Board Members
With the exceptional input of many volunteers, the NCVA is being led by:
Pamela Eadie, President and Interim Executive Director
Pamela Eadie, president and interim executive director of the National Capital Vegetarian Association, went vegetarian more than eight years ago after doing a university paper on the environmental consequences of a meat-based diet. Despite her rural upbringing, "it was only then that I learned how terribly inefficient livestock agriculture is, and I was truly horrified," says Pamela.
She went online to learn more, and to find a vegetarian community. "That's when I became alerted to the animal rights and welfare issues around the egg and dairy industries," she says. That in turn led her to become vegan nearly six years ago.
"I had to learn how to cook and eat all over again," she says. "That made it difficult at first, but once I knew what I had to do - get rid of eggs and dairy - I did it and it was very easy."
For the past several years, Pamela has worked as an advertising writer and editor for a major daily newspaper. She previously worked as an editor for a number of Ontario construction publications. She shares her home with two adopted cats. A graduate of Carleton University's Journalism program, she grew up in Tweed, Ontario, where hunting and farming are commonplace. It was through some friends that Pamela was introduced to her latest passion - running.
"I never thought I would ever run for fun," says Pamela, "but as it turns out, I love it." Pamela finished the 2007 Ottawa Fall Colours half marathon in 1 hour and 53 minutes.
As well as serving as NCVA president, Pamela founded the NCVA's newsletter, "Capital Veg News," and the NCVA's monthly vegan potlucks. She is also heavily involved with getting Ottawa Veg Fest '09 off the ground, and co-founded the NCVA's monthly pub nights.
She says veg outreach is important to her. "Being vegan is a source of happiness and stability in my life. I don’t find it difficult or inconvenient," she says. "However, I recognize that this is not the case for many people on the veg path and that’s a major motivator for me with the NCVA. I feel very strongly that people should be able to make choices that free their conscience, and that creating an environment where they can feel comfortable and supported is paramount. I think the NCVA is an excellent vehicle to promote veganism in the Ottawa area."
She welcomes your input, at ncva.avcn@gmail.com.
Corrie Rabbe, Vice-President & Ottawa Veg Fest Coordinator
Corrie turned vegetarian when she was 17 years old because of animal welfare concerns and health interests. “I wanted to be a vegetarian since I was 8 years old, but didn’t have the support. I’ve always recognized that animals have personalities of their own and deserve respect.” Corrie also wanted to see how her body would feel as a vegetarian so when she was old enough she decided that she would try being veg for a few weeks. “What was supposed to be a short health experiment has lasted over 13 years!” Corrie made the full switch to veganism 3 years ago after attending the Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair and learning more about the evils of the dairy industry. After that she hasn’t looked back. “I realize now that my dairy really slows my body down. As a vegan, I feel healthier than I ever did before.”
Corrie currently works as a Communications Coordinator for a non-profit environmental organization and is not only an avid cyclist, but also a volunteer for the Rideau Valley Animal Sanctuary, the Ottawa Duck Club, and of course the NCVA. Her two dogs, Ziggy and Meiko and rabbits Pellet and Betty keep her very busy along with her numerous interests and hobbies. Corrie says her vegan diet is integral to her active lifestyle. “People often ask how I am able to do so many activities. I always say that without my healthy vegan diet I wouldn’t have the fuel to do what I do every day.”
This award-winning graduate of Carleton’s Environmental Studies program says she is surprised about how little we hear about greenhouse gas emissions from the meat and dairy industry in the mainstream media. “I think it’s scandalous that the biggest source of greenhouse gases has been swept under the rug and totally ignored.” As a nature lover Corrie feels that it is important to make the public more aware about the environmental consequences of consuming animal ‘products.’
Corrie contacted the NCVA to help organize Ottawa’s first Veg Food Fest and has taken on a number of additional duties. “I wanted to connect with like-minded people and help promote a plant-based diet her in the nation’s capital,” she says. She encourages anyone interested to get involved with the NCVA.
Tanya Hanham, Board Member and 'CapitalVegNews' Editor
Tanya is the editor of the NCVA’s newslestter, Capital Veg News, a long-time vegan, an Ultra-Distance XC Mountain Biker, and an ambassador for Vega (www.sequelnaturals.com).
As a mountain biker, Tanya focuses on solo endurance races such as 24 hour solo races, 100 km enduros and multi-day stage races. Going to these races gives her the excuse to fuel her passion of travel to amazing places. She writes about these adventures and more in her vegan-cycling blog www.theveganvagabond.blogspot.com.
Since becoming vegan, Tanya has embraced cooking and baking as part of her new lifestyle. In 2006 - 2008 her love of cooking led her to run an informal small business called Mealtime Matters (now extinct), selling single-portion vegan freezer meals. And to expand her vegan baking skills she attended a week long vegan baking boot camp with Fran Costigan at the Natural Gourmet School in New York City in 2006.
Tanya welcomes your inquiries about and submissions to Capital Veg News. Please contact her at capitalvegnews@gmail.com
Ron St. Louis, Board Member and Web Manager
Ron St. Louis is not only the NCVA’s web guy, but also assists with the NCVA’s various activities and efforts no matter what they are.
Several years ago, Ron became increasingly aware of the correlation between what people eat every day and the health of the planet. He learned the facts about how eating meat contributes to land degradation, climate change and air pollution, water shortages and water pollution, and loss of biodiversity. He quickly realized that for those concerned about our environment, reducing meat consumption is as fundamental as reducing car use or being a conscientious recycler.
As Ron started researching vegetarianism more he was also shocked to learn about modern farming practices. He was particularly disturbed by about how factory farmed animals are raised and what those practices are doing to our planet. He decided he could no longer support the factory farming industry. “People have lost their connection to food and the land. As consumers we only see it as buying a package of food. In the industry, animals have been reduced to basic commodities and treated as machinery with little or no concern for their wellbeing. I firmly believe that every dollar is a vote and this is something that I refuse to support.”
Ron is originally from Sudbury and spent a lot of his time at his mother’s original home in Dokis First Nation. He strongly advocates that First Nations should take the lead in tackling the issue of factory farming. “We never had factory farming…we never even had pigs. Factory farming goes completely against our worldview.”
In his spare time, Ron enjoys mountain biking, seeing live music, and all kinds of outdoor activities. Currently his main project is fixing up his cottage so that he may one day live a self-sufficient lifestyle. He is also father to two beautiful rescued bunny rabbits, Pellet and Betty! If you have any questions or concerns about the website, Ron appreciates your feedback. Email ncva.avcn(at)gmail.com.
Dave Loan, Board Member
Dave Loan is the co-owner of Zen Kitchen, Ottawa's premier vegan restaurant, and is in charge of the vegan wine list.
Formerly a professional political strategist, Dave was the campaigns manager at the International Fund for Animal Welfare and led the fight for improved animal cruelty legislation.
Dave and his partner, chef Caroline Ishii, are the subjects of a new TV documentary series, "The Restaurant Adventures of Caroline and Dave," which will show on the W Network beginning in January.
Brenda Davis, R.D., Board Member
Brenda Davis, registered dietitian and nutritionist, is a leader in her field and an internationally acclaimed speaker. She has worked as a public health nutritionist, clinical nutrition specialist, nutrition consultant and academic nutrition instructor. Brenda is currently the lead dietitian in a diabetes intervention research project in Majuro, Marshall Islands.
A co-author of six books - the best-sellers, Becoming Vegetarian, The New Becoming Vegetarian, Becoming Vegan and Defeating Diabetes, Dairy-free and Delicious, and the newly released Raw Revolution Diet. Her 7th book was released in the summer of 2009.
Brenda is a past chair of the Vegetarian Nutrition Diabetic Practice Group of the American Diabetic Association. In 2007, she was inducted into the Vegetarian Hall of Fame.
