TORONTO, O.N. – Ocean Wise, Vancouver Aquarium’s national sustainable seafood program, welcomes Just Sushi as a new partner, the first sushi establishment in the world to offer a 100 per cent Ocean Wise recommended menu.
Located in Toronto’s dynamic Humber Bay Shores, Just Sushi is the first and only sushi establishment to offer a menu entirely consisting of Ocean Wise recommended options, which means that every single menu item is ocean friendly.
“We applaud the all-inclusive commitment of Just Sushi to sustainability,” says Robin Poirier, Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise account representative for eastern Canada. “Just Sushi’s comprehensive effort goes beyond its 100 per cent sustainable menu. The team’s commitment to sustainability also applies to its business model and facility.”
The masterminds behind this establishment are three highly creative individuals: Evan Clifford, Ian Clifford and Gabrielle Charlebois.
When Evan moved into the Humber Bay Shores area of Toronto in 2008, he noticed that, with the condo development and population boom, the area was in need of more food options. By 2012, Evan had developed a business model for a take-out style sushi restaurant called “Just Sushi” that offered its customers with easy mobile ordering options and “room service” style delivery.
Evan asked Ian and Gabrielle to join him in his venture, and the three began to educate themselves on the issue of overfishing—the biggest threat our oceans face today. The trio realized that if they were going to create a sustainable restaurant venture, they needed to go all the way. They decided to commit to Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise program because of the important role it plays in protecting the oceans and its rigorous standards for seafood sustainability. Serendipitously, they met Ocean Wise at an event and the collaboration began.
“I speak for the whole team at Just Sushi when I convey how proud we all are to be the first sushi establishment in the world to offer a 100 per cent Ocean Wise recommended menu,” stated Evan Clifford, founder of Just Sushi. “Just Sushi is all about change: how we understand the sustainable future of our oceans and the imperative contribution that sustainable sushi will play in that positive future. We hope to lead by example as the first of thousands of sushi restaurants to do so! It will take global awareness and massive change to save our threatened oceans.”
Just Sushi’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond seafood. It has also sourced the majority of its menu items from local and/or organic producers and has incorporated a range of green business practices to its operations, including interior walls made of 120-year-old reclaimed wood, compostable take-out containers, electric scooters that will deliver the sushi locally in the high-density
neighbourhood, and a giant 250-square foot living wall (a self-sustaining vertical wall garden) inside the restaurant designed to clean the air as well as provide a natural “wow” factor. After an extensive search, the partners hired open-minded and dynamic head Chef Eko Prasetyo, to collaborate with Gabrielle on menu creation, pushing the boundaries of current thinking in sushi culture and leading the team by example, consistent with Just Sushi’s vision of sustainability.
Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise™
Overfishing is the single biggest threat our oceans face today. Ocean Wise makes it easy for consumers to make sustainable seafood choices that ensure the health of our oceans for generations to come. The Ocean Wise symbol next to a seafood item is the Vancouver Aquarium’s assurance of an ocean-friendly seafood choice. www.oceanwise.ca
Just Sushi
Just Sushi is the world’s first 100 per cent sustainable Ocean Wise recommended sushi restaurant. Our commitment to sustainability and the health and wellness of our customers is the foundation of our business and is reflected in every item we offer on our menu. We take pride in knowing where each ingredient originates from and make every effort to work directly with our suppliers from the farmers who grow our fresh produce to the fisheries half way across the world. www.justsushi.com
Source: Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise™
