The Kinder Weddings Conference
February 8th, 2025
@ The Parkside Hotel & Spa
810 Humboldt St, Victoria, BC
Tickets are now on sale for
The Kinder Weddings Conference!
Come join us to learn about creating sustainable events and a resilient industry!
Featuring: Presentations from industry experts, hands on activities, snacks and drinks from Truffles Catering, and a social mixer where we can all celebrate together!
Tickets: $60 per person
($50 early bird until 12/31)
What is The Kinder Weddings Conference?
Welcome to The Kinder Weddings Conference, all about making weddings and events kinder for people and the planet. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of creative ideas, inspiration, and expert advice for making weddings and events more sustainable, intentional, and mindful. The Kinder Weddings Conference will include an afternoon of expert speakers, panelists, and networking sessions. After a break, we'll return in the evening for our party of our own, featuring incredible desserts and drinks from Truffles Catering. This event is for all wedding and event vendors who want to learn more about sustainability in their own business, get tips for helping their clients celebrate more meaningful events, and connect with a group of awesome vendors. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to learn and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for creating beautiful, sustainable events!
Meet the Speakers
Nancy Prevost- Maurice
Nancy is passionate about creating a better world through compassion, collaboration, and zero-waste living. Her entrepreneurial journey, especially with The Nulla Project that aims to improve the to-go culture on Vancouver and the Gulf Islands, has taught her so much. She loves inspiring others to take action on climate change (there is hope!) and has shared her insights at various conferences. She is a recent graduate of the RRU MA in Climate Action Leadership program, a committee member on the RRU climate action community engagement team, RRU The Farm guiding committee, a board member with RegenerateBC, a member of the BC Climate Emergency Campaign, and the Emerge team lead for community engagement. After a life-changing move across Canada in 2017, she now calls Victoria home, balancing her busy life with yoga, time with friends, and her beloved cat, Sergeant Pepper.
Co-Founder, Nulla Cup
Barbara Densmore
When I became Vancouver Island's first celebrant in 2010, ceremonies were often just the legal formality you raced through on the way to the party. I found it was the “outliers” who sought something deeper, brighter, and more personal and intentional. Something, that over my years as a ceremonialist, has become more about people and presence and love and connection. It’s a trend that is growing beyond just ceremonies, it’s super sustainable, easy on the budget…and packs a far bigger punch than charger plates.
Let’s talk about celebrating mindfully, and maybe do a bit of it ourselves!
Celebrant & Officiant
Sadie Fox
Sadie is Ecopreneur of the Year (Ecostar Awards 2024) and the founder of The Sustainable Fox; a consultation service specializing in waste reduction solutions for local businesses, households, and events. They work with businesses to make sustainable actions more accessible in common spaces, connect with individuals to empower sustainable choices day to day, provide community education with an intersectional approach, and, with The Sustainable Fox’s help, events consistently achieve a diversion rate upward of 95%. Sadie’s expertises in both events and communication stem from their years working professionally in theatre, an industry where they are now recognized as Runner-Up for the 2023 Green Award from the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres for their collaborative work with Theatre SKAM producing the annual Minimal Waste SKAMpede Festival in Victoria.
Founder, The Sustainable Fox
Hannah, Marla, & Susan
Emerald Hour is a group based in Seattle and serving the pacific northwest designed to inspire and empower wedding professionals to create more sustainable events in the Pacific Northwest. Deep in the throes of a pandemic-ky 2021, four wedding pros came together to commiserate over our industry's wasteful ways, and to brainstorm how we might inspire change. Many Zoom calls later, Emerald Hour was born. Hannah, owner of Hummingbird Event Co, Marla, of Marla Manes Photography, and Susan, of Celebrations for Every Season, are co-founders of Emerald Hour and work together to building community, create tools, and inspire change.
Co-Founders, Emerald Hour
Lauren Sutherland
Founder - Core Connection Mobile Physiotherapy
Lauren Sutherland is a Registered Physiotherapist and the Founder of Core Connection Mobile Physiotherapy, a rehabilitation company dedicated to providing accessible, in-home, and on-site physiotherapy services across Southern Vancouver Island. Driven by a desire to bridge the gaps in traditional clinic-based care, Lauren launched Core Connection in 2019 to bring compassionate and comprehensive physiotherapy directly to her clients. Her practice serves diverse populations, including seniors, individuals with mobility challenges or disabilities, the perinatal community, and injured workers.
As an engaged member of the Victoria community, Lauren is actively involved in recreational sports and serves on the board of the EO Vancouver Island Accelerator Program. She is also a former board member of the Victoria Chapter of the Women in Leadership Foundation, showcasing her commitment to fostering growth and leadership within her community
Meet our Facilitators
During our networking periods throughout the afternoon, these facilitators will be available to answer questions about making sustainable choices in your business, in the wedding industry, or with your clients. Ask them about their area of expertise or join in the conversation!
Sara Stevenson
Function Design House
Natasha Thom
Clearwater Events
Michael & Dan Shipley
Mensch Kitchen &Catering
Mallory Gladman
WasteKnot Weddings & Events
The Kinder Weddings Conference is sponsored by:
Truffles Catering
Truffles Catering is generously providing food and beverages for this event.
The Parkside Hotel
The Parkside Hotel is generously providing the venue for this event.
Rad Occasions
Rad and her team are managing the styling and decor for the event.
Jill Cooper Music
Jill is providing audio and DJ services throughout the event.
Styled Shoot Sponsors and Volunteers Include:
Andria Lee Winters,
Interfaith Metaphysical MinisterRestaurant Options
From 5:30-7:30pm, we’ll have a break where you can go for dinner before coming back to join us for the social mixer. We’ll have some light snacks and desserts at the mixer, so don’t fill up too much, but we’ve put together a list of great restaurants within walking distance of the Parkside! Of course you can go wherever you’d like, but these restaurants fit with the values of the conference - if you want to go one step further, we encourage you to try a vegetarian or vegan meal, which all of these restaurants have lots of!
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https://caffefantastico.com/pages/tre
Approachable yet elevated bistro food, focusing on seasonal harvests and the diversity in local farming
Doesn’t take reservations
Entrees $16-22
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Uses at least 95% organic plant-based ingredients, mindfully sourced according to local and seasonal availability.
Takes reservations online
Entrees $17-23
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A new spin on the classic burger shop, they have fantastic vegan and veggie burgers, fries, nuggets, and shakes.
Doesn’t take reservations, it’s a seat yourself place
A burger and fries is $17
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Local and sustainable dining (they have their own farm!) in both the Bistro and Commons restaurants (located beside each other). Open until 11 in case you want to keep the conversation going after the conference!
Takes reservations
Entrees $24-34
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Foo serves up a wide range of asian inspired dishes. Drawing on influences from throughout Asia, FOO is a tribute to the Asian street food culture. Lots of plant-based options, and they’re Green Certified by BC Green Business.
Doesn’t take reservations and has a small sit-in area
Entrees $18-19
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Italian soul food from a Green Certified BC Green Business restaurant. Many dishes can be made vegan or gluten free, but you have to ask.
Entrees $24-38
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Locally-sourced ingredients featuring succulent plant-based dishes to comfort foods with a modern twist. This is a plant-forward menu with lots of healthy vegetarian and vegan options.
Call to make a reservation
Entrees $17-21
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Delicious South Indian cuisine from a husband and wife team. They have two locations - Wharf St is a stunning location with a few meat options as well as the usual massive plant-based menu, and Yates St is a more humble setting with an entirely vegetarian and vegan menu.
Doesn’t take reservations
Entrees $14-20
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Hawaiian Poke featuring local Ocean Wise seafood and vegan options. Green Certified by BC Green Business.
Doesn’t take reservations
Entrees $15-23
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Big Wheel has taken inspiration from the classic American cheeseburger and re-created it using quality, fresh ingredients. Big Wheel is a leader in the local sustainable business scene - they do all the things! They’re Green Leader Certified by BC Green Business, a Biosphere Certified business, and a Carbon Neutral company through Offsetters.
A burger and fries ranges from $16-22
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https://www.nourishkitchen.ca/
Casual, vegetable-forward food in a Heritage home in James Bay.
Takes reservations online
Entrees $23-28
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A staple in the local community that has been open for over 35 years! This is a pay per item vegan buffet that serves sustainable plant-based foods made from simple ingredients. Closes at 7pm
Doesn’t take reservations, it’s a seat yourself place.
Pricing varies depending on how much you order!
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https://virtuouspie.com/locations/canada/virtuous-pie-victoria-2/
Delicious vegan pizza and pasta!
Takes reservations online
Entrees $17-21
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Delicious ramen, bao, and bibimbap. They can make most of their menu vegetarian or vegan if you ask, and a lot of it can also be made gluten free (by a celiac chef). We’re biased because Bryan’s brother is that celiac chef, but I promise it’s so delicious!
Doesn’t take reservations
Entrees $15-19
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https://www.aurarestaurant.ca/
Combining curiosity and creativity with sustainably-sourced ingredients. Green Certified by BC Green Business and located in the Inn at Laurel Point. Note: there is only one vegetarian main on the menu.
Takes reservations online
Entrees $22-36