Coptic Canadians

Coptic Canadians
Canada
Total population
3,570 (by ancestry, 2011 Census)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Ontario: Mississauga, Toronto (North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke), Hamilton, Kitchener; Quebec: Montreal, Laval, Quebec City; etc.
Languages
Canadian English · Canadian French
Mainly older people: Arabic language
Liturgical: Coptic language
Religion
Coptic Christianity

Copts in Canada are Canadian citizens of Coptic descent or persons of Coptic descent residing in Canada. According to the 2011 Census there were 3,570 Canadians who claimed Coptic ancestry.[2] According to the Canadian Coptic Association, there are approximately 50,000 Orthodox Copts in Canada since many ethnic Copts listed themselves in the Canada 2011 Census as either Egyptians, Sudanese, Libyans or Canadians and by this way reducing the ethnic Coptic population in Canada recorded in the Census to only 3,570.[3]

Immigration history

St. George & St. Rueiss Coptic Orthodox Church in Toronto, Ontario.
St. Mina and St. Kyrillos Coptic Orthodox Church in Mississauga, Ontario.

The immigration of the Copts to Canada might have started as early as the late 1950s. Due to an increasing amount of discrimination towards Copts in Egypt in the 1970s, many decided to emigrate in order to escape the rising racial tensions. Canada has been receiving a greater number of these immigrants, and the number of Coptic immigrants into Canada has been growing ever since.[4] According to the census, there were over 10,000 Orthodox Copts in Canada by the year of 2001 — an increase from only 5,000 in 1991.[5][6] Currently, there are over 50,000 Coptic Orthodox Christians throughout Canada, primarily in Ontario and Quebec.[7]

The story of the first Coptic Orthodox Church established in Canada, St. Mark's in Toronto Ontario, Canada, can be found here. In summary, the Copts who had left Egypt, and immigrated to Canada found it very difficult to survive, given that they were separated from their Coptic roots. One member of the Coptic community in Toronto voiced his opinion to the Church in Egypt, and in November 1964, St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church was established.[8] Now, there are more than 40 permanent priests, serving over 40 Coptic Orthodox Churches in Canada.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Statistics Canada. "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables". Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  2. ↑ Statistics Canada. "2011 National Household Survey: Data tables". Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  3. ↑ Canada Free Press
  4. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/15/world/muslims-fury-falls-on-egypt-s-christians.html
  5. ↑ Census 1991 — 2001/Growth rates
  6. ↑ Christian religious data from Canada
  7. ↑ Canada Free Press: According to the Canadian Coptic Association, there are approximately 50,000 Orthodox Copts in Canada.
  8. ↑ http://www.stmark.toronto.on.coptorthodox.ca/copts.asp
  9. ↑ Coptic Orthodox Church listings & statistics
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