By Steve Jalsevac
OTTAWA, May 1, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The annual National March for Life Youth Conference, which takes place the day after the pro-life march through the streets of the nation’s capital, has become a spectacular success in recent years attracting larger and larger numbers. This year almost 800 hundred have registered so far for the day long conference with many more expected to show up on Friday May 9. The facilities at the modern Hampton Inn Conference Centre can accomodate up to 1200 youth for the popular event that has been wowing students in recent years with top notch presentations on the life issues.
Chief conference organizer, Yoli Singson of Campaign Life Coalition, told LifeSiteNews that the youth coming this year are mostly from various parts of the province of Ontario. 200 students are busing in from Hamilton and other busloads are coming from London, Sarnia and other communities from across the province.
The headline speakers this year include Dr. Alveda C. King, Mary Ann Kuharski and LifeSiteNews’ own John-Henry Westen.
Dr. King, the daughter of the late slain civil rights activist Rev. A. D. King and niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, is currently the Director of African American Outreach for Gospel of Life, headed up by Father Frank Pavone of Priests for Life. She is also the National Spokeswoman for the Silent no More Awareness Campaign, an organization of women who publicly regret their abortion and try to help other women deal with their abortion regrets.
Mary Ann Kuharski of Minneapolis, Minnesota is the founding member and President of PROLIFE Across AMERICA, known as “The Billboard People” for its positive and persuasive educational messages.
John-Henry Westen, the co-founder and editor of LifeSiteNews, is often a favorite speaker at pro-life youth events because of his animated style and powerful presentations on the manipulations and ridiculously biased views of the mainstream media on the life and family issues.
This year’s conference will for the first time also include two multiple workshop time slots.
Jojo Ruba of Calgary’s recently much in the news Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform will discuss “Abortion: Too Hot a Topic for Campus”. Alex Schadenberg, the head of the International Euthanasia Prevention Coalition will speak on “Turning the Tide” and Jim Hughes, president of Campaign Life Coalition Canada and vice-president of International Right to Life will address the issue of “Pro Life Challenges in the Political arena”. Theresa Matters of the National Campus Life Network will present on “Campus Activism and YOU!” for the University students attending the conference.
Singson urges anyone who wants to attend the conference but has not registered yet to do so as quickly as possible. This will help the conference team to order sufficient food and other supplies. Youth conference attendees have been offered a special youth price for the Thursday evening Rose Dinner. Singson reports however, that the dinner was completely sold out some time ago and so more youth cannot be accomodated at the dinner.
To register call Campaign Life Coalition at 1-800-730-5358
See the conference brochure in pdf format https://www.campaignlifecoalition.com/events/Marchforlife/2008/Youthconfprogram2008.pdf