Sierra Leone Canada Trade and Investment Summit (September 18-20, 2025)

Sierra Leone-Canada Trade, Investment and Cultural Show (SLCA) hosted its first ever three-day event in Canada, held in Toronto. This landmark gathering brought together community members, cultural performers, and leaders to spotlight Sierra Leone’s heritage, promote social causes, and strengthen diaspora ties. Among the distinguished guests were Ministers from the Government of Sierra Leone, and Her Excellency the First Lady of Sierra Leone. Their presence underscored the event’s importance and signaled strong governmental support for the diaspora and social issues.

Special thanks to First Lady Fatima Maada Bio for her inspiring leadership and for positioning Hands Off Our Girls as a central message of the event. Deep gratitude to the Ministers from Sierra Leone whose presence and contributions added gravitas and policy relevance. Thanks to the organizing committee: those who handled logistics, programming, promotion, volunteer coordination, and finances. Thanks to all performers, cultural troupes, speakers, panelists, vendors, and sponsors who came together to make each day meaningful. And of course, heartfelt thanks to the community members those who attended, engaged, shared, raised voices, and made the event alive.

 This year at the 2025 Africa Pavilion was nothing short of amazing, and SALNAM showed up in full force each day to proudly showcase our culture. While we know our heritage is much more than dancing, we were delighted to share a vibrant part of it with the community through dance. The SALNAM Dancers truly shone this year perhaps the best team at the pavilion, captivating audiences with energy, passion, and pride. Our performances were more than entertainment; they were a celebration of Sierra Leone’s spirit, rhythm, and unity.

We want to take this moment to extend our heartfelt gratitude:

To all the mothers and volunteers who cooked and fed the kids throughout the week your love and effort kept us going.

To our dedicated Vice President, for coordinating, encouraging, and creating an environment for the kids to perform at their very best.

To Fatisha, for your invaluable assistance and support.

To every SALNAM Dancer, for showing up every single day with commitment and joy.

To all the parents, thank you for trusting us with your children and allowing them to shine on stage.

To our community members, who came out to cheer and support us, your presence meant everything.

To DJ Naza and Mr. Tee, for keeping the stage alive and full of energy.

And of course, to ACOMI, for making this incredible platform possible.

This week was a powerful reminder of what happens when we come together, we don’t just represent Sierra Leone, we live it.

Thank you to everyone who made this year’s pavilion such a success.

The SALNAM Dancers will be showcasing their amazing talents at Folklorama 2025! Come and celebrate our culture, rhythm, and heritage through dance. Everyone is welcome bring your friends and family! Check out some videos below! Let’s show our support and make this year unforgettable!

Join Us at SLCA 2025 – A Historic Celebration of Trade, Culture & Opportunity!

Dear SALNAM Community,

I bring you warm greetings on behalf of the Sierra Leone National Association of Manitoba (SALNAM).

It is with great pride and excitement that I invite you to participate in SLCA 2025 the first-ever Sierra Leone-Canada Trade, Investment, and Cultural Show, taking place from September 18^th -20^th, 2025 at the Viceroy Banquet Hall, 4220 Steeles Ave W, Toronto.

This landmark event will bring together leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, cultural performers, and professionals from both Sierra Leone and Canada. It’s a powerful opportunity to connect, collaborate, and celebrate who we are as Sierra Leoneans and as a proud part of the Canadian multicultural fabric.

Why You Should Attend:

• Engage with government officials and private sector leaders from both countries
• Explore new business and investment opportunities
• Enjoy rich cultural exhibitions and live performances
• Network with fellow Sierra Leoneans and professionals from across Canada
• Showcase or promote your own business or service

Get your tickets here:
https://slcainvestmentforum.eventbrite.com

Let’s represent Manitoba strong at this national gathering! Whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, professional, or community member there is something for everyone at SLCA 2025.

If you have any questions or would like support with registration or travel planning, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Together, let’s make this event a powerful expression of unity, progress, and pride.

Warm regards,

Moe Koroma | SALNAM President
The Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba Inc.
T: 204.417.5843 | C: 204.557.8384

[email protected] | www.salnammanitoba.ca

Organizers!

Canada Day Celebration at St. Vital Park

The Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba (SALNAM) proudly hosted a vibrant and fun-filled Canada Day Celebration on July 1st, 2025, at St. Vital Park, bringing together community members, families, and friends for a day of unity, joy, and cultural pride.

Under the sunny skies and the shade of beautiful park trees, the celebration brought out a large crowd dressed in red and white to honor Canada’s national day. Flags of both Canada and Sierra Leone waved proudly throughout the venue, symbolizing the strong ties between our cultural heritage and our home in Canada.

The event was filled with energy, laughter, and togetherness as people of all ages came out to participate. Children, parents, and grandparents alike joined in on the festivities, with plenty of activities, music, food, and fun to go around.

We were especially honored by the presence of NDP MLA Jamie Moses, who took time out of his busy schedule to come show support for the Sierra Leonean community in Manitoba. His presence and words of encouragement were deeply appreciated and reflected the inclusive spirit of the day.

The celebration featured a range of exciting games and competitions for both kids and adults. One of the standout moments was the classic tug of war, which brought fierce but friendly competition to the field!

Winners of the games didn’t go home empty-handed. A few lucky participants walked away with tickets to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ home game on August 1, 2025 a perfect summer prize for any football fan!

One of the most heartwarming moments of the day was the group cake cutting ceremony, where everyone gathered around a beautiful Canada Day cake to celebrate together. Laughter, cheers, and smiles surrounded the table as children and adults alike took part in the joyful moment.

The cake was decorated with the Canadian flag and the words “Happy Canada Day SALNAM,” a sweet representation of the love and unity within our community.

The SALNAM Canada Day event served as a reminder of how far we’ve come as a community. It was not just a celebration of Canada, but a celebration of culture, family, and shared values. With Canadian and Sierra Leonean flags flying side by side, we showed what it means to be proud citizens of both our native and adopted homelands.

We thank everyone who attended and supported this memorable event, especially our volunteers and community partners. SALNAM remains committed to fostering connection, celebrating our identity, and building a stronger future for all.

Happy Canada Day!

Speech by the President of The Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba (SALNAM)

At the 64th Sierra Leone Independence Celebration Hosted by USLAND
Theme: “United We Stand” May 24, 2025 – Fargo, North Dakota

Good evening, everyone! It is a great honor for me to be here with you today. I bring warm greetings from the Sierra Leone Nationals Association of Manitoba also known as (SALNAM) . I want to say a big thank you to the United Sierra Leonean’s Association of North Dakota (USLAND) for inviting me to this important celebration. Today we celebrate 64 years of Sierra Leone’s independence. This is not just a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of our history, our strength, and our journey as a people. The theme for this year, “United We Stand,” is very powerful. It shows that when we work together, we are stronger both here in North America and back home in Sierra Leone. As President of SALNAM, I have seen how strong we can be when we unite. In Manitoba, our Sierra Leonean community works together to support one another. We help each other succeed and build a better future. Today’s event full of dancing, music, food, and stories is more than just a party. It helps keep our culture alive. It connects us to our roots. Even though we are far from home, our hearts still beat with love for Sierra Leone. We all come from different backgrounds. We speak different languages, follow different religions, and have different experiences. But what brings us together is our shared love for our country and our people. That unity is powerful. As Sierra Leoneans living abroad, we have a big role to play. We are not just watching from the sidelines. We can make a real difference. At SALNAM, we work to support education, youth, and community growth. We offer scholarships. We help young people with leadership training. We support small businesses and partner with groups in Sierra Leone to help those in need. USLAND is doing similar work. This means we have the same goals. But we can do even more if we work together. Together, SALNAM and USLAND can be stronger. We can help more people and create bigger change. So, how can our two organizations work as a team?

Programs for Youth
Let’s create leadership programs for young Sierra Leoneans in both Canada and the U.S. These programs can teach life skills, build confidence, and inspire them to lead.

1. Cultural Events
   Imagine having a “Sierra Leone Cultural Week” every year one in Manitoba and one here in North Dakota. We can share our food, music, clothing, and stories. This will help our kids feel proud of who they are.
2. Helping Sierra Leone
   Together, we can collect school supplies, medicine, and other support for communities in Sierra Leone. These actions show love and unity.
3. A Legacy Project
   What if we build a “Diaspora Legacy Center” in Sierra Leone? This could be a place for youth learning, small business training, and cultural sharing. It would be a gift from us to future generations.

These are not just big dreams. If we work together, we can make them real. As we mark 64 years of independence, let us think about the future. What kind of legacy are we leaving behind? Will our children remember us as people who stood together, who cared, and who gave back? Or will they see us as divided and silent? USLAND is doing great work, especially by helping Sierra Leone become self-reliant. At SALNAM, we believe in that too. We don’t want people back home to depend on aid forever. We want to help them build lasting solutions. Let’s create a strong network of Sierra Leonean groups across Canada and the U.S. Together, we can build something great. Something that lasts. As we enjoy the music, food, and stories today, let us also think about tomorrow. Let us plant seeds. Seeds of teamwork, Seeds of unity, Seeds of hope, Seeds of collaboration, Seeds of legacy. Let today be the beginning of a strong friendship between SALNAM and USLAND. A friendship that builds a better future for Sierra Leoneans everywhere. Let us write a new story one filled with kindness, unity, and action. As we say in Krio: “Wae pipul dem join an, even di biggest rope go tear.”
(When people come together, even the strongest rope can break.)

Let’s stand together and build something no rope can break.

Thank you. May God bless you all, and may God bless Sierra Leone.

-Moe Koroma

On May 24th, 2025, SALNAM proudly hosted Senior’s Day at 174 Pentland, a heartfelt celebration dedicated to honoring our elders. This free event welcomed individuals aged 55 and over to an afternoon filled with joy, laughter, food, and community bonding.

From 1 PM to 4 PM, the venue was alive with activities including games, storytelling, and delicious food. The highlight of the day was seeing our seniors actively participating and enjoying themselves — a true testament to the spirit and resilience of our community.

A special moment was captured as attendees proudly displayed paintings of the Sierra Leonean flag, symbolizing unity and cultural pride.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all the seniors who came out and made the event such a memorable success. Your presence, smiles, and stories brought warmth to us all.

Thank you for being the heart of our community.