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Canadian March for Life Youth Conference Draws Record 500 Youth

By Luke Jalsevac

OTTAWA, May 16, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Following the National March for Life each year Campaign Life Coalition hosts a special all-day conference specifically for youth. This year’s unprecedented 500 youth turnout stunned organizers who were expecting numbers similar to last year’s 300 attendees.

The featured speakers, who included lawyer Alex Vernon, LifeSiteNews editor John-Henry Westen, McMaster LifeLine president Johanna Miller, C-Fam Director of Intergovernmental Relations Samantha Singson, Campaign Life Coalition President Jim Hughes and newly elected Conservative MP Pierre Lemieux, all spoke passionately about the vital, prominent and necessary role of youth in defending life at all its stages.

John-Henry Westen’s dynamic presenting style had the youth riveted as he outlined, using various examples, why we must always approach the media with a critical, discerning mind. The most poignant example he used was that of the previous day’s March for Life, which all the youth had marched in. Most media did not even report on the March, and some of those few that did severely underestimated the number of participants and used photos that did not give a true picture of the turnout.

Westen then challenged the students to write or call their local newspapers and media outlets when they get home demanding to know why the March had been ignored. “As youth,” he said “you have a voice which people listen to. You were there, you know the truth, and you can make the truth known.”

Jim Hughes began his presentation reminding the youth that without prayer they will not be able to sustain their efforts. He then adamantly told them that “you are not the future, you are the present. You have a role to play now!” 

Conservative MP Pierre Lemieux, the proud father of five children, echoed this sentiment in his motivating address, in which he said that here were many youth who helped out in his campaign, and that he would not have been elected if it had not been for them. The reason, he told the youth, is that, “People are so impressed when they see young people politically involved.”

Suresh Dominic from Gethsemane Ministries, who brought over 30 youth to the conference, said that many in his group were excited to hear the truth from an MP, to learn the real issues and how to get involved. Most importantly, they were excited to learn that they can make a genuine difference, regardless of age.  “The entire conference was very, very educational,” said Suresh. “The information they received they simply don’t get anywhere else. It was superb.”

This year, for the first time, the Youth Conference also included a session designed specifically for university and college students.  Over 50 young pro-life leaders from 11 universities met in the morning, before rejoining the rest of the youth for the afternoon portion.  Paul Gianoli, executive director of the National Campus Life Network led the forum.  He spoke of the importance of pro-life activism on university campuses where many change their position from pro-life to pro-choice, and where young women are often faced with the decision to have an abortion.

With university pro-life activism exploding across the country  - 6 brand new clubs have been established this year in addition to the re-energization of many others -  this forum was seen as essential for students to strengthen their pro-life network.

Johanna Miller said afterwards that, “I was flabbergasted by the number of students. I was so impressed because I never did anything so counter-cultural in high school.” She also praised the speakers for not talking down to the students, but giving them the chance to take what they needed from the talks. “Students are so often under-estimated, but now is our time.”

One of the bus drivers for the youth from St. Catherine’s commented at the end of the day that he was deeply impressed with the youth, especially given how packed the room was. “Many other groups that I drive for would have ended up pushing and shoving, but these kids just rolled with it, and never became demanding,” he said.

Every speaker throughout the day expressed their gratitude to the youth for coming out in such numbers, and the great hope they feel for the pro-life movement in Canada. Hope was a sentiment echoed by almost every person in the room over thirty that was interviewed.

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