Gluten-Free Events Calendar
If it’s gluten free and happening in Victoria, Vancouver Island or the Gulf Islands, you’ll find it listed here! From tastings to contests, farmer’s markets to food trucks – this is your calendar to Gluten-Free Paradise! Join Victoria’s Gluten-Free Foodies and add a new restaurant – and possibly a new gluten-free friend – to your repertoire!
Join Total Prepare for the 12th Annual Emergency Preparedness Fair and Display at the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre parking lot and Senior Centre Building.
The event runs Sunday May 5th from 11am – 3pm and is intended for people of all ages and is their yearly kickoff to Emergency Preparedness Week.
Look for their table with food bar samples and sample products. Ask about Certified Gluten-Free Legacy Freeze-Dried Meals.
NEW LOCATION NOW OPEN – 5471 Hamsterly Road – Pat Bay Highway at Sayward – next to Elk Lake Garden Centre.
Hours: Mon – Wed 9:30-5:00 Thurs 9:30 -7 Fri 9:30-5 Sat 11-4 Closed Sundays & Stats
Watch the TOTAL PREPARE Video Here!
TOTAL PREPARE Goes Gluten Free
In the event of a disaster, we may not be able to depend on outside agencies to supply us with food, let alone gluten-free food, for up to seven days – or more. Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your family, especially those with special dietary requirements, will have the food they need to survive. Their Legacy brand of certified gluten-free gourmet entrée options have been designed specifically for those who cannot consume gluten and other food allergens. Ingredients are 100% GMO Free, freeze-dried, easy to prepare – and delicious! Choose from the following products in a variety of combinations and quantities, all with a 25-year expiry date. Click on images below for more information. Complete details here.
- A Word of Wisdom from Reva: “We were evacuated during the Fort McMurray wildfire. Due to road closures we were forced to head north to “nothingness” While the oil sand site was amazing and fed everyone steak dinner from their cafeteria, they had nothing gf except juice boxes. My then 3 year old only had juice for 24 hours until we lucked out and made it south through a 15 minuted window where the fire stopped crossing the road and it was opened. The evacuation centres were fantastic with providing gf food once they knew it was needed, but that only helped when we could reach them. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE learn from my mistake and have ready to eat gf food handy to grab at a moments notice. We now have a stash of energy bars, sesame snaps, etc that are high energy, but light and easy to transport. Don’t assume you will have access to electricity for preparing things. I will forever have mom guilt for putting my little one in such a precarious situation.”
Prepare for Tomorrow – Play Today! A New Way to Think About Total Prepare!
You may not know it but plenty of West Coast Trail trekkers, kayakers, campers and island-hopping sailors do! Take advantage of having Canada’s #1 Emergency Preparedness Purveyor right here in Victoria!
Head on over to their retail outlet and let staff amaze you with their comprehensive inventory of emergency preparedness survival gear that is also perfect for camping, hiking and sailing. Think of it as a great way to make good use of these innovative, smart products while they stand ready to go into action should there be a disaster. Check the slider above for pictures.
Freeze-Dried Emergency Food
Total Prepare also carries a large selection of single-ingredient, freeze-dried fruits and vegetables and plain canned meats that contain just chicken and/or beef and salt that transcend any need for gluten-free certification. Great as school snacks, holiday nibbling or the convenience that processed foods offer – but with the quality of freshly-picked, flash freeze-dried produce. What’s not to love about freeze-dried strawberries, blueberries and more. See Freeze Dried Emergency Food.
Backpacker’s Pantry is the world’s foremost producers of freeze-dried meals, bringing inspired cuisine to the furthest reaches of our planet. Used by backpackers, sailors, extreme athletes, explorers, the military, hunters, campers, vegans and even the US Ski Team, Backpacker’s Pantry has added gluten-free to their line up of delicious meals. Tested to a 20 ppm threshold and with a certified gluten-free seal on the front of the packaging, all are easy to prepare in a cook-in-pouch. Learn more here.
Backpacker’s Pantry – Shepherd’s Pie with Beef
- Looking high and low for a filling gluten free comfort food that will stay with you throughout the day? Try the Shepherd’s Potato Stew with Beef from Backpacker’s Pantry! Packed with all-natural ingredients and real freeze dried beef this is a family favourite for all ages. Solid meat protein and hearty, feel-good potatoes make up the bulk of this meal, and are complimented by tomato, onion, cheese, and butter.
Backpacker’s Pantry – Santa Fe Style Chicken with Rice
- Send your taste buds south of the border to enjoy the full tastes of this Santa Fe Rice with Chicken. Full of fresh flavour this entrée option is packed with protein and real, all-natural ingredients. Bring a fresh avocado on your adventure to dice on top! Yum!
Backpacker’s Pantry – Pad Thai
- A best seller from Backpacker’s Pantry, this Vegan Pad Thai is high protein and comes with optional lime & siracha sauce so you can spice it up to suit your tastes. The protein in this meal comes from organic non-GMO textured soy. Dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan!
Backpacker’s Pantry – Chicken Cashew Curry
- Take this easy to prepare cook-in-pouch meal with you whether you’re bugging out or hitting the trail. Packed with real chicken, cashews, onions, mushrooms, and celery, this meal is full of excellent healthy calories, fats, and protein that will stick with you throughout your trails and adventures.
Additional Features:
- Average of 320 calories per serving
- Manufactured in controlled setting with strict cross contamination measures
- Simple to prepare – just add water
- No MSG, No Trans Fat, Low in Fat, No Cholesterol, Good Source of Fiber
- Lowest cost per serving and calorie in the food storage industry
- Meals come packaged in 4-serving Mylar pouches with an Oxygen Absorber and a Nitrogen Flush
- Mylar pouches stored in a stackable, heavy-duty, BPA-free plastic bucket
Total Prepare is Canada’s #1 Source for Emergency Preparedness, Self-Reliance and Longterm Storage
Living in an earthquake zone that is also vulnerable to tsunamis and wild fire, it is critical for those living in Victoria, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands – or anywhere else for that matter – to take the time to put together a supply of water and food for emergencies. Everyone needs to put together a grab-and-go bag that will last for 72 hours. In earthquake zones (that’s us!), we need supplies for 7 days.
- Water purification kits and tablets.
- Heat and shelter: foil sleeping bags and stoves in a can.
- Light and communication: crank flashlights and radios.
- First aid and complete toilet set
- Store your supplies in your car, office, camper, outside in a shed, or at the front of your garage. NOT in the basement, which you may not have access to.
- Don’t forget food and supplies for your pets.
TOTAL PREPARE offers a wide range of other survival products and can put together a package to meet your particular needs. Their personal attention can’t be beat. You owe it to yourself to visit Total Prepare (48 Crease Avenue in Victoria), or check out their website for online orders at https://totalprepare.ca.
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Learn How to Be Gluten Free! Two-hour information sessions are open to anyone adversely affected by gluten: celiacs, gluten sensitive, and the wheat allergic. No diagnosis needed.
Next classes: June 15, July 20, September 21, October 19 & November 16.
Taught by the experts – volunteers with the Victoria Chapter of the Canadian Celiac Association. Receive information, optimism and plenty of gluten-free goodies to go from The Celiac Scene. Contact ellen@theceliacscene.com for more information.
Thank you to the following sponsors:
900˚ Wood-Fired Pizzeria • Abuelo’s Corn Tortillas • Bake My Day • Bard’s Beer • Big Wheel Burger • Canadian Celiac Association • Care Bakery • Chef Pola Culinary • Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery • Corn Thins by Real Foods • Country Grocer • Deep Cove Market • Duinkerken Foods • Floating Fish Store • Gluten Free Resource Directory Canada • Glutenull • Grimm’s Fine Foods • Hertel Meats • Hornby Organic • Joint Pizzeria • Judy G Gluten-Free • Lifestyle Market & Select Stores • MCLEAN MEATS • Mother Nature’s Market & Deli • Noodle Box • O’Doughs • Pepper’s Foods • Pirate Chips Nanaimo • Pomme Natural Foods Nanaimo • Portofino Tested-to-Be-Gluten-Free • Rawthentic Eatery • Rock Cod Cafe • Royal Nuts • Royal Spice Indian Restaurant • Selena De Vries, RD • Six Mile Pub • Stella’s Perogies • Taco Revolution Food Truck • Taste – A Place For Coffee • The Market Stores • TOTAL PREPARE • Two Stickers • Union Street Grill • Wendel’s True Foods • Wild Poppy Bakery & Bistro • Wise Bites • WOLF Meal Prep
Thank you to Thrifty Foods for providing classroom space.
- Living Gluten-Free
- Gluten-Free Resources
- Gluten-Free Menu Planning
- Gluten-Free Recipes
- Gluten-Free Options on Pinterest
- Browse for Gluten-Free Items
About Thrifty Foods
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- Contact • 250-544-1234 • 1-800-667-8280
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Beans to Brew: An Evening All About Coffee
Tuesday May 30th | 6:30 – 8:00pm
Purchase Tickets in Advance – $20 – space is limited
710 Towner Park Rd, North Saanich (see map)
Millstone Farm is excited to welcome Sam Jones—founder of the island-born coffee roastery 2% Jazz. For over 25 years, Sam has been committed to sourcing, roasting and brewing exceptional craft coffee. Beginning as an outdoor kiosk in downtown Victoria, 2% Jazz has grown to become a community staple—renowned for the quality of its coffee and the warm and welcoming atmosphere of its indoor cafe.
On May 30th, join Millstone Farm for an evening all about coffee as Sam takes us on a journey from bean to brew. Learn how coffee is grown, sourced, roasted and brewed—and how to make the perfect cup at home!
After the presentation, enjoy a coffee tasting, a selection of gluten-free pastries and the musical ambiance of wes rd wraggett on Jazz Guitar! Coffee beans will be available for purchase, packaged and in bulk, along with Miron glass jars for storing the beans in maximum freshness and shelf life.
Store shelves will be well stocked with freshly milled flours, All Purpose Flour, Pancake Mix and the GF spices. Whole gluten-free grains will also be available for purchase, along with organic fresh eggs, organic, single-forest Maple Syrup, recyclable egg cartons, cook books & so much more.
- 710 Towner Park Rd, North Saanich (see map)
- Open Thursday-Friday-Saturday 10am to 5pm
- millstoneorganics.com
- millstonefarmer@gmail.com
- 778-350-1455
- Instagram • Facebook
- Subscribe to their monthly newsletter and receive 10% off your first online purchase!
- Millstone Farm’s extensive line of organic flours are stone-milled in a dedicated gluten-free facility.
- Grains can be milled up to 3 times to ensure that the flour contains the entirety of the grain.
- Gluten-free oats are milled in a separate mill in order to protect celiacs who cannot tolerate even pure oats.
- Whole, unmilled grains are also available for purchase.
- Organic spices, sourced from organic suppliers from around the world, are milled to order for optimal aroma and taste, then stored in light-impenetrable, miron glass.
- All-purpose and pancake mixes are created in house and are xanthan gum free.
- Also at the store: organic fresh eggs, organic, single-forest maple syrup, recyclable egg cartons, cook books & so much more.
- Coming soon – an outdoor cob oven for rustic, gluten-free baking! Think cinnamon buns and pizza!
Millstone Farms’ flours are milled to order. Phone or text 778-350-1455 or email millstonefarmer@gmail.com. Collect in person at the farm.
Flours sold at the store on Thursday, Friday & Saturday are milled on Wednesdays.
Almond Flour • Amaranth • Arrowroot Starch • Baking Powder • Baking Soda • Brown Flax Flour • Brown Flax Meal • Brown Flax Seeds • Chickpea • Coconut Flakes • Coconut Flour • Corn (tested to be gluten-free) • Cornstarch • Dried Organic Black Beans • Garfava • Vegan Chocolate Chips • Golden Flax Flour • Golden Flax Meal • Golden Flax Seed • Millet • Oat (pure from Avena) • Potato Starch • Psyllium Husk • Quinoa • Sorghum • Superfine Brown Rice • Sweet • White Rice • Tapioca Starch • Teff • White Rice • Xanthan Gum
- TESTIMONIAL: “My friend and I went to the most interesting family farm yesterday afternoon. It is Millstone Farm & Organics and they specialize in organic, gluten-free grains. One can order fresh ground flours and pick up when convenient. They also have the MOST amazing vanilla, vanilla beans, and powder, fresh organic eggs, lots of interesting articles in their little shop. They also have spices which can be fresh ground, essential oils, etc. Check them out if you live on the Island.” Diane Jenson
Millstone Farm’s herbs and vegetables, organic soaps & wool products are focused on healthy, sustainable, zero waste living and packaged in refillable & reusable containers.
- click on images below for more information
- free shipping in Canada on orders over $75.00
Celiac Canada is organizing “Shine A Light on Celiac Disease” for International Celiac Disease Awareness Day by illuminating locations across the country in green. That includes the Parliament Buildings of BC’s Legislative Assembly – for the first time!
The BC Legislature has accepted Celiac Canada’s request to be lit up GREEN on the evening of May 16th.
Please join us to get a photo together! We can’t meet too early, as we want the light to show up, so we’re hoping all convene at 8 PM at the cenotaph.
Please take & post pics on social media using #ShineALightOnCeliac!
LOOK FOR ELLEN IN HER REFLECTIVE YELLOW JACKET!
While quantities last, attendees will receive
• Country Grocer Bag with Discount Card
• GF Goodie Bags from Epicure Kelsea & son, Callum
• Treats from Art of Slow Food Bakery
• Treats from Origin Bakery
Participating Locatios Across Canada*
May 14
- Bloedel Conservatory, Vancouver, BC
May 15
- Civic Plaza, Surrey, BC
May 16
BRITISH COLUMBIA
- Science World, Vancouver, BC
- City Hall, Victoria, BC
- BC Legislature, Victoria, BC (in-person event planned)
- City Hall, Port Moody, BC
- Pier, White Rock, BC
ALBERTA
- Calgary Tower, Calgary
- Peace Bridge, Calgary
- Reconciliation Bridge, Calgary
- Telus Spark, Calgary
- Lethbridge City Hall, Lethbridge
- Medicine Hat TeePee, Medicine Hat*
- Airdrie City Hall, Airdrie*
- High Level Bridge, Edmonton
- Epcor Tower, Edmonton
- Fairmont Hotel, Edmonton
- Clock/Bell Tower, Walterdale Theatre, Edmonton
- Community Centre, Sherwood Park
- Festival Place, Sherwood Park
- Legislature Building, Edmonton
NEW BRUNSWICK
- Dieppe City Hall, Dieppe
- Avenir Centre, Moncton
ONTARIO
- Ottawa Sign, ByWard Market
- Shaw Centre, Ottawa
- Toronto Sign in Nathan Phillips Square
- Niagara Falls
- CN Tower
QUEBEC
- Olympic Stadium, Montreal*
- Complexe Jules-Dallaire, Quebec City*
PEI
- Charlottetown City Hall
- Summerside City Hall, Summerside
MANITOBA
- Winnipeg Sign at the Forks*
- Manitoba Legislative Building, Winnipeg*
*Locations requested, awaiting confirmation.
Due to technical problems, The BC Legislature will once again try to light up in GREEN on the evening of Wednesday, May 29th in honor of Celiac Canada’s “Shine A Light on Celiac Disease” for International Celiac Disease Awareness Day! A First!
Please join us this time at 9:30pm for this precedent setting phot op! Then post on social media using #ShineALightOnCeliac!
LOOK FOR ELLEN IN HER REFLECTIVE YELLOW JACKET!
While quantities last, attendees will receive
• Country Grocer Bag with Discount Card
• Yummy Cupcakes from Origin Bakery
Participating Locations Across Canada*
May 14
- Bloedel Conservatory, Vancouver, BC
May 15
- Civic Plaza, Surrey, BC
May 16
BRITISH COLUMBIA
- Science World, Vancouver, BC
- City Hall, Victoria, BC
- BC Legislature, Victoria, BC (in-person event planned)
- City Hall, Port Moody, BC
- Pier, White Rock, BC
ALBERTA
- Calgary Tower, Calgary
- Peace Bridge, Calgary
- Reconciliation Bridge, Calgary
- Telus Spark, Calgary
- Lethbridge City Hall, Lethbridge
- Medicine Hat TeePee, Medicine Hat*
- Airdrie City Hall, Airdrie*
- High Level Bridge, Edmonton
- Epcor Tower, Edmonton
- Fairmont Hotel, Edmonton
- Clock/Bell Tower, Walterdale Theatre, Edmonton
- Community Centre, Sherwood Park
- Festival Place, Sherwood Park
- Legislature Building, Edmonton
NEW BRUNSWICK
- Dieppe City Hall, Dieppe
- Avenir Centre, Moncton
ONTARIO
- Ottawa Sign, ByWard Market
- Shaw Centre, Ottawa
- Toronto Sign in Nathan Phillips Square
- Niagara Falls
- CN Tower
QUEBEC
- Olympic Stadium, Montreal*
- Complexe Jules-Dallaire, Quebec City*
PEI
- Charlottetown City Hall
- Summerside City Hall, Summerside
MANITOBA
- Winnipeg Sign at the Forks*
- Manitoba Legislative Building, Winnipeg*
*Locations requested, awaiting confirmation.
‘Q&A Tuesdays on Instagram’
Your chance to submit any questions you may have on nutrition, education or receive downright free advice! Fellow celiac and expert Gluten-Free Dietitian, Selena De Vries, RD, is eager to help! Ask by 4pm Pacific Time and get your answer the same day!
How it works!
1. Visit Selena’s profile at https://www.instagram.com/celiac_dietitian/
2. Click on her profile picture (screenshot 1)
3. Wait until you see the “ask me a question” sticker and then click it and type your question (screenshot 2)
4. Receive your answer by clicking through Selena’s stories i.e. the same spot where you entered your question
I’m Selena – THE CELIAC DIETITIAN
I operate an online private practice specializing in the dietary management of celiac disease and the gluten free diet. And, I’m celiac too.
As the go-to expert on everything gluten free, I help people master the gluten-free diet so they can live gluten free with more ease. I take the ‘complicated’ out of the gluten free diet, and give you the practical and realistic advice you need so you can still live your life!
SelenaRD.com • About Selena • Instagram • Facebook • YouTube • Selena’s Blog
Book a call with Selena
Receive Selena’s Free 3-Step Guide to Label Reading Guide
Media – Work with Selena
- Does it feel like celiac disease is taking over your life?
- Do you want a solution that makes celiac feel less overwhelming and less stressful so you can get back to living and loving your life?
- Are you thinking about celiac from the time you wake up, to the time you go to bed?
- Are you worried about cross contact? ,
- Does eating out feel frustrating?
- Are you experiencing persistent symptoms?
- Does celiac disease often creep into your thoughts?
Well, no more. You’re in the right place now. And, it’s time for this to change!
Selena’s Services
Live Gluten Free with More Ease – Hybrid Group Program – Master the Gluten Free Diet
This online program combines 1:1 support and group coaching support. Sky rocket your knowledge beyond what most healthcare providers know and kick anxiety and stress to the curb. This hybrid program is the ultimate, A-Z, course that will help you live gluten free with more ease.
Learn more
Apply now
Eat Out with Confidence – Group Coaching – Become a Celiac Savvy Restaurant Diner
If you find yourself avoiding eating out because of anxiety around cross contact, not knowing the right questions to ask, or not trusting that the staff are taking you seriously, then this online, group coaching course is for you.
Learn more
Apply now
1:1 Individual Coaching – Receive an Individualized Action Plan
This online service is best suited to help people find relief of persistent symptoms such bloat, constipation, reflux, or fatigue. It is also helpful for newly diagnosed and people who prefer to work, solely, in a 1:1 capacity.
Learn more
Apply here