardening wisdom, culinary tips, craft and decorative inspiration, total body wellness and herbal healthcare, a herb plant sale and gift shop, herb garden walks, and a beer garden to deposit your husband in while you partake in it all. :)

It's being held at 3840 Old Almonte Road, about half an hour outside of downtown Ottawa. Passes are $4 in advance, $5 at the gate. For more information visit their website. See you there!

GreenMom Spring Market

It's May and it's time for the Greenmom Spring Market on Saturday, May 31st from 10 am to 5 pm, at the CNIB Building in Toronto. From their website:

Enjoy a day of celebrating all the good things that we are doing to make Toronto and our world a better place! Discover new green products and services, meet like-minded families, and eat organic and healthy food all under one roof. Join us in this one-day green community shopping event and let us inspire one another creating a healthier and more sustainable future.

There will be tons of vendors there, many of whom are only usually findable online so it's a great opportunity to meet your favourite vendors face to face - and actually get a chance to check out the products in person. There's an organic cafe, works by local artisans, clowns, great prize giveaways like a wilderness retreat or great gift certificates... everything *except* plastic bags. Nice!

Buy tickets online in advance for $6 (and - if you don't print the ticket but rather just show your ID at the door, you save money and paper!) or for $2 more at the door (and it's free for your kids!) Or, you can splurge on the $15 for a Green VIP card, that will get you special offers discounts on select green and local businesses until August 31, 2008, as well as admission to the show. You can use the VIP card to shop in person or online - and you can use it at the GreenMom Spring Market!

Green Drinks International

Are you interested in meeting other local people who work or are otherwise concerned with the environment? Do you like beer? If you've answered "yes" to both of those questions, then you should check out your local chapter of Green Drinks! Green Drinks is an informal organization with over 300 chapters across the globe. The purpose? Simply to get together with other green minded people over a beer and talk about the environment. The conversation could be about pretty much anything, and you could meet pretty much anyone there. Everyone is welcome. No matter where you are, you can find a Green Drinks event - or, if there isn't one in your city, you can contact the organizers to find out how to start your own.

Ottawa's Green Drinks event is tonight, May 14, 5:30 til you say stop, at the Lieutenant's Pump on Elgin street. See you there!

Green Toronto Festival

On May 23 and 24, 2008, the Green Toronto Festival returns to Yonge-Dundas Square. This awesome (and free!) gathering will have more than 100 exhibits of green products and services, logally grown food, live bands and special guest speakers - all in a car free environment.

On Friday, they are having a "kids' day" where there will be tons of activities targeted towards students and teachers between 10 am and 4 pm. Interactive exhibits, live shows, buskers and face painting - it's all there!

Exhibitors at the show include ecochick favourite Passenger Pigeon , cool green coupon book The Little Green Book of Big Savings, eco-fashion shop Heart On Your Sleeve and plenty more. In addition, Fashion Takes Action is sponsoring the Green Fashion Zone – a collection of 12 vendors who specialize in green fashion and accessories.

Check it out - May 23 and 24, at Yonge-Dundas Square.

UPDATED: Toronto Green Living Show: Ticket giveaway and ticket discount for ecochick readers!

UPDATED: Good news: The awesome folks at the Green Living show have provided us with 3 pairs of tickets to give away to lucky ecochick readers!

If you're going to be in Toronto this weekend and want to attend the Green Living Show, here's what you do: Simply check out the Green Living Show Website and take a look at who's going to be exhibiting, speaking or presenting. Then leave me a comment below and tell me what it is you're most looking forward to seeing at the show. Is it a certain thought-provoking seminar? A specific funky eco-vendor? The options are endless. Just post your pick in the comments by Thursday, April 24 at 12 Noon eastern daylight time and I'll let you know that afternoon if you're one of the lucky ones (just don't forget to leave me your email address).

Even if you don't get the giveaway tickets, you're still eligible to get a great discount. Simply navigate to the Green Living Show website, go to Buy tickets, and enter the coupon code 20JA to get 20% off your admission price. Nice!

This is going to be a really excellent show, with plenty of exhibitors, an Organic Marketplace, and great seminars. Take in the Eco-Chic Exhibitor Fashion Show, listen to Robert Kennedy talk about Sustainability, attend a panel on Sustainable Packaging, and just so much more.

Check it out if you can - you'll be glad you did.

Green Living Show

The Toronto Green Living Show is coming up soon, April 25-27, 2008!

Over 400 exhibitors, seminars, an Organic Marketplace and an organic wine, beer and spirits lounge (if ecochick makes it you'll find her in here!), nifty contests and a heck of a lot more.

It's at the Direct Energy Center, Exhibition Place, Toronto, Friday through Sunday, $12 at the door, cheaper in advance online.

If you're in the GTA, be there, green chiquitas!

Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair

Next Saturday, April 19th, the annual Ottawa Eco-Stewardship Fair is taking place from 10 am to 4 pm at the RA center on Riverside Drive.

They've got a great lineup for the day including interesting speakers, cool exhibitors such as Pure Know How, which is a great resource to tell you about what's truly in the products you use everyday, Green Beaver, whose yummy products have already been featured on ecochick, and tons more. There will also be a 100-mile local food luncheon and the awarding of the annual Eco-Stewardship Fair Awards to "recognize individuals, groups, organizations or businesses that have made a significant contribution to protecting the environment and promoting conservation and sustainability."

Check this out and I'll see you there - if you'd like to meet up, email me at talk at ecochick dot ca!

Don't Forget...

The Eco Wedding and Lifestyle Show is this weekend in Toronto. Check it out - and report back if you can!

Eco Wedding and Lifestyle Show in TO!

Now that's what I'm talking about.

The Eco Wedding and Lifestyle Show will be on March 1-2, 2008 at the Design Exchange in Toronto. The Eco Wedding & Lifestyle Show will feature a diverse collection of stylish and unique wedding and lifestyle vendors, all of whom have a commitment to the environment. This "one stop shop" will allow the green at heart to find vendors, items and service providers that jive with their eco-sensibilities. Vendors include Whole Foods, Plantatree Wine, Eco Flora, LPK’s Culinary Groove, CarbonZero, Toronto Botanical Gardens, The Richmond, Merchants of Green Coffee and Bullfrog Power.

There's a lot of fantastic stuff to see - and to win - at this show. You can see unique and interactive eco friendly fashion shows, sponsored by David Scott Cosmetics. Models will be positioned at key stations for 20 minutes, alongside the designers, and guests can get up close and personal with the garments and the designer.

You can get a free engagement portrait done- sign up on a first come, first served basis. Book in advance online.

There are also great giveaways:

- Two comfort-fit, 3mm 18K white or yellow gold wedding bands valued at $600 courtesy of Brilliant Earth, who specialize in quality jewelry from ethical sources.
- A round-trip for 2 from Toronto to Quebec City, courtesy of VIA Rail, with one night’s stay at the Fairmont Chateau Frontenac in the heart of Old Quebec (valued at $1000)
- Six wilderness adventure getaways courtesy of Wilderness Tours (valued at $100 each)
Green Clean Home Starter Basket of Melaleuca products from Enhancing Health ($100 value)
- Producer's Pick 'Be Gorgeous' Basket ($200 value)

Tickets are available online or at the door.