🎉 I Acted Impulsively

I picked up a large-format printer—a proper beast—because, clearly, my self-control when it comes to business ideas is about as strong as a wet Marie biscuit. Now, Belinda is not entirely impressed (yet), but I reckon once she sees this thing printing banners, stickers, signs, and whatever else we can throw at it, she might just forgive my latest bout of entrepreneurial enthusiasm.

Luckily, this isn’t our first rodeo. We used to run a printing and signage business back in South Africa many moons ago, so this is actually a brilliant idea. (At least, that’s what I keep telling Belinda.) Now, all I need is for some of you lovely people to prove me right.

So, if you need stickers, signs, banners, decals, or anything else printed—or know someone who does—please send them my way. Not only will they get lekker quality prints, but you’ll also be helping me avoid the “I told you so” of a lifetime.

Right, now that I’ve shamelessly plugged my latest adventure, let’s get into this week’s updates…

In This Week’s Newsletter

• 🗓️ Upcoming Events – Now Short & Sweet!

• 💪 When Saffas Show Up, Magic Happens!

• 🚀 The South African Institute of Canada Website is LIVE!

• 🇿🇦 SAFFA SPOTLIGHT: Auden & Gwen O’Reilly – Building Community & Paying It Forward

🗓️ Upcoming Events – Now Short & Sweet!

Last week, I ran a poll to see how you’d like me to list events—short descriptions with a link, or the usual detailed breakdown. The results were close, but the short & sweet version took the win by about 10–15%!

So, going forward, I’ll keep it simple: quick summaries with links to all the details on Howzit Canada.

📅 Upcoming Events:

•  🏉 Vancouver Sevens Rugby – Sit with the Saffas!

  📅 February 21–23, 2025 – Join fellow South Africans at BC Place to cheer on the teams together. Details here

•  🍻 99S | 15th Anniversary Social

  📅 February 22, 2025 – Celebrate 15 years of keeping rugby social with breakfast, pints, and live Six Nations matches at Dublin Calling. More info

• 🍺 South African Pub Night – Monthly Meet-Up

  📅 March 17, 2025 – Meet up for a laid-back evening of good company, cold drinks, and plenty of Saffa banter at Sailor Hagar’s in North Vancouver. See details

💪 When Saffas Show Up, Magic Happens!

A little while ago, I shared the story of a friend in the engineering field who was retrenched. Like so many before him, he found himself in a tough spot—new country, new challenges, and suddenly, no job.

Well, I caught up with him again this week, and the turnaround has been nothing short of incredible.

✅ Four job offers on the table.
✅ One contract already signed.
✅ All thanks to the power of the South African community.

We put the word out in this newsletter, shared it on social media, and he put in the hours on LinkedIn, connecting with other Saffas. And you guys showed up in a big way—connections were made, doors were opened, and now he’s in the best possible position: he gets to choose.

It’s just another reminder of what happens when we look out for each other. Whether it’s finding a job, starting a business, or just figuring out life in Canada, this community is powerful when we pull together.

So, if you ever find yourself in a tight spot, reach out. There’s always someone willing to help—you just have to take that first step. Ons is mos almal in dieselfde bootjie! 🚀🇨🇦

🚀 The South African Institute of Canada Website is LIVE!

Well, it finally happened—I spent the last week glued to my screen, but the South African Institute of Canada (SAIC) website is officially LIVE! 🎉

This site is meant to be the go-to place for Saffas in Canada who need answers to the tough questions—things like “How do I get a police clearance certificate?” or “How does the Canada Child Benefit work?” We’ve got the foundation in place, but now we need your help to take it further.

🙌 Huge Thank You to Our First Founding Members

• Michael Ping

• Team Harold

• Dries Deertleffs

• Brett Adamson

Without these absolute champs, none of this would be possible. You guys are helping lay the foundation for something that’s going to make a real difference for South Africans in Canada.

Help Us Take It to the Next Level

🔹 Become a Volunteer – We need people to help write content, do outreach, and spread the word. If you’ve got plenty of time and knowledge to share, this is a great way to get involved and help build a valuable resource for our community.

🔹 Become a Founding Member – The reality is, this all costs money. We need financial support to keep the website running and growing. If you believe in what we’re doing, this is the easiest way to make a real impact. Become a Founding Member or give a donation.

💻 Get involved here: South African Institute of Canada

Let’s keep building something epic together! 🚀🇨🇦

🇿🇦 SAFFA SPOTLIGHT: Auden & Gwen O’Reilly – Building Community & Paying It Forward

This week’s SAFFA Spotlight is on Auden & Gwen O’Reilly, a Toronto-based couple who’ve been helping South Africans find their feet in Canada.

They met in 2018 in Joburg and within seven months, they were married. (No messing around!)

A year later, a work opportunity popped up in Canada, and they jumped on it. Within a month, they had work permits, packed their bags, and started fresh in Oakville.

Since then, they’ve been deeply involved in the South African community—running Facebook groups, helping newcomers connect, and making sure people get the right advice.

Their biggest advice? No question is silly—ask for help! The South African community here is strong, but you’ve got to put yourself out there and get involved.

🔗 Watch the full chat here: https://youtu.be/a2ZQ614DiI4

That’s a Wrap – Stay Awesome, Folks!

Thanks for reading, for being part of this community, and for proving time and again that when Saffas stick together, we can make magic happen.

I’ll leave you with this thought:

So whatever you’re chasing—a new job, a fresh start, or just good vibes—show up, take the leap, and back yourself. You never know what doors will open.

Stay lekker, stay connected, and I’ll catch you in the next one! 🚀🇨🇦