Two groups of peaceful but deeply concerned Egyptian-Canadians took to the streets of Montreal and Ottawa on Friday in the first of two days of solidarity protests in Canada.
Hoping to show support for Egyptians who have been on the streets of Cairo since Tuesday, the rally participants carried signs calling for freedom, democracy and the removal of President Hosni Mubarak.
Demonstrators in Ottawa assembled outside the Egyptian Embassy at 1:30 p.m., while Montreal's event got underway at 2:30 p.m. in front of the Egyptian Consulate. Torontonians are planning to gather at 1 p.m. Saturday at Yonge-Dundas Square.
Protests in Egypt escalated significantly on Friday as Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei was placed under house arrest.
Protesters' demands include term limits for the presidency, the dismissal of Interior Minister Habib El-Adly, an end to police brutality and the abolition of the state of emergency designation in place since 1981.
"We call on the government of Egypt to respond to the legitimate aspirations of all the Egyptian people by taking all necessary practical steps for democratic reform," states an open letter released this week by the National Association for Change in Egypt/Tagheer-Canada.
"Egyptian Canadians stand up in solidarity with their brothers and sisters in Egypt… and will react to each step taken in Egypt by the people and the government until all demands are implemented."
The group is encouraging Egyptians abroad to add their names to the statement, which is posted online.
Spokesperson Mohamed Kamel says many in the Egyptian community are worried for their loved ones. Telephone and Internet access was cut Friday in much of that country and only small bits of information are getting out.
"It's a war," he told CTV Montreal on Friday. "We should speak out against this."
Middle East expert Rachad Antonius, of the Universite de Quebec a Montreal, was expecting a big turnout at Friday's rally, despite an Egyptian community he describes as not particularly political.
"The response (to this issue) has been incredible," he said. "You have (Muslims and Christians) demonstrating, putting aside any religious affiliations. That's very interesting."
However, at the rally's 2:30 p.m. start time, the crowd could be counted in the dozens, a mixture of Egyptian-Canadians and supporters from other cultures.
While optimistic about Egypt's future, many also expressed fears for the welfare of their family members who live there.
There are between 16,000 and 18,000 Egyptian-Canadians living in Montreal.
In Toronto, demonstration organizer Ahmed Khalifa said expected turnout at that city's Saturday event is growing quickly.
"It started as just me and a friend, and next thing you know we have 1,000 people coming," he told CTV's Canada AM on Friday.
Khalifa said many Egyptian-Canadians have been glued to their cellphones to stay abreast of the latest developments, much like those in Egypt have been using mobile technology to spread details of the protest movement.
"We are all hooked into our BlackBerrys and we are hoping for the best," he said. "As Egyptians living in Canada and as Canadians citizens who support the freedom of people around the world, we are hoping we have a big rally."
Inspired by the success of protests in Tunisia that led to the ouster of president Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali on Jan. 14, Khalifa said he's hopeful for change.
"Tunisia floated hope for the whole world and hope is contagious," he said.
With reports from CTV Montreal's Cindy Sherwin and CTV National's Genevieve Beauchemin
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