Howzit.ca Melanie Ferreira

We chat to Deanne who had experiences of pregnancies and birth in both Canada and South Africa. We compare, give tips and share stories of what has worked well.  We answer questions such as:

Pregnancy questions:


Registering for a gynecologist, what is that process like?
If I’m pregnant when I land, is that process any different?
Do I need a referral or bring scans from my doctors in South Africa?
Do I need a recommendation from my house doctor? Do I see only one doctor/gynecologist throughout the pregnancy?
Tell us about the scans, do they do at the same time as they would in SA? Do they do 3d scans? Does OHIP cover the scans? What will OHIP cover? Are there anything that they will exceptions that they will not cover?
Practical things like clothing - being pregnant in the winter/buying clothes for pregnancy, being outdoors in winter, being active in winter
Is a doula a thing in Canada?
Waterbirth - is it an option or not? What options would I have available?
How big is Canada on the natural vs elective c-section?

The actual birth:


Can I give the Dr's a birth plan?
Once you go into labour, how different is the process in Canada vs SA (considering transportation to the hospital, can I ask for an epidural (how easy is it to get drugs).
The process to register your child when it is born?
How long do you stay in the hospital after birth? Csection?
Can you get a private ward?
Gift bag/care bags, do you something similar in Canada?
Breastfeeding support
Once you’ve given birth and go home, check-ups and injections.  How does that work, where do you go – to the hospital, or to a pediatrician?

After birth:


Car seat – Can I bring my car seat over?Approval regulations in Canada. Second-hand car seats.
Citizenship in terms of birth – when they are born and you are on WP or PR, do they get the same status or will they have citizenship? How does that work?
Practical tips on having babies in Canada
Moms and babies groups – is that a thing in CA?
Child care - do I pay for child care?
Pregnancy benefits/how long after I gave birth do I have to go back to work? Can I claim unemployment etc?
Words here vs SA – what is different?

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Andrea needs no introduction - as the girl we all see on YouTube, telling people about how to settle in, shopping in Canada and how schooling works, she tells it all. 

She shares her story on how they got to Toronto, shares the questions she gets asked the most often from South Africans and recommends to her followers. We talk more on:

- How the kids settled in, routines and getting involved in sport programs

- Why Oakville?

- Changing careers when moving, how she did it

- The importance of networking 

- Top 5 clothing stores

- Top 5 things she loves about Canada

- Top 5 not so favourite things about Canada (there must be some negatives I suppose!)

- Top 5 questions she gets asked the most

Be sure to visit our website or follow us: on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn to get the latest updates on settling in Canada. You can mail us on info@howzit.ca

Feel free to find out more about Howzit, our service providers and how we can help you with your journey into Canada, settling well and building lasting relationships.

Chatting to Gerhard and Hettie Greeve from Lekker Landing.  Their initial journey started at the age of 46 with two children aged 6 and 9, moving to America and then hopping over to Canada, living in Vancouver, Regina and finally settling in Ontario. 

Listen to their story as they share their personal experiences, what worked and how they have made Canada their new home.  We delve deeper into topics such as:

- Was it difficult to move at your age?

- What questions weighed the heaviest in your opinion when you looked at immigration?

- Financially speaking, do you think it is more difficult moving to another country after the age of 40?

- Your children are scattered throughout America and Canada nowadays. How do you keep the relationships going?

- Starting up a business in Canada and helping immigrants find their feet when they land by providing airport collection, accommodation and so much more!

- What have you found are the first comments that people tell you when they land here? What are their fears and concerns?

Be sure to visit our website or follow us: on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn to get the latest updates on settling in Canada. You can mail us on info@howzit.ca

Feel free to find out more about Howzit, our service providers and how we can help you with your journey into Canada, settling well and building lasting relationships.  

You are listening to Part 2 of Cover Letters, The How, What and Where.  In this podcast we discuss the nitty gritty of a podcast. We cover:


 What is the typical length of a cover letter
How much detail should I provide? 
What are so definitely "dos" and definitely "don'ts" on cover letters
Understanding Terminology - what words in Canada are different that you need to look out for and how to adjust your resumé accordingly
Applicant Tracking Software 

Be sure to visit our website or follow us: on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn to get the latest updates on settling in Canada. You can mail us on info@howzit.ca

Feel free to find out more about Howzit, our service providers and how we can help you with your journey into Canada, settling well and building lasting relationships.

So, today we are talking all things cover letters in details. Simeon from Elevate.Strategy takes us through the history of the first cover letter, what the hype is all about and if you need one.  

When looking for a job in Canada, having your resumé ready in Canadian format is critical.  In addition to the resume, a cover letter would be required and can assist in highlighting your successes and why you would be the perfect candidate for a job.

We discuss the real purpose of a cover letter in further detail, as well as find out more about:


What are recruiters trying to get from your cover letter?
Should cover letters look different depending on the role and industry?
What are some practical tips to make your cover letter stand out?

Be sure to visit our website or follow us: on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn to get the latest updates on settling in Canada. You can mail us on info@howzit.ca

Feel free to find out more about Howzit, our service providers and how we can help you with your journey into Canada, settling well and building lasting relationships.  

Chatting to Werner and Deanne Acres-Lans from Canada Abroad.  We chat regarding their journey to Canada, how Deanne landed up marrying a South African and finding their way back into Canada.  They share on why they have chosen to settle in Ottowa,  adapting to the weather and preparing for marathons in colder weather.

They share their story and personal insights into the immigration industry and we find out more about the landscape of immigration going into 2020.  Deanne tells us more about her personal experience as a Canadian Border Services Agent and that you should not believe everything you see on tv! We tackled specifics around immigration:

- What the landscape for immigrating to Canada looks like going forward in 2020;

- The misconceptions around immigration agents;

- Do I really need an immigration agent; does it need to be for the full services package; what can an immigration help with

- What question gets asked the most often to Canada Abroad; 

Be sure to visit our website or follow us: on Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn to get the latest updates on settling in Canada. You can mail us on info@howzit.ca

Feel free to find out more about Howzit, our service providers and how we can help you with your journey into Canada, settling well and building lasting relationships.  Find