Jorin Starcevich and his family have been hosting public vegan potlucks for nearly a year as they've made friends with vegans in Northeast Saskatchewan during their stay in Melfort (Facebook/Melfort Vegans).

By Aaron Schulze

Vegan in the Northeast

‘I can’t say we’ve had a negative experience here’: Living vegan in Northeast Saskatchewan

May 23, 2019 | 4:50 PM

Jorin Starcevich and his wife have been vegan for 19 years.

They’ve lived in Melfort for 14 years since moving from the B.C. lower mainland and have raised their family while continuing the vegan lifestyle.

Moving from an area that has a population near three million such as the lower mainland to the City of Melfort which sits near 6,000 people could make it more difficult to find fellow vegans to relate with. But over time Starcevich found enough vegan friends in the northeast community to start a Facebook social group called ‘Melfort Vegans’.

Starcevich told northeastNOW the group is coming up on their one-year anniversary, and the vegan potluck events held at Koffee Grounds has seen up to nearly 30 people attend, whether they’re vegan or non-vegan, children or adults, or visitors from out of town.

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“We’ve had really good responses from people in Saskatchewan,” Starcevich said. “I’ve talked to people in Vancouver and some of them have really bad reactions from people, so you’d think it’s going to be worse in Saskatchewan. But you know what? For the most part, people are really good about it.

“Our kids still get invited to birthday parties, my girls are in Guides and they’ll make vegan snacks. At the school one teacher made vegan muffins, so people are really quite supportive.”

The people of Northeast Saskatchewan have seemingly opened their arms for the Starcevich’s, but what about the product availability?

Whether it’s food or other shopping necessities, the essential rule for being vegan is not consuming animal products or by-products.

Starcevich said shopping for plant-based food products has been convenient, as Gardein (pea protein), -vegan ice cream, veggie slices, tofu, Daiya (cheese substitute), soymilks, and Beyond Meat are on Northeast grocery store shelves. He said being in Saskatchewan is a step up for him finding plant-based proteins as it holds nearly 80 per cent of the pulse farming area in Canada.

For clothing, Starcevich said most running shoes are prominently vegan to begin with and most companies have a vegan product on the market, making it easier for his family to live a vegan lifestyle today than when he started 19 years ago.

As to next steps for the Melfort and northeast vegans, Starcevich hopes to see more of them come out in the community for larger, social gatherings and help provide more vegan options.

“The (Melfort) Multi K for instance,” he said. “When they have a barbecue, I’d like to see more vegan options, and I’m sure this year we’re going to have some vegan options there. I just think it’s time to talk, share, become a community and be accepting of everyone.”

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aaron.schulze@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @SchulzePANow