Great news!

It’s all coming together for this year’s Netvleish Boerewors Roll Day! We’ve finally got all the permits sorted—the Event Contract is approved by the West Vancouver District, Vancouver Coastal Health signed off the Food Vendor permit, and we’ve got the event insurance locked in.

Getting all the approvals is much more of a mission than back in SA, but it’s definitely doable—you just have to get the paperwork sorted and pay the fees. The folks from the different departments and Vancouver Coastal Health have been super helpful too. They actually want you to succeed and get approved, which makes the whole process a lot smoother!

Hope to see you all there!

In Today’s Mail

• Upcoming Events

• Thought of the Week: Why Volunteering Matters

• Saffa Spotlight: Reinhardt Nolte – Volunteer Firefighter

• South African Business Council in Vancouver

Upcoming Events

1. Netvleish Boerewors Roll Day

Don’t forget to join us for the Netvleish Boerewors Roll Day on September 14th at John Lawson Park! It’s going to be a day full of great food, good vibes, and even better company. Make sure to pre-order your Boerie rolls on TheSouthAfricanShop.ca to avoid missing out.

Venue: John Lawson Park, West Vancouver
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Time: 12pm - 3pm
Price: $12 per Boerewors Roll

2. Abande Ezweni – Live in Concert

Mark your calendars for a cross-cultural, multimedia concert featuring double Grammy Award winner Maju Maju (former founder of the Soweto Gospel Choir). Accompanied by the West Vancouver School Choir and special guests, Maju Maju and her 7-piece band will deliver an unforgettable concert with music, storytelling through videos, acting, and dance.

Get ready for African rhythms, covers of iconic songs by Miriam Makeba and Brenda Fassie, and original music that will lift your spirits and introduce you to the richness of South African culture.

Venue: Centennial Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Tickets: $40.50 - $47.50
Get your tickets now: https://tickets.centennialtheatre.com/Theatre
More info: www.majujabu.com

If you come across any other upcoming Saffa events, please drop me a mail on [email protected]

Thought of the Week: Why Volunteering Matters

Back in SA, volunteering wasn’t really a thing. I’m not sure why—maybe it had to do with safety or maybe we just didn’t think about it much. But here in Canada, volunteering is massive, and honestly, it’s one of the best ways to get involved and meet people.

If you want to feel part of the community, volunteering is where it’s at. When you work together with others for a good cause, that’s where friendships are made and connections happen. It’s not just about helping out, it’s also about growing your network and getting to know people and making connections, business and personal.

And if you’re looking for work, trust me, sitting at home isn’t going to do much. Getting out there and volunteering in as many places as you can is what’s going to get you noticed. It shows you’re keen to work and get involved, and the people you meet could be the ones who help you find that next job or opportunity.

So, get up and get out there! Whether it’s volunteering at a local event or helping with something small, it’s a surefire way to meet new people, grow your network, and make things happen.

Saffa Spotlight: Reinhardt Nolte – Volunteer Firefighter

This week, we’re happy to feature Reinhardt Nolte, a South African making a difference in Prince George as a volunteer firefighter. He’s been part of the team for a year and a half, helping respond to between 25 and 30 calls a month, including both medical emergencies and fires. In his words, “It’s nice to give back to the community.”

Reinhardt gave us a tour of the fire station, showing the impressive equipment they use, including water tenders and the “jaws of life.” What’s even more inspiring is that everyone there is a volunteer—nobody gets paid, yet they handle a large number of calls each month. Reinhardt also shared how they train every week, ensuring they’re always prepared for any emergency.

Check out the video to see Reinhardt walk us through the fire station and show us the fire trucks: Watch Here

Introducing the South African Business Council in Vancouver

I’ve been thinking about starting something that I believe could really help us South Africans who are doing business here in Vancouver: the South African Business Council. The idea would be to create a space where we can support each other, share resources, and open doors. We’d run workshops, host events, and build partnerships to help navigate the local business scene together.

It would also be a way to give back to the community. If you’ve already found some success here, it could be a great chance to help out others who are just getting started. My goal is to build a strong network of Saffas who can lean on each other for success.

I’d love to know what you think! Is this something that you’d be interested in? Let me know by responding to this email or, even better, take a moment to fill out the quick poll below. Feel free to forward this to any other Saffas in business who might be interested—let’s see if this is something we can build together!

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