Female-led company blazes a trail in the Canadian speciality coffee roasting industry through partnership with iconic Canadian writer.

Balzac’s Coffee Roasters, a growing boutique coffee chain providing a unique artisanal café experience, continues to invest in the study and conservation of migratory birds through its unique partnership with renowned Canadian author Margaret Atwood – a year-round initiative that echoes Earthday.org’s Protect Our Species theme for 2019.

The 100% Canadian company, which started as a coffee cart at Ontario Place in 1993, is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its operations by utilizing sustainable practices at every available opportunity.

Through its partnership with Canadian author and bird lover Atwood, Balzac’s created the Atwood Blend, a Smithsonian Institute-certified BIRD FRIENDLY® blend. A portion of the proceeds from each 12oz bag sold is donated to the Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO). PIBO is a non-profit organization devoted to the study and conservation of migratory birds.

“We are honoured to continue to support PIBO through our ongoing partnership with iconic writer Margaret Atwood,” says Diana Olsen, founder and president. “We are proud of our heritage as a company that tries to reduce or offset our environmental footprint, and we aim to work closely with partners that share our values.”

Since opening its first café location in 1996 in Stratford, Balzac’s has guided its business practices according to the following four cornerstones: Local, Natural, Sustainable and Artisanal. Where possible, Balzac’s sources mostly local, artisanal brands and was the first coffee company in Canada to become LEAF (Leaders in Environmentally Accountable Foodservice) certified in 2011.

Balzac’s was recently named Toronto’s Greenest Coffee Shop-Roaster – 2018 by Live Green Toronto, a City of Toronto initiative that aims to make the city one of the world’s greenest by reducing its environmental footprint.