Guess Who’s Filling Out a Timesheet Now?

So, for the first time in 40 years, I am doing something I never thought I’d do again…Filling out a timesheet!

Yep, I’ve taken on a temporary gig as an Election Equipment Officer for the upcoming BC Elections. It’s just for three weeks, but hey, it’s a fun little change. And the cool part? Both Connor and Angelique are also working at the elections, so it’s turning into a family affair! During election season—whether it’s federal, provincial, or local—there are always part-time jobs up for grabs. You won’t get rich, but at $20 to $26 an hour, it’s a solid way to earn some extra cash.

In this weeks Newsletter:

• Upcoming Events

• Where Have All Our Favourites Gone?

• Introducing the SA Classifieds!

Upcoming Events:

Pub Night Meet ’n Greet

There is a South African Pub Night coming up at The Taphouse Coquitlam (right by the Lougheed Skytrain Station in Burnaby) on Friday, Oct. 11, from 6 PM till late. The venue has set aside a section for us, so make sure to reserve your spot! Call 604-492-4055 and tell them you’re booking for the South African event. Space is limited, so don’t wait too long.

Minors accompanied by adults are welcome until 9 PM. I won’t be able to make it because I’ll be working at the BC Elections (and filling out more timesheets!), but be sure to have an extra beer for me!

More info »>Here«<

Vernon’s Netvleish Potjie Cook-Off

Now, this one I’ll definitely be at! Join us on November 9, 2024, for the Netvleish Potjie Cook-off in Vernon. An event organized by Liza Hausberger, Jeffrey Hausberger, and others. It’s all happening at 2715 Francis St, Vernon, BC—and it’s going to be a fantastic day of cooking, eating, and fun!

• 11 AM: Potjies on the fire

• 5 PM: Tasting and judging begins

There are only 25 spots for pots, and the fire will be provided. If you’re interested in entering your own pot, send a private message to the organizers on the group. There’s a $25 donation to cover things like porta-loos and wood for the fire. Even if you’re not entering a pot, everyone’s welcome to come along, taste the amazing food (by donation), and enjoy the day!

Just a couple of things to keep in mind:

• It’s an outdoor event, so make sure to dress warmly and bring your own chairs.

• There’s plenty of space for the kids to run around and play, but their safety is your responsibility, especially around the fires.

• BYOB (bring your own booze) and chairs. Unfortunately, it’s not a pet-friendly event, so leave the fur kids at home for this one.

We’ll be heading out to Vernon and making a weekend of it, staying over Friday and Saturday night. It’s going to be a great time—hope to see you there!

More info »>Here«<

Where Have All Our Favourites Gone?

If you’ve been looking for your favourite South African treats and coming up empty-handed, there’s a reason for it—and it’s a bit of a mess! Things like Crosse & Blackwell Mayonnaise, Jelly Tots, and Zoo Cookies have been flagged because they contain E-104, a colorant that Canada banned ages ago. The silly thing is, most of the world still allows it because the supposed “harm” hasn’t actually been proven. But Canada, in its overcautious way, decided to ban products containing it from being sold.

It hasn’t been a problem historically because they don’t really stop these products at the border. So, South African shops have been bringing them in without much issue. But now, some spiteful person has decided to start reporting a few of the stores to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Once CFIA gets wind of it, they show up with fines, and the shops have no choice but to stop importing the goodies we all love.

So, if you’re wondering why your go-to South African snacks are suddenly missing from some stores, now you know. It’s a bit of a headache for everyone, but let’s hope we’ll see some of our favourites back on the shelves soon—maybe with a few tweaks to keep the regulators off their backs.

Introducing the SA Classifieds!

As South Africans, we know how important it is to support each other—whether it’s sharing a good laugh, some biltong, or even a helping hand. That’s why I’m excited to announce a new Classifieds Section coming to the SouthAfricansinVancouver.ca website!

The idea is simple: let’s help each other out. Whether you’re looking for someone to help look after your dog while you’re away, need a hand with odd jobs, or have something to sell or trade, this is the place to connect with fellow South Africans in the Vancouver area.

For example, we already have someone in the community looking for a dog-sitter from December 11th to January 9th, and they’d prefer to hire someone from within our community (Hit reply if you can help with the Dog Sitting and I’ll pass it along).

On that note, I’m also looking for someone with experience in WordPress and Elementor to help manage and load content onto the website. If you’ve got the skills and some time, I’d love to hear from you!

This classifieds section is all about keeping it local, keeping it safe, and most importantly, keeping it in the SA family. So if you have something to offer or need help with anything, post it in the classifieds! Let’s make this a space where we can all support each other and strengthen our community.

Stay tuned for the official launch and get ready to list your ads. It’s time to bring the spirit of ubuntu into our everyday lives—right here in Vancouver!

We’d love your input! Are you excited about this new feature? Would you use it? Take a second to vote in our quick poll below and let us know what you think!

Cheers and thanks for reading! Remember to forward this mail to other local South Africans - if 5 of your mates sign up we will send you a free pack of Willards Flings ;-)