Introduction

Author: Janice Park (page 36)

Author: Janice Park (page 36)

Five reasons you need to go to Beau’s Oktoberfest

We’re excited about Beau’s Brewing Co.’s upcoming Oktoberfest celebration, but don’t let them fool you — it’s actually in September! That’s not the only eyebrow raising feature of the independent Canadian brewer’s annual event, so we wanted to pick the brain of our own Beau’s Superfan to hear his top reasons to attend.

3 ways to renovate sustainably

Over the years, the Ecology Action Centre — a Nova Scotia environmental charity — has had a number of homes and in 2005, they purchased an old saltbox house in Halifax’s North End. “This was exciting because owning our own building meant we could go beyond turning of the lights and printing double-sided, and really use our space to demonstrate our environmental values,” says Joanna Bull, who is the Volunteer Coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre.

Your specs aren’t sustainable. But they could be.

We asked Dresden Vision Canada about their pet peeves when it comes to picking out a new pair of frames to learn how they do things just a bit better. In their words, Dresden Vision is made up of a bunch of “frustrated glasses wearers” who try to see glasses from their customers’ perspectives.

Brain Power, an innovative after-school program in Vaughan, becomes bullfrogpowered

Brain Power is an innovative leader in after-school enrichment education for bright and gifted students in Vaughan, Ontario. Their core programming offers everything from robotics and public speaking to academic field trips and experiential learning. Brain Power prides itself on providing learning opportunities that incorporate themes of social justice and environmental education.

Just Us!: supporting farms in good times and bad

Just Us! Coffee Roasters is a certified fair trade and organic coffee roaster in Nova Scotia that began with social and environmental justice, not coffee, as its focus. The company imports green coffee beans, tea, sugar and chocolate into Canada and promotes an alternative to exploitative global trade practices. In fact, that mission inspired the company name: “Just Us!” is a play on “Justice.”

Three “hops” for Muskoka Roastery

A little-known fact about bullfrogs: they need a steady and constant supply of coffee to ensure they don’t lose their hop. Oh wait, that’s Bullfrogs—as in Bullfrog Power staff!

We love a good origin story—Whitewater Brewing Co. and the tale behind the name

The inspiration for Whitewater Brewing Co. originated on the banks of the mighty Ottawa River—world-renowned for its incredible whitewater adventures. These adventures brought three friends together year after year. One year, they had an epiphany: James Innes, Chris Thompson and Chris Thompson, founders of Whitewater Brewing Co. (that’s right—two founders share the same name!), thought, “What better way to pay homage to the Ottawa Valley than to set up a business named after the activity we love most, in the area we love most?”