Many of us know him for his talent as a musician in the band Simple Plan, but David Desrosiers is also a proud animal advocate and vegan for over two years, meaning that all his lifestyle choices are based on cruelty-free options in his food, clothing, entertainment and all other purchasing choices! We recently had the chance to meet with him at the Montreal SPCA to chat about animals and delicious food! Here’s a little glimpse into our conversation with this compassionate man.
How did your transition towards a cruelty-free lifestyle occur?
“Through a past relationship, I had already been exposed to a vegan lifestyle. But it was after watching the documentary Earthlings that overnight, that I entirely stopped my consumption of animal products. Once you’ve seen it, you can’t unsee it.”
Who were your sources of inspiration?
“In my transition towards this lifestyle, I was greatly inspired by a long-time friend, who is vegan (Instagram @veganforearth), and by the Australian activist James Aspey.”
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How did your friends and family react?
Really well! I even have a positive influence on my family’s eating and purchasing habits.
Is it easy to maintain your vegan lifestyle while on tour?
“I travel very often due to my career. Contrary to what some may think it’s not difficult to eat vegan outside the house. Often, restaurant chefs enjoy the challenge of making a creative plant-based dish when the option is not already available on the menu. In addition, Indian and Japanese cuisines often offer veggie dishes. One of my travel tricks is to bring snacks, such as VEGA bars, to the airport, in case the options are limited.
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What are your favorite Montreal restaurants?
“Aux Vivres, mainly for the BLT sandwich with coconut bacon. I also love Lola Rosa and Sushi Momo, which offers all-vegan sushi.”
What would you recommend to someone who wishes to adopt a cruelty-free vegan lifestyle?
“Do it in stages, by taking small steps… and don’t necessarily copy me, by making this change overnight! Learn about the vegan diet in order to eat in a balanced way. Watch documentaries on the topic and get inspired by people who convey a positive message, such as James Aspey.
Thank you to David for this interview. We hope that his experience has inspired you and will encourage you to make new discoveries on a daily basis!
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David Desrosiers will be on tour with Simple Plan in the coming weeks; don’t miss their visit to Montreal on March 15, 2017, at the Bell Center!
Marie-Noël Gingras
Marie-Noël Gingras works in the Department of Animal Advocacy at the Montreal SPCA. In the past few years, she has collaborated on numerous projects related to animal rights and welfare (the Vert et Fruité and Vegan Portraits blogs, the Montreal Vegan Festival), as well as collaborated with the Défi végane 21 jours book, published in spring 2016 (Éditions Trécarré). You can follow her on Facebook.
