You know that feeling when things finally start going your way? Maybe it’s because spring is around the corner, or maybe my bad luck is finally running out, but this past week has been next level. Busy—but lekker busy.

For starters, we just wrapped up our first signage job—a full front window for a happy client.

Then, our first clothing samples for the South African Institute of Canada arrived! If you haven’t seen them yet, head over to HowzitCanada on Facebook and vote for your favorite t-shirt design. We’re even running a giveaway, so go drop a comment and get in on it! If patience isn’t your thing, you can grab one here right now—every sale helps support SAIC.

And in other big news—I’ve decided to put in an offer on a business! By the end of the week, it’ll be official (or at least sitting in a pile of paperwork while I nervously refresh my emails). Either way, exciting times ahead!

Meanwhile, we’ve been flat-out working on HowzitCanada, reloading all the content after the last web team left me in the lurch. I had the site rebuilt by a new team, and our volunteers are grafting hard to get everything live. If all goes well, we’ll be rolling out the new version in the next few days.

So yeah—hectic, but in the best way!

In This Week’s Newsletter

• Upcoming Events

• Saffa Spotlight: Roz Fisher – CVs That Get You Hired

• Looking for a Lekker Kitchen! 🍳

• Win a Cool Saffa T-Shirt! 🎉

• Classifieds

• Wrapping Up!

Upcoming Events

Whoa, it’s a busy month! Spring is in the air, and there’s plenty happening in the Saffa community. Mark your calendars!

🔥 Afrikaanse Erediens – March 16 @ 17:00
📍 Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Mission BC
For those looking for an Afrikaans church service, there’s one happening in Mission, followed by bobotie, geelrys, and cake—because nothing brings people together like food!

🍻 Saffa Pub Night – March 17 @ 18:00
📍 Sailor Hagar’s, North Vancouver
Come grab a drink and catch up with fellow South Africans. No better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than with a pint and some lekker company! (I’ll definitely be there, so pull in!)

🌍 South African Street Food Buffet – March 22
Ever crave bunny chow or a proper Kota? This street food buffet is your chance to dig into all the flavors you’ve been missing. Details here. (I’ll be there too—come say howzit!)

🖤 Black History Month Celebration – March 22
A special event to honor and celebrate Black history and culture, featuring music, storytelling, and a rich cultural experience. Find out more.

👗 African Fashion Week Vancouver – March 22
Showcasing stunning African designs and fashion trends, this is a must-see for anyone who loves style with a cultural twist. More info here.

PS: The links above are to our temporary site where you can check out the event details, but by next week, everything will be on the new HowzitCanada website. Stay tuned!

Saffa Spotlight: Roz Fisher – CVs That Get You Hired

If you’ve ever applied for jobs in Canada and felt like your CV just disappeared into a black hole, you’re not alone. Roz Fisher has been helping South Africans fine-tune their CVs for over 16 years, making sure they actually get noticed.

Even though she now calls Cambodia home, Roz has worked with expats all over the world—especially South Africans—and she knows exactly what makes a CV stand out (or get tossed aside). In our chat, she shared some surprising insights about how Canadian employers think, what NOT to include on your resume, and why your 12-page life story isn’t doing you any favors.

If you’re job hunting (or just want to make sure your CV isn’t a hot mess), this is a must-watch.

🎥 Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/CE8x4vJANrs

Looking for a Lekker Kitchen! 🍳

Alright folks, I need a favor. I’ve been filming a few South African recipe videos for YouTube, and they’re doing well—people love them! But here’s the problem… my kitchen is old, tiny, and just not great for filming.

So, I’m putting out the call: If you’re in Vancouver and have a nice kitchen, would you be keen to let me film a recipe video there? At the very least, we’ll get to enjoy whatever we’re cooking together!

Even better—if you have a killer South African recipe you think people would love, we can make that one instead. You’re welcome to be in the video with me, or if you’d rather stay behind the scenes, I’ll just use your kitchen and handle the cooking.

Either way, it’s a fun way to share our favorite flavors with the community. Hit reply if you’re keen—I’d love to make it happen!

Win a Cool Saffa T-Shirt! 🎉

We’ve got some brand-new gear, and we’re giving away two t-shirts—one on Facebook and one on LinkedIn!

Facebook Giveaway

To enter, all you need to do is:
📍 Go to the HowzitCanada Facebook page
💬 Find the Pinned post and Comment with your favorite t-shirt and tag a friend
👍 Like the HowzitCanada page

Once we hit 200 likes, we’ll do a live draw using a spinning wheel tool—because we like making things fun.

LinkedIn Giveaway

(Psst… your chances of winning are probably better here because fewer people will enter—just saying. 😉)

To enter:
📍 Go to this LinkedIn post (insert link)
💬 Comment with your favorite t-shirt & tag someone in Canada

Here’s the twist:

Not in Canada? You can still help a friend win! Just comment on the LinkedIn post, tag a Canadian mate, and say which t-shirt you think they’d like. If they’re in Canada, they’ll be entered into the draw!

⚠️ You must be in Canada to win.
🏆 Winners will be drawn live on Facebook and LinkedIn!

So get commenting, tagging, and liking—you might just score yourself a lekker new tee!

Classifieds:

Rugby Coaches Needed! 🏉

Evan, a Saffa studying at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and playing for the SFU rugby club team, has put out a call for help! They’re in desperate need of coaches or coaching assistants—and who better to ask than the rugby-loving Saffas?

If you’ve got coaching experience, a passion for the game, or just want to help out, get in touch! It’s a great chance to get involved, support the local rugby scene, and pass on some Saffa rugby wisdom.

📩 If you’re keen, reply to this email, and I’ll connect you with Evan.

Kitchenware & Furniture Available! 🏡

Sylvia, a fellow Saffa out in Langley, has kitchenware to donate—things like pots, pans, plates, and bowls that need a new home. If you or someone you know could use them, now’s your chance!

She also has some furniture in good condition that she’s looking to sell at a good price.

📍 Pickup is from a storage locker on the Surrey/Langley border.
📩 If you’re interested, reply to this email, and I’ll connect you with Sylvia!

And that’s it, folks!

Lots happening, plenty to get involved in, and, as always, it’s lekker to have this community looking out for each other. Whether you’re joining me at the pub night or the street food buffet, entering the t-shirt giveaway, or just helping spread the word—you’re part of what makes this whole thing special.

Stay awesome, stay connected, and keep being legends.

Looking forward to seeing some of you out and about this month!

Cheers,

Callie 🚀