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Canadian March for Life Participation Hit Over 10, 000 Across the Country

By Jenna Murphy

OTTAWA, ON, May 14, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) - From May 2nd to the 11th, over 10, 000 individuals from all across our nation gathered in their respective cities to commemorate all unborn babies who have lost their lives through abortion and to pray for legislative action ensuring the right to life of the unborn.

In many cases, the individuals in attendance represented members of various groups including Right to Life groups, Campaign Life Coalition representatives, Knights of Columbus councils, CWL members as well as (in most cases) hundreds of enthusiastic young people.

On May 8th a dedicated group of 30 in Saint John's, Newfoundland faced rain and high winds as they demonstrated at the Provincial legislation building -one of Saint John's highest points. Similarly a solid group of about 65 gathered in Charlottetown, PEI on May 8th beginning with mass at St. Dunstan's Cathedral Basilica to inaugurate the first annual event of this kind in the city. Following mass, the committed group then made their way to the Prince Edward Island Legislation building, noting all the while that they were walking in the path of the Fathers of Confederation.

Each group approached the cause for life with a slightly different focus, though the goal was the same in all cases- to defend the sanctity of life.

In Fredericton, NB a group of about 400 pro-life demonstrators gathered on the lawn of the New Brunswick legislature on May 7th. Demonstrators at the March for Life in Fredericton seized the opportunity to speak out against the New Brunswick government's funding of abortions. In an interview with the Canadian Press, Peter Ryan, the executive director of New Brunswick Right to Life challenges the government to create pregnancy support services in an effort to battle New Brunswick's plunging birth rate.

"There is a misconception that people have abortions because they want to. But most women don't really want to have abortions. They just don't have the help when they need it and that's where we think the province could step up.''

The March for Life event in Edmonton presented a different angle of approach. Roughly 400 participants gathered in front of St Joseph's basilica on May 4th to be primed with a pep talk given by Archbishop Richard Smith at the onset of the first annual March for Life in Edmonton.

"To work for cultural renewal is to strive for the inclusion of all (forms of life) with the conviction that life is beautiful, that human life has an inherent dignity, that human life has to be welcomed and celebrated and that human life in every stage deserves real protection," Archbishop Smith told the marchers. "By your witness today you are contributing to this renewal. Your march is silent but your witness speaks loudly."

The March for Life was also held in Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan where participation was clocked at 360 and 200, respectively. At both events representatives of the "Silent No More" campaign spoke on how they have come to deeply regret their abortions. As a side note, comments were made outlining the need as pro-life Canadians citizens to stand up against the misuse of tax dollars in funding abortions.

In a speech to those gathered in Regina on May 2nd, Stephanie Gray of the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform asserted that babies will "live or die as a result of what you and I do with the time that is given to us." She further urged the crowd to personally commit themselves as true activists for the pro-life cause in appealing to them with the fact that 36 babies a week are murdered in their mother's wombs in Saskatchewan.

With the BC - West Coast March for Life and its 1000 participants and the 8, 000 people who attended the National March for Life on Parliament Hill on May 8th, 2008 there were well over 10,000 involved in March for Life activities nation-wide.

See the following articles for more information on last week's March for Life events throughout Canada:

National March for Life in Ottawa
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08050803.html

West coast
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08051203.html

Nova Scotia
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08051304.html ;

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