There’s a saying that when women move countries, they don’t just pack boxes—they pack the entire emotional load of the family’s new beginning. They find the schools, track down the closest grocery store with coriander, figure out how to get a driver’s license, and somehow still manage to help others along the way.
And that’s exactly the spirit behind HowzitCanada.ca—a platform built to make moving to Canada just a little bit easier, especially for South Africans.
It started with a conversation. “We kept seeing the same questions pop up in Facebook groups—‘Where can I find boerewors in Winnipeg?’ or ‘Does anyone know a good immigration lawyer?’” explains Lois Weber, one of the driving forces behind the project. “We thought—why not create a central hub where people can actually find all of this info without scrolling for hours?”
HowzitCanada is exactly that. A kind of digital noticeboard where you can find:
- South African-owned businesses across Canada
- Where to get biltong, Ouma’s rusks, and real boerewors
- Local events, community groups, and meetups
- Job listings (especially helpful for new arrivals)
- And even a place to ask questions and get honest, practical advice
While the project is part of the South African Institute of Canada, it runs on a very human engine—people like Lois, who volunteer their time to help others feel a little less alone. Women who remember what it was like to arrive in Canada and not know where to start.
“We know what it’s like to rebuild your network from scratch,” says Lois. “The goal is to short-circuit that process—to help people find their tribe again.”
Because behind every move is a story. Behind every listing is a person. And behind HowzitCanada is a quiet community of people—many of them women—doing what they’ve always done best: lifting others up.
