Last night at the monthly pub night, I met Mike for the first time. Mike’s a proper interesting guy—a South African Chartered Accountant who spent 12 years in the Caribbean before making the move to Vancouver. He’s been following this newsletter and decided to come out for his very first pub night. We ended up having a lekker chat over a beer, and I’ve already decided—Mike’s going to handle my business taxes from now on.

Here’s the thing: I’d much rather pay Mike the three grand than hand it over to some faceless tax advisor I’ve never met. You know how it goes—an email comes through at the end of the year asking for your accounts login, they file your taxes, send you a bill, and that’s it. Sure, they get the job done, but there’s no connection.

With Mike, it’s different. I can pick up the phone and ask him how things work here in Canada compared to back in South Africa, and he just gets it. He knows how to explain Canadian taxes in a way that actually makes sense to me, using South Africa as a reference. Plus, we’ve had a beer together.

Even though we had a bit of a disagreement about US politics (because, of course, that came up), I know I can still give him a call, ask him a question, and get honest advice from someone I’ve had a dop with.

And that’s what this community is all about—connecting with people who know where you’ve come from and making life in Canada feel a little more like home. It’s not just about taxes; it’s about trust, relationships, and belonging.

In This Week’s Newsletter:

• Upcoming Events

• Saffa Spotlight: Christian Herholdt and the UBC South African Youth Club

• Saffa Spotlight 2: Gerald Chan and Buying Property in Canada

• Closing Message: The Power of Community

Upcoming Events

1️⃣ Afrikaanse Erediens & Fat Cake Feast, 📅 Sunday, February 17, 2025, 🕔 5 PM,📍 Mount Calvary Lutheran Kerk, Mission, BC

Join us for another Afrikaanse Erediens, followed by a lekker serving of fat cake and mince. It’s a beautiful way to connect with the community and enjoy some classic South African flavors. Mark the date—don’t miss out!

2️⃣ 99s Sevens Breakfast - 15th Anniversary Social, 📅 Saturday, February 27, 2025, 🕗 8 AM,📍 Dublin Calling, Vancouver

Celebrate the 15th anniversary of the 99s at this special Guinness Six Nations live viewing event. Your $20 ticket includes breakfast and a pint—can’t go wrong with that combo!

3️⃣ Vancouver Sevens Rugby: Let’s Sit Together!, 📅 Friday, February 21 – Sunday, February 23, 2025,📍 BC Place, Vancouver

Are you heading to the Sevens this year? A few people have asked where most of the South Africans will be sitting so they can join the fun. If you’re planning to go, let us know where you’re booking your tickets—or if you’d like to arrange a group booking, we can help coordinate! Let’s show some gees and make it a jol together.

👉 Drop us an email at [email protected] to share your plans or get involved.

Report Back: North Vancouver Pub Night

Last night, we had our monthly pub night at Sailor Hagar’s in North Vancouver. It was a smaller group this time—just four of us—because a few people had to cancel last minute. But even with a smaller crowd, we still had a great time. A few beers, good chats, and a chance to connect with fellow Saffas—always worth it.

Looking forward to seeing more of you at the next one! Details to follow soon.

Spotlight: Christian Herholdt and the UBC South African Youth Club

Next up, I want to give a shoutout to Christian Herholdt. I caught up with him recently for a quick interview, and we had a lekker chat about his plans to start a South African youth club at UBC.

Christian’s got a great idea here—creating a space for young South Africans at the university to connect, share their culture, and just have a bit of a community. It’s awesome to see someone from the younger generation stepping up and making an effort like this.

Let’s be honest, young people in the South African expat community often get overlooked. While we’re all busy with our pub nights, taxes, and braais, they’re figuring out how to navigate life in a new country too. Christian’s taking the lead to make sure they’ve got a place where they can feel at home, and I think that’s flipping cool.

👉 Check out the interview here to hear more about his plans and how we can support him!

Spotlight: Gerald Chan and Buying Property in Canada

The other day, I sat down with Gerald Chan, who I met at the Boerewors Roll Day. Gerald’s one of those guys who just gets stuck in—he didn’t hesitate to jump in and help out at the event, which already tells you a lot about the kind of person he is. Gerald’s a realtor based in Richmond, and we had a great chat about what it’s like to buy property in Canada.

Here’s some of what we covered:

• Why you should always use a buyer’s agent – This one’s key. A buyer’s agent works for you and doesn’t cost you anything. Plus, they’re there to guide you through the process and protect your interests.

• How to choose the right realtor – It’s all about finding someone you like, trust, and who has the time to focus on your needs. If they don’t feel like the right fit, move on—this is a gut-feel kind of thing.

• Making an offer – Gerald explained how offers work here, from submitting them to the cooling-off period and all the little details you need to keep in mind. (Yes, you’ve got three days to change your mind, but it’ll cost you.)

• Why inspections are a must – With Vancouver’s rain and wooden homes, an inspection is non-negotiable. Black mold and dodgy foundations aren’t things you want to discover after the fact.

• Affordability tips – We also chatted about grants and incentives for first-time buyers, like using your RRSPs for a down payment. It won’t make homes cheap, but every bit helps.

One of the most interesting things Gerald brought up was the new rule allowing up to four homes on a single-family lot. Imagine teaming up with three other families, buying a property together, and building four homes. It’s a creative solution for dealing with Vancouver’s insane housing prices and something worth considering.

If you’re thinking about buying property or just want to learn how it all works, I highly recommend checking out the interview. Gerald breaks it down in a really simple and straightforward way, and there’s a lot of useful stuff in there.

👉 Watch the full interview here.

Closing Message: The Power of Community

What I love about this community is how it brings people into your life that you’d never have met otherwise. I mean, where else would I have crossed paths with someone like Gerald, a realtor who jumped in to help at the Boerewors Roll Day without hesitation? Or Christian, who’s trying to build a South African youth club at UBC? Or Mike, who’s now my go-to guy for business taxes after just one pub night?

The funny thing is, it doesn’t matter how involved you are. Maybe you’re the type who shows up to every event, or maybe you’re more of a quiet observer, just reading the newsletters and taking it all in. Either way, you’re part of this community, and you’re what makes it what it is.

But here’s what I’ve learned: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. It’s not just about the laughs or the advice—it’s about feeling like you’re part of something bigger. Whether it’s showing up, lending a hand, or sharing a tip, it all adds up. And the best part? It makes life in Canada feel a little less lonely and a whole lot more meaningful.

This community isn’t perfect, and it doesn’t need to be. It’s real. It’s ours. And it’s built on people who care—people like you, whether you’re quietly watching from the sidelines or stepping up to get involved.

Until next time,

Callie 🌍