Born on the outskirts of 1980s Johannesburg, Eldon Phukuile grew up in a “coloured” family that was relatively privileged by the standards of Apartheid South Africa, with enough to eat and a comfortable home. In the 1990s, as democracy emerged under Nelson Mandela’s vision of a “rainbow nation,” there was hope for peace, prosperity, and unity. The Truth and Reconciliation process began, and South Africa seemed poised to deliver on its promise of national growth and harmony.
However, Eldon’s journey eventually led him to leave, arriving on Vancouver’s North Shore in 2022 with his late grandmother’s haunting words in mind: “It was better under Apartheid.” While he doesn’t share that view, he understands the sentiment. Through Eldon’s story—and South Africa’s—we reflect on how the last 40 years, despite progress, fell short of their potential. This journey also invites us to explore parallels with Canada and West Vancouver.
Local Voices celebrates our community as it was and is, in the words of the people who live here. Learn about who we are, why we chose to make our home in West Vancouver, and what we do here—presented in partnership with the West Vancouver Historical Society.
Upcoming Local Voices:
- May 7 – The Hidden Journals, Captain Vancouver, and His Mapmaker: A Coast Salish Family Story with Halikium Wade Baker and Mary Tasi
- June 4 – Finding Home: From Struggles to Belonging – Can We Ever Truly Find Our Place? with Mahshid Rezaei