Montrealers wave to Obama on web and in person
Montreal website invites people to do the wave like sports fans to welcome new president
Jointhewave.com is a new website which asks people to raise their arms and make a human wave, just like is done by fans at sporting events.
But unlike a Montreal Canadiens game, this wave is taking place away from the hockey rink and instead in living rooms, offices and street corners from North America to North Africa and beyond.
The initiative was launched by Pixman Nomadic Media, a Montreal-based company associated with new media guru Daniel Langlois.
Inauguration day schedule:
11:30 a.m. ET: Obama announced at west front of Capitol
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Inauguration ceremony
12:35 p.m. Departure ceremony for outgoing President George W. Bush and Vice-President Dick Cheney
12:45 p.m. Signing ceremony in the President's Room in the Capitol
1:05 p.m. Inaugural luncheon at Statuary Hall
2:20 p.m. Review of troops on East Front
2:25 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The 56th Inaugural Parade travels down Pennsylvania Ave from the Capitol to the White House
8 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Obama to appear at 10 inaugural balls
Project director Emmanuel Stralka said the idea for Join The Wave came from a lunch-break brainstorming session shortly after Obama's election.
"We want to bring together the enthusiasm from around the world," said Stralka.
He said participants are encouraged to be creative and include messages expressing their hopes, dreams and expectations through song, dance or even art.
John Parisella, a Montreal communications consultant who volunteered with the Obama campaign during the primaries, made his own video in the past few days.
"When the team does well, you do the wave in favour of the winning team. Here, the winning team is that of Barack Obama," said Parisella.
The best videos will be featured in a compilation the company wants to present to Obama when he visits Canada, something expected shortly after he takes office.
Montrealers rise early for bus bound for U.S. capital
Early Monday, several dozen people boarded a chartered bus for a 10-hour ride to Delaware.
From there the group, which includes many Montrealers of Caribbean heritage, will take public transit into Washington, D.C., to watch history unfold.
"Everyone is saying this is a historical event. That speaks for itself. This is something that is good not only for Americans but for Canadians and for people all over the world," said Maggalie Prosper, 32, whose parents are from Haiti.
With files from The Canadian Press