Coffee with Bishop Suriel

10/14/20

This episode rotates around the topic of Coptic immigration to North America. Copts began immigrating to the US as early as the late 1940’s. After 1952, the rate of Coptic immigration from Egypt to Canada and the United States increased. Immigration to Canada outpaced the US until the inauguration of more lenient procedures in 1965. In general, Coptic immigration rose steadily throughout North America, Europe, and Australia in the coming decades. We see a further influx of Copts to the US and Canada after the 2011 revolution in Egypt, fleeing instability and violence there. With hundreds of Coptic Orthodox churches in the United States alone (along with over 90 congregations in Canada), it is estimated that there are over one million Coptic Orthodox Christians in North America. Coptic immigration has so many facets to it and we obviously cannot cover everything in one episode, but we will discuss some important aspects in this episode.

Resources: Dr Candace Lukasik: https://thecchp.com/2017/06/25/land-migration-and-memory/ https://publicorthodoxy.org/2018/08/27/modernity-murder-and-coptic-identity/ https://publicorthodoxy.org/2020/02/20/copts-debating-christmas/

https://salamamoussa.com/2018/03/17/immigration-and-the-reinvention-of-identity-part-i/ https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/coptic-church/555515/

Dr Michael Akladios Peer-Reviewed

“Heteroglossia, Interpretation and the Experiences of Coptic Immigrants from Egypt in North America, 1955-1975,” Histoire Sociale / Social History 53.109 (Fall 2020): [pre-print online].

“Navigating Sacred Spaces: Coptic Immigrants in 1960s Toronto,” Left History 21.1 (Fall/Winter 2018): 109-122. Editorials Co-authored with Candace Lukasik,

“Debating Christmas Day: Copts, Calendars and the Immigrants’ Church,” Public Orthodoxy, February 20, 2020.

“Interview with Michael Akladios: Mundane Transnationalism,” CCHP, November 24, 2019.

“Stop Victim-Blaming Egypt’s Copts,” Mada Masr English, November 5, 2018 / “توقفوا عن لوم الضحايا من أقباط مصر,” Mada Masr, November 13, 2018.

“Celebrating ‘Ordinary’: The CCHP and the Coptic Immigrant Experience,” Coptic Voice US, October 23, 2018.

“Conversations with Egyptian Uber Drivers: Why Emigrate? Why Canada?” Active History, October 2, 2017.

“Arab-Canadian Foodscapes and Authenticity,” Active History, May 12, 2016.

Links

The CCHP has facilitated the collection and preservation of letters, photographs, books, magazines, and academic journals documenting the Coptic experience in Canada. The records are available for consultation at the Clara Thomas Archives, York University. https://thecchp.com/archives/

The CCHP welcomes submissions of scholarly articles and immigrants’ stories for publication. Please follow the link to find the guidelines and information on how to submit. https://thecchp.com/about/digital-cafe-2/

To learn about the transition to Egypt Migrations, visit: https://thecchp.com/2020/09/06/from-cchp-to-egypt-migrations/

Professor Waguih Ishak is a prominent Copt living in Cupertino, California and is also the Chief Technologist at Corning Research and Development Corporation in Sunnyvale, California, an innovative glass technology company. Professor Ishak will take us on the fascinating journey of his life beginning in Egypt then on to Canada and finally settling in Silicon Valley. Nader Hanna (who leads a new news service: www.copticnn.com) and myself spend the forthcoming two episodes learning about Professor Ishak's upbringing in Cairo, his studies and research that lead him to completing a PhD in Toronto and then finally to Silicon Valley. Not only does he have a PhD but so does his wife and two sons! Professor Waguih Ishak discusses with us his involvement in Technology and his love for innovation and how he sees Technology develop into the future. He also brings to the forefront his involvement in the Coptic Church in Canada and the USA and how he sees the Church utilising this technology. Besides these exciting subjects, Professor Ishak also takes us into the intriguing journey of how he discovered his family roots that lead him to take a DNA test in order to find out more about his family history. Be sure to tune in for the next two episodes to be inspired by the journey of the blessed servant of God and a man who has succeeded to reach the status of Chief Technologist at one of the most prominent companies in Silicon Valley. A visionary who may inspire you in your life's journey.

Professor Waguih Ishak is a prominent Copt living in Cupertino, California and is also the Chief Technologist at Corning Research and Development Corporation in Sunnyvale, California, an innovative glass technology company. Professor Ishak will take us on the fascinating journey of his life beginning in Egypt then on to Canada and finally settling in Silicon Valley. Nader Hanna (who leads a new news service: www.copticnn.com) and myself spend the forthcoming two episodes learning about Professor Ishak's upbringing in Cairo, his studies and research that lead him to completing a PhD in Toronto and then finally to Silicon Valley. Not only does he have a PhD but so does his wife and two sons! Professor Waguih Ishak discusses with us his involvement in Technology and his love for innovation and how he sees Technology develop into the future. He also brings to the forefront his involvement in the Coptic Church in Canada and the USA and how he sees the Church utilising this technology. Besides these exciting subjects, Professor Ishak also takes us into the intriguing journey of how he discovered his family roots that lead him to take a DNA test in order to find out more about his family history. Be sure to tune in for the next two episodes to be inspired by the journey of the blessed servant of God and a man who has succeeded to reach the status of Chief Technologist at one of the most prominent companies in Silicon Valley. A visionary who may inspire you in your life's journey.