Episode 104: Driving Plant-Based Change in Cities and Campuses: A Conversation with Eleanor Carrara

Welcome to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast! In today’s episode, we’re joined by Eleanor Carrara, the Founder and President of the Canadian University Initiative and Co-Founder, President, and Board Director of the Plant-Based Cities Movement (PBCM).At PBCM, together with her dedicated team of volunteers they lead national efforts to advance plant-forward food policies. PBCM has successfully advocated for plant-based food motions/policies in 6 Canadian municipalities to date, with others in the pipeline. Through the Canadian University Initiative, Eleanor and her campaign manager work with chefs, students, and sustainability staff to identify barriers and implement strategies that increase plant-based food on campuses. The initiative has conducted national surveys and convened steering committees to monitor and support institutional change. Eleanor brings over 25 years of global telecommunications experience, having held senior leadership roles at a major international provider of digital infrastructure and network services.Resources:PBCM Website: https://plantbasedcities.org/PBCM Instagram: @plantbasedcitiesmovementPBCM LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/plant-based-cities-movement/posts/?feedView=all&viewAsMember=true University Initiative Website: https://onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca/defaultveg/canadian-universities/Eleanor Carrara’s Socials:Emails:[email protected]@gmail.comLinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/eleanorcarraraPlant-Based Canada’s Socials:Instagram  (@plantbasedcanadaorg)Facebook (Plant-Based Canada, https://m.facebook.com/plantbasedcanadaorg/)Website  (https://www.plantbasedcanada.org/)X / Twitter @PBC_orgBonus PromotionCheck out University of Guelph's online Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate. Each 4-week course will guide you through essential plant-based topics including nutritional benefits, disease prevention, and environmental impacts. You can also customize your learning with unique courses such as Plant-Based Diets for Athletes and Implementing a Plant-Based Diet at Home. As the first university-level plant-based certificate in Canada, you’ll explore current research, learn from leading industry experts, and join a community of like-minded people. Use our exclusive discount code PBC2025 to save 10% on all Plant-Based Nutrition Certificate courses. uoguel.ph/pbn.Thank you for tuning in! Make sure to subscribe to the Plant-Based Canada Podcast so you get notified when new episodes are published. This episode was hosted by Stephanie Nishi RD, PhD.Support the show