Guest Post by Leah Morrison Last month I went to the eighth annual Green Living Show in downtown Toronto. Canada’s largest consumer show dedicated to healthy and sustainable lifestyle, the show was divided into five platforms of green living: health and wellness, food and beverage, home and garden, energy and green building, and fashion and beauty. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was curious enough to attend. And it meant a day out of the office, an added bonus! Coming from an extensive background in Food and Beverage (and as the girlfriend of a chef), I spent a lot of time in the F&B section. The area had an overwhelming number of samples to try. The Gluten-free Garage attracted huge crowds of mainly high school students and senior citizens. Booths at the Ontario Culinary Explores Pavilion sold samples of local dishes, and thanks to the culinary tickets that came with my trusty press pass, I diligently visited every booth, trying everything from tandoori grilled cheese sandwiches to risotto balls with peas and Buffalo mozzarella. I was in my happy place. The fashion and beauty section puzzled me—it was hard to imagine how businesses used sustainable and eco-friendly materials for clothes and beauty products. I realized that sustainable living went further than I thought when I saw the variety of bamboo dresses and shirts, and all the natural beauty lines. Bio Seaweed Gel, a healthy gel polish for nails, definitely caught my eye—they were doing $12 manicures right at their booth. In the health and wellness section I saw stands for aroma therapy, acupuncturists, and various health products. I had a spinal assessment at a chiropractic booth where I learned about pinched nerves and bad spinal health. I’ve always had lower back problems and blamed it on my less-than-perfect posture. The doctor took scans of my neck, explaining that he was scanning the first seven vertebrae looking for blue- and green- coloured bars on the read out. Blues and greens were good, while reds and blacks were bad. My results yielded six red bars and a black one. He lectured that I should have sought medical attention long ago to deal with the high number of pinched nerves I have. So, I promptly made my way over to The Massage Lady, Deborah Anne McKeown, for a 20-minute back massage. Throughout the day I stumbled on different presentations. Cooking demonstrations and yoga sessions seemed to be the most popular with adults and children alike. I was startled at the large number of people who attended, especially on a Friday. The passion visible in both consumers and retailers was apparent even to a first-timer like myself. It seemed clear that the people of Toronto are proving themselves to be more open to sustainable living and a greener way of life. I left the convention with a press kit, a bottle of organic salsa, and a newfound inspiration for an eco-friendly lifestyle. Looking to attend more green shows? Check out these conventions happening this year across Canada:

1. International Energy Agency Heat Pump Conference – Montreal, May 12-16
2. EP!C: The Vancouver Sun Sustainable Living Expo – Vancouver, May 13-15
3. Mayors Environment Expo – Calgary, June 3-7
4. ACORN Organic Conference and Trade Show – Halifax, November 12-14
5. Whole Life Expo 2014 – Toronto, November 28-30

For more information on sustainable living, check out these  Canadian Living stories on how to lead a greener life and have   a more eco-friendly home! Photo courtesy Flickr/CC Rento.rm