A registered charity since 1992, our mission is to change the world by promoting the widespread adoption of plant-based diets. We use evidence-based education to increase awareness of the ways in which choosing a plant-based diet will lead to a healthier, kinder, and more sustainable world.
Vision
We envision a world where open hearts and well-informed minds inspire a global shift to plant-based diets; where we care about the health and vitality of humanity, the wellbeing of animals, and our environment. In choosing a plant-based diet, we have the power to shape a healthier, kinder, and more sustainable world.
History
In the spring of 1989, John Robbins – author of Diet for a New America – spoke to a packed room at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Vancouver. Many in attendance responded powerfully to the message that our food choices have massive, global environmental consequences and contribute to a cruel animal farming system.
Following Mr. Robbins’ visit, a passionate group of activists decided to create an organization dedicated to educating the public about the importance of our food choices. Originally named Canada Earthsave Society, and later renamed Earthsave Canada, the organization became a registered charity in 1992.
Public education from an evidence-based perspective has been foundational to our mission from the beginning. Through our commitment to scientific rigour, we have gained credibility in the eyes of the public. Our activities have been focused on hosting expert speakers, organizing community events, attending festivals, and giving talks in high schools. More recently, our website, blog, and social media presence have become important aspects of our educational work.
Earthsave Canada is guided by a volunteer board of directors. We continue to grow our organization with the aim of turning us all towards more ethical, sustainable, and healthful plant-based diets.
Volunteer board of directors
President
David Steele
David is a molecular biologist retired in 2013 from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. He has also held faculty positions at Cornell and Queen’s Universities.
Dr. Steele is a frequent public speaker and a regular contributor to Earthsave Canada’s publications. He is also an occasional contributor to various other publications.
Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary
Jen Flood
Jen is a lawyer with a J.D. from UBC and a B.Sc. in physics from Queen’s University. A vegan for over a decade and an avid cyclist, she joined Earthsave Canada in 2018.
Director
Karry Eilers
Karry is a retired IT Project Manager with a B.A. in Computer Science from SFU. A vegetarian since 1990, Karry’s commitment to animal welfare and the future of the planet resulted in her becoming vegan in 2018. Karry is an avid hiker, especially with her dog, and a vegan foodie.
Director
Anita Bora
Anita is a lifelong adventurer who enjoys the outdoors, nature and a challenging hike. She moved from sunny California to rainy Vancouver in July 2022. She turned plant-based in 2019 and vegan soon after learning about the horrors of animal agriculture. She credits this switch for alleviating health concerns. The book that added to her resolve is Melanie Joy’s, ‘Why we pet dogs, eat pigs and wear cows‘ – she highly recommends it to learn more about carnism and cognitive dissonance. Her day job is in content and communications but she’s usually found in the ceramics studio, playing pickleball or dreaming of her next trip. She’s working on launching plant-forward tours to India; having experienced some wonderful culinary and cultural experiences on her recent trips. You can find her plant-based adventures frequently on IG (@anitabora) and (@thekindertravelco).
Director
Sylke Jaspers
Sylke is a passionate creative doer who loves contributing to projects focused on transitioning to more plant-based food systems. She adopted a plant-based diet in 2016 after recognizing the impact of her food choices and has felt good about it ever since. Being a dedicated social scientist with a PhD in Citizen Engagement, she joined Earthsave in 2024 to help make knowledge more accessible and inclusive, ensuring that everyone is included in the shift toward plant-based food systems.
Director
Fernanda Lima
Fernanda is originally from Brazil and became a Canadian citizen in 2025. Since little, she always felt a strong connection with nature and all living creatures, which led her to a plant-based lifestyle in 2015. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Oceanography, and currently works in the environmental non-profit sector.
Fernanda joined EarthSave in 2024 and is deeply passionate about sharing her compassion for animals, as well as her commitment with justice, equity and diversity values.
Director of IT
Jon Benjamin
Jon is a recovering academic with a PhD in Astronomy from the University of British Columbia. He is a published boardgame designer and currently works as a curling ice-technician and coach. Jon discovered veganism in 2007 and quickly learned the joy that comes from living in alignment with deeply held beliefs of equality, compassion, and non-violence.
Photo credits
- Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash
- Photo by Evie S. on Unsplash
- Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash
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