Using TripAdvisor data, a study from Lucky Days has found Victoria is the best city in B.C. for vegetarians and the second best in Canada. Plant-based food lovers say they have seen a growing popularity in vegan and vegetarian options.

The study used data to determine the number of vegetarian food establishments in each Canadian city, including restaurants, bars, dessert parlours and "quick bite" establishments. The number of establishments, as well as their TripAdvisor and Google review ratings, were then used to create an index that scored each city out of 100, with Victoria scoring a 78.05, just behind Niagara Falls, which scored 81.73.

Jordan Reichert, a co-founder of the Vancouver Island Vegan Association, said though some businesses closed down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plant-based restaurants are making a comeback in the city.

"Vegan restaurants have continued to open, which is really exciting to see," said Reichert. "Bigger cities like Vancouver or Toronto are always going to have many more options, but for the size of [the city], Victoria is in pretty good shape for getting a variety of plant-based options at both vegan-exclusive restaurants and also omnivore restaurants that offer both vegan and non-vegan options."

According to the study, Victoria boasts 275 establishments offering a "diverse range" of vegetarian and plant-based cuisine, along with 13 vegan and vegetarian dessert parlours, and Reichert says the number will continue to grow as more and more residents choose to eat plant-based foods.

"Certainly around Vancouver Island and around the region, we've seen tremendous growth of veganism and plant-based options at restaurants," he said. "More and more people are concerned about the environment, they're concerned about how we treat other animals. Veganism just makes the most sense If we're trying to build a sustainable society, a society that takes into consideration not just the environmental impact of eating meat, but also the ethical impact of killing other animals."

Throughout the year, the Vancouver Island Vegan Association holds a number of events to promote plant-based foods and the vegan lifestyle, including Vegmas, Thanksliving, and Vegtoria.