January 9, 2020

We’re grateful to have such wonderful support – here’s a little more about our corporate sponsors and business partners!

A Bill10⁹n

A Bill10⁹n is a worldwide consumer app that allows people to connect with each other and review vegan food, clothing, and products. Through this platform, they distribute money to sanctuaries by donating $1 per review to a sanctuary or advocacy group of the reviewer’s choice. So by simply snapping a picture and writing a review, consumers can not only help others make more educated compassionate choices, they also receive free money to give to sanctuaries and advocacy groups they love!

We were very excited to be chosen as the first Canadian sanctuary to be on their list for donations, and it’s wonderful to watch them grow and expand and continue to add more sanctuaries to their list.

To find out more, and to download the app, check out their website: abillion.com

Animal Protection Party of Canada

The Animal Protection Party of Canada is Canada’s only political party giving non-human animals equal consideration. They’re also North Americas first political party standing up for animals.

We’re lucky here on Vancouver Island to have the Deputy Leader of the Animal Protection Party, Jordan Reichert, advocating on behalf of non-human animals in the political sphere. This party is the only political party to present a comprehensive platform that takes all the residents of this land into consideration, not just humans. We share our world with wild and domesticated animals and the policies we put into place affect them in huge ways – their needs should be given equal consideration.

The Animal Protection Party has grown a lot since they first got started, so keep an eye out for a candidate in your riding! Check them out at: Animal Protection Party

Bound to be Different

Bound to be Different is a beautiful boutique shop right here in Chemainus, carrying all sorts of items like jewellery, clothing, local artwork, furniture, and more – they’ve been friends of the sanctuary for some time – donating items for silent auctions as well as helping us to sell our annual calendars – we highly recommend a visit anytime you’re in Chemainus!

For store hours and location visit: Bound to be Different

Café La Vie

The owners and team at this amazing restaurant/café in Duncan have been our friends since they first opened, and have partnered with us in fundraisers as well as sponsoring our resident special needs pig Pirate – they bring vegan comfort food up to a whole new level taking basically anything that is traditionally non-vegan and transforming it into amazing vegan creations. Café La Vie has everything from baked goods and specialty cakes to take home pre-made delicious meals alongside the amazing menu they present everyday.

Definitely a must for anyone visiting the island – if you’re passing through Duncan, make sure to stop in!

Check them out at: Cafe La Vie

Coach and Horses

Coach and Horses is a British restaurant and pub located in Nanaimo, right here on the island. We’ve held events here in the past, and always love visiting as they have many items that are Vegan. Definitely check them out if you’re in Nanaimo!

For hours, location, and menu info, go to: Coach and Horses BC

Diana Winger

Diana has been working as a real estate agent for over a decade, and has been a friend to the sanctuary since we came to the island. If you’re looking to buy or sell a home in Victoria, you’re not going to find a better person to help you along the way.

Check her out at: Home Victoria

eXp REALTY, Lifestyles Real Estate Group

Debbie has not only been a longtime supporter of the RASTA Sanctuary ever since we moved to the Island 5 years ago, but she’s also the incredible lady who helped us find our beautiful property that more than over 100 rescued residents now call home.

Finding the right property for a Farm Sanctuary took a tremendous amount of work and a number of years, the last two of which Debbie was involved in. Working with a very limited budget presented a great deal of challenges so the properties we viewed required a fair amount of imagination to envision what they could be rather than what they were.

Debbie played an incredibly important role in helping us to find our new home which wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. Together we viewed countless properties from Qualicum, Parksville, Coombs, Errington, Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Yellow Point, Chemainus and all the way to Duncan (some of which quite literally had us running back to her vehicle screaming!) as we experienced quite the adventures along the way. Literally nothing was easy with our new Sanctuary property requirements and I’m pretty sure that the purchase of our new home was very likely one of Debbie’s more challenging sales.

In the end, Debbie helped us to find the perfect property in the most beautiful little town of Chemainus and we truly couldn’t be happier with where we are.

For anyone who’s looking to buy or sell their home, we highly recommend Debbie Simmonds because not only does she have a most impressive 20 years of experience working in real estate, she has also grown up on Vancouver Island and knows it like the back of her hand. She’s a true pleasure to work with, (is the fastest responder to texts that we know!) and above all else, she’s a true friend.

Check her out at: DebbieSimmonds.com

Fern Café and Bakery

The powerhouse duo behind the 100% vegan Fern Café and Bakery have been supporters of the sanctuary since they first opened their doors. They’ve recently finished a kitchen renovation meaning their amazing menu has gotten even bigger! Fried Chickun, burgers, sandwiches, pasta, scrambles, and ALL the baked goods you could imagine from their famous cinnamon buns to real deep fried donuts – there’s nothing they can’t do!

Definitely pay them a visit whenever you’re in Victoria!
Check them out for hours, location and info: Fern Café and Bakery

Found City Yoga

This beautiful studio, located at 1620 Garnet Road in Victoria, has a “by-donation” yoga class each Friday, where all proceeds are directed to an animal charity, and RASTA is grateful to have been a recipient of this. Their support, and their ongoing commitment towards helping animals in need, and also their support of important campaigns for human equality, sets a powerful example of a business putting ethics to work.

Check them out to learn more! Found City Yoga

Green Cuisine

With 2020 underway, Green Cuisine is entering their 30^th year in operation in Victoria! This amazing restaurant has a constantly changing array of amazing vegan dishes, and they’ve been great friends of ours and of the vegan community here on Vancouver Island. Whether you’re looking for a healthy salad, a hearty meal, a smoothie or just a pile of dessert, they’ve got you covered! Not a spot to be missed if you’re hungry in Victoria!

Check them out at: Green Cuisine Restaurant

Island Orthotics

Tim at Island Orthotics is someone that we really can’t say enough good about. He has worked so much to help our dear boy Pirate, constantly repairing and adjusting the prosthetic devices that allow Pirate to enjoy a full life. His support is truly invaluable, and anyone who knows Pirate knows how much he relies on his prosthetic leg for mobility. It’s thanks to Tim that we get to see Pirate run and play and live the life he deserves.

Take a moment to learn more about the work Tim does at: Island Orthotics

Liberation BC

Liberation BC has worked for years to bring education and awareness to the public about the plight of animals by organizing events, attending festivals, and bringing community members together. They’ve also organized a cupcake sale for the past few years with all proceeds going to the sanctuary. We’re so grateful for their support, and if you’re in Vancouver you should definitely plug into this network of fantastic humans!

More on their Facebook page at: Liberation BC

Mystic Lights

Did you see our beautiful 2019 calendars? Well the man behind the camera was Praveen, of Mystic Lights. Praveen came out to the sanctuary multiple times, spending hours observing and photographing the animals to really capture who they are. He does all of it for free and we are incredibly fortunate to have him as a supporter.

Please take a look and follow him at: Mystic Lights

Nice Shoes

This 100% vegan shoe and clothing store, located at 3568 Fraser Street in Vancouver, has been a fantastic support of the sanctuary. They’ve even named vegan shoes after the animals here as a fundraiser and to raise awareness! You’ll see them in our calendars, and should definitely drop by if you’re in Vancouver.

They also do online sales, so be sure to check their website out at: Nice Shoes

P.E.A.C.E.

People Ensuring Animal Care Exists (P.E.A.C.E.) is an amazing volunteer run charity helping animals in need of sanctuary find homes, as well as providing incredible support to sanctuaries through workshops, grant resources, support with getting non-profit or charity status, and much more. They’ve become an amazing bridge between the help that animals need, and the places they can get it.

We have been involved with them since they started, and the work they do is having a huge impact on so many individual animals and the various sanctuaries throughout British Columbia. As they’ve grown and expanded it has been wonderful to have such dedicated individuals working on behalf of rescue and advocacy filling a gap providing much needed support.

Have a look at their website to find out more about what they do and what’s coming up: Peace-Everywhere.org

Peace People Project

Tosha started Peace People Project to create amazing vegan messaged clothing without causing any harm to our planet. Every item they make is printed on thrifted clothing, and sustainability has never looked better! Tosha also organizes events, and does speaking engagements about living zero waste. With 50% of sales on many items going directly to sanctuaries, it’s hard to think of a reason to buy things anywhere else!

Check out their website for all sorts of information and shopping: Peace People Project

Terry Oh Tattoos

Terry has been an amazing friend to the sanctuary for a couple of years now – not only coming and visiting, helping with calendar photos, but also by holding tattoo fundraisers, donating all proceeds to the animals. He’s one of very few vegan tattoo artists here on the island and you should definitely check him out if you’re looking for some new art!

Check his Instagram out at: Terry Oh Tattoos

The Very Good Butchers

Enough cannot be said about how amazing this business is. Since they first opened, Very Good Butchers have been amazing for the community here on Vancouver Island. For us, they’ve helped with events, provided space and food for free, come all the way out here to Chemainus to cook at a fundraiser, and have both advertised in and helped sell our calendars for the past two years. Eat ALL OF THEIR FOOD if you’re in Victoria and keep an eye out for their products in grocery stores as well!

Find them and where to buy their products at: The Very Good Butchers

Until We Meet Again

Saying goodbye to animal companions is incredibly hard, and obviously something that every sanctuary goes through over and over and over again. The folks at Until We Meet Again have provided us with free private cremation services for some time now, including picking up our departed friends. Knowing that our family members will be treated with love and respect after they’ve passed helps a lot at such a difficult time, and we highly recommend them for their services.

Learn more about their services on their website: Until We Meet Again

Vancouver Island Vegan Association

Vancouver Island Vegan Association (VIVA) is a non-profit society dedicated to educating the public about veganism and building compassionate community across Vancouver Island.

This amazing organization, headed by two wonderful people and supported by a group of dedicated volunteers is behind major events like Vegtoria, Thanksliving, Vegmas, and various educational workshops, film screenings, and animal advocacy projects each year. VIVA has been an amazing partner and has helped us so many ways – everything from coming out to volunteer, to holding and participating in many fundraisers – they’ve been a huge part of helping us settle in and feel supported here on Vancouver Island. We are so grateful to them for everything they do!

Check out their website to see what’s coming up: VictoriaVeg.ca