MPP submits first bill in Canadian history to recognize Egyptian heritage

CAIRO – 4 May 2019: A member of the Provincial Parliament of Ontario for Mississauga-Erin Mills has introduced a bill to the legislature to recognize the month of July as Egyptian Heritage Month.

The bill, submitted by SherefSabawy, references the month of July, because it is in line with the Egyptian National Day celebrations.

Sabawy is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in the 2018 provincial election as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.

Sheref Sabawy: First Egyptian elected as MP in Canada

CAIRO - 9 June 2018: The Ontario Progressive Conservative party candidate, Professor SherefSabawy, won the parliamentary elections for Mississauga-Erin Mills province, Canada.

“I am proud to bring Bill 106 forward to recognize the contributions of Egyptian-Canadians to the fabric of Ontario, and of Canada.” Said SherefSabawy, MPP for Mississauga-Erin Mills. “Egyptian-Canadians cherish the values of social and fiscal responsibilities. That is aligned with the core values of Canadians and of our Government.”

Egyptian-Canadians value hard work and this, in turn, contributes to our great economy. Egyptian-Canadian community is one of the highest educated immigrants’ community per capita in Ontario with the majority of them being professionals in esteemed positions in almost every sector of Ontario’s economy; including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, engineering, academia, entrepreneurship and skilled trades.

Sabawy further mentions on his website that as the birthplace to some of the world’s first civilizations, Egypt has thousands of years of history and has seen a variety of different empires and kingdoms such as the Pharaonic, Coptic, Hellenistic, Roman, Ptolemaic, Byzantine, Islamic, French and British. Historically, Egypt has welcomed and became home to many cultures that integrated into the society; from Jewish, Armenians, Italians, Greeks, Arabs, and many others.

The website also added that Egyptian-Canadians value hard work and this, in turn, contributes to our great economy.

Egyptian-Canadian community is one of the highest educated immigrants’ community per capita in Ontario with the majority of them being professionals in esteemed positions in almost every sector of Ontario’s economy; including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, engineering, academia, entrepreneurship and skilled trades.

They believe in the importance of effective participation and integration in their local communities and across the province; having established more than 40 Coptic Community Centres in Ontario.

These centers provide various services to all Ontarians; from seniors to youth and families. Services like food banks, charity organizations, professional groups, newcomers settlement services, English language courses, Day cares and Schools; Arabic libraries, Media and Newspapers; the Egyptian Museum, the Coptic Museum, and many community and cultural festivals. These services and many more are run by a minimal, to no cost on tax-payers or the Government.

"As Canada continues to flourish with our freedom of expression, religion and speech," said MPP Sabawy. "Passing this Bill reaffirms our government’s commitment to embracing the multi-cultural fabric of our Canadian identity and acknowledging the great contributions of Egyptian-Canadians."