Ehab Lotayef

Ehab Lotayef is a poet, writer, lyricist, justice activist and IT manager. Born in Cairo, Egypt in 1958, Lotayef has a degree in electrical engineering from Ain Shams University. After working in the Middle East (Qatar, Dubai, Sudan, Egypt and Cyprus) for a few years he moved to Canada in 1989, and has been living in Montreal, Quebec since then.
Early life
Lotayef was born in Cairo Egypt. His father was a bureaucrat and his mother an academic and university professor. He grew up between Egypt, the UK and Iraq. He obtained his Secondary School Certificate from The English School in Cairo, then studied engineering, obtaining his B. Eng. from Ain Shams University in 1981.
Professional career
Lotayef has been working at McGill University, as an IT manager, since 1999. Before joining McGill, he worked for internationally renowned companies, in Canada and abroad, including Schlumberger, Linotype and Pratt & Whitney Canada.
Activism
Deeply involved in social justice and community work, Lotayef was involved in campaigns against the sanctions and war on Iraq, opposing the blockade of Gaza (organizing and being on board the Freedom Flotilla) and advocating for Native Rights, among others. He is also a founder and former chairperson of both "Muslim Awareness Week" (MAW) and the "Non a la loi 21" (#NL21) campaign.
Iraq fact finding trip
In December 2003, after the invasion of Iraq, Lotayef travelled to Iraq as an activist, independent journalist and photographer to see for himself and report to Canadians the reality of the situation there.
CPT hostage crisis
In December 2005 Lotayef travelled to Iraq to help in the efforts to free the CPT hostages. See Christian Peacemaker hostage crisis.
Trips to Gaza and The West Bank
In March 2009 and August 2009 Lotayef travelled twice to Palestine (Gaza and the West Bank) to see for himself and report to Canadians on the situation on the ground and the effects of the Israeli blockade on the people of Gaza. The first trip was coordinated by Code Pink. His Trip in August was accompanying three Canadian MPs Libby Davies, Richard Nadeau and Borys Wrzesnewskyj.
Gaza Freedom March
Dec. 2009 thru Jan. 2010 Lotayef was an organizer and a participant in the Gaza Freedom March from Egypt.
Freedom Flotilla
An organizer with the Canadian Boat to Gaza and a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Lotayef was an organizer and participant in three missions: 2011 Freedom Flotilla II, 2015 Freedom Flotilla III and 2016 Women's Boat to Gaza.
Poetry, theatre and writing
As a poet and writer, Ehab published a bilingual poetry collection: "To Love a Palestinian Woman" (TSAR 2010) and the CBC produced his play "Crossing Gibraltar" in 2006. His writings also appeared in many anthologies and zines and he wrote numerous OpEds on various subjects in many papers and online publications, over the years.
Song collaborations
Lotayef has written lyrics for many songs, in both Arabic and English, and collaborated with various songwriters and singers. His primary collaborations were with Maryem Tollar, Mernie and Al-Qahwa.
NGOs and community service
Over the years Lotayef served on the boards of CKUT Radio (formerly Radio McGill), the Egyptian Canadian Coalition for Democracy - ECCD (Pres.), the Muslim Council of Montreal, Muslim Schools of Montreal, the Canadian Arab Federation (V.P.), Fair Vote Canada and the Board of Governors of McGill University. He is currently serving on the Board of Montreal City Mission. He also served on the boards of Teesri Duniya Theatre and CKUT Radio and is currently serving on the board of the Quebec Writers' Federation.
Radio
Lotayef was a programmer, producer and presenter on two shows over the second half of the 1990s. Crossroads on CKUT 90.3FM and Salam Montreal on CFMB 1410AM.

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