Wednesday May 5, 2010
Regional Marches for Life Set to Go Across Canada – Complete List
By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
May 5, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – More and larger Marches for Life are taking place in cities across Canada this year to coincide with the annual National March for Life in Ottawa on May 13.
Intended for those who want to make a pro-life statement but do not have the time or resources to make the trek to Ottawa, these regional marches take place in nearly every province and, like the National March for Life, have seen an increase in participation every year.
From west to east, the following cities are hosting a March for Life this year:
VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA: the B.C. third annual March for Life takes place on May 13. The day will start with noon Mass at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Then participants will make their way to Centennial Square in downtown Victoria. At 2 p.m. they will march to the B.C. Legislature down Government Street. After the march, musicians will entertain participants until the speakers take to the microphone.
“The March for Life is an opportunity for all who believe in the sanctity of human life to stand together and publicly proclaim it,” said Michele Smillie of the Archdiocese of Vancouver’s Respect Life Office.
This year’s event is being co-sponsored by the B.C. and Yukon Knights of Columbus, Burnaby Pro-Life Society, Campaign Life Coalition B.C., Chilliwack Pro-Life Society, Nelson Pro-Life Society, Elk Valley Pro Life, Surrey-Delta Pro Life, and Right to Life, Rossland.
EDMONTON, ALBERTA: The third annual March for Life in Edmonton is set for Thursday, May 13. Events begin with a prayer vigil at St. Joseph Basilica (113 Street and Jasper Avenue) on May 12, beginning at 8:30 p.m. until 9:30 a.m. May 13, followed by a pro-life Mass at 10:30 a.m. with Archbishop Richard Smith presiding.
A protestant prayer service will take place on May 13 at 10:00 a.m. at the Inglewood Christian Reform Church (12330 -113 Avenue), with Pastor John Ooms presiding.
The rally will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Legislative Grounds with the March beginning at 1:30. The Knights of Columbus will lead the March from the steps of the Legislature to Churchill Square and return. Speakers will address participants at both the Legislature and at Churchill Square.
For more information, email the Alberta March for Life Association: [email protected] or [email protected]
RREGINA, SASKATCHEWAN: Regina’s third annual March for Life will take place on May 6 at the Saskatchewan Legislature.
The event will start with a Catholic Mass at 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Church, 3239 Garnet Street, and a prayer service at Grace Lutheran Church, 1037 Victoria Ave., also at 10:00.a.m. Those attending the prayer service are asked to be at Christ the King by 11:00 a.m. for the short walk to the Saskatchewan Legislature.
Events at the Legislature begin at 11:30 a.m.
Speakers will include Jerry and Donna Kristian, founders of St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission in Bruno, SK, Michael Martorana, who will be speaking about his experiences with the Genocide Awareness Project, and representatives from Sask. Chapter of Silent No More Awareness Campaign.
Inspiring music and a high energy presentation geared towards evangelization and healing will be presented by international award winning singer/songwriter, Lorraine Hartsook.
The Board of Directors of Saskatchewan Pro-Life encourage everyone to attend and let the entire province know that there are many concerned citizens who want to promote the growth of Saskatchewan by protecting the lives of the most vulnerable, our unborn babies.
For more information please contact: Saskatchewan Pro-Life Association Inc. at (306) 352-3480; Toll free: 1 888-842-7752; Fax: (306) 352-3481 or E-mail: [email protected]
SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN: The annual March for Life Mother’s Day Walk in Saskatoon is set for May 9.
Information is available from Campaign Life Coalition Saskatchewan president Denise Hounjet-Roth at (306) 249-2764, Fax (306) 249-4180 or by email at [email protected]
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA: Winnipeg’s March for Life is scheduled for Thursday, May 13, starting at 6:00 p.m. at the historical site, The Forks, and proceeding about a kilometer to the grounds of the provincial legislature.
Special guest speaker will be Archbishop Albert LeGatt of St. Boniface.
The Winnipeg March is organized by the Manitoba Knights of Columbus with invaluable help from Campaign Life Coalition Manitoba, the Catholic Women’s League, the League for Life in Manitoba and the Winnipeg League for Life.
Organizers told LifeSiteNews that this year’s March has been promoted and advertised throughout the province, so they hope to see well over 1000 participate.
For more information, contact the Knights of Columbus’s pro-life chairman, Guy Precourt, at (204) 663-8022 or e-mail [email protected].
OTTAWA, ONTARIO: Ontario is home to the National March for Life in the nation’s capital of Ottawa on May 13. For more information click here.
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC: Campaign Life Quebec is organizing a conference in Quebec City with the theme, “A Struggle for the soul of Quebec: two visions of marriage and family” on May 15. (See article: Theme for Campaign Life Quebec 2010 Annual Conference Revealed)
FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK: The 10th annual March for Life takes place at the NB Legislature on May 13.
The rally gets under way at 11:30 a.m. and will be followed by a walk to the Mother and Child House, where a prayer vigil will take place. A reception will then be held at the Msgr. Boyd Family Center.
The March in Fredericton is co-sponsored by NB Right to Life, the Catholic Women’s League (NB) and the Knights of Columbus (NB). Last year more than 400 attended, as well as 18 MLAs.
Organizer Peter Ryan told LifeSiteNews that the rally is “not so much a protest as a witness to God’s love for every child and mother. Families and young people are strongly encouraged to participate.”
Ryan noted that Bishop Robert Harris attended the 2009 event in Fredericton and is expected to be present once again.
Scheduled speakers include Baptist Pastor Bob Emrich, a pro-life leader in Maine; Christian activist Heather Hughes, and pro-life mother Cathy Jensen. Gyles and Marlilyn Baisley will sing a pro-life song.
For further information call NB Right to Life at 1-888-796-9600.
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA: The March for Life will begin at 12 noon on Thursday, May 13 at Province House, on Granville Street in Halifax.
Ellen Chesal, Executive Director of Campaign Life Coalition Nova Scotia, told LifeSiteNews that a candlelight prayer vigil will be held in front of the Victoria General Hospital on South Park St. the evening before the March (Wednesday, May 12th) at 8 p.m.
Guest speakers at the March will include Pam Churchill, director of Tri-County Pregnancy Center in Yarmouth who has special training in Post-Abortion Counselling, and Jennifer Derwey, a young mother of two girls age 2 and 4, and a recent member of Feminists for Life of America, Real Women of Canada and board member of Campaign Life Coalition, NS.
ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND-LABRADOR: The St. John’s March for Life takes place on Thursday, May 13, at 12:30 on Confederation Hill, the seat of the provincial government. Spokesman for Pro-Life Newfoundland, Patrick Hanlon, said participants should gather in the east parking lot of the Confederation Building.
For more information, call: (709) 726-5012 or (709) 697-6701 or e-mail: [email protected].