CANADA, May 16, 2013 (LifeSiteNews.com) – While an estimated 25,000 pro-lifers gathered in the nation's capital on May 9 for the Canadian National March for Life, thousands more took to the streets on that day in cities from coast to coast to stand in pro-life solidarity at the regional marches held across the country.
In Victoria, British Columbia, about 2,000 people, including many high school and university students, walked from Centennial Square to gather in front of the BC Legislature. They came to draw attention to female gendercide in Canada and abroad.
“Killing females because of their gender is the ultimate form of gender discrimination”, said Anastasia Pearse, media spokesperson for the March for Life. “Our goal with this year’s March for Life, themed 'End Female Gendercide', is to bring awareness to this human rights issue”.
Speakers in Victoria this year included Natalie Hudson-Sonnen, executive director of LifeCanada; Rev. Dr. Rob Fitterer from The Place Community in Victoria; Alexandra Jezierski, who founded the Letters for Life Campaign at age 17, and Mike Schouten, director of the WeNeedALaw.ca Campaign.
“The annual March for Life rivals any demonstration in recent Canadian history. The sheer number of people who attend is proof of that,” Schouten told the crowd. “This is a national campaign and it is awesome to see Canadians from coast to coast assisting us with such passion as we work to get the message out that Canada needs a law protecting pre-born humans.”
“Right now in Canada, there are baby girls who are prevented from being born, simply because of a societal preference for boys,” said Schouten. “I truly believe the day will come when pre-born humans are recognized in law and have equal value” with babies outside the womb.
This year the Edmonton, Alberta March for Life surpassed all previous years with a record 2,300 attending.
Organizers said busloads of junior and high school students from Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House, and Stony Plain “brought enthusiasm and hope for the culture of life.”
Emcees Denise Mountenay, the founder and president of Canada Silent No More and Joanne Byfield, journalist and president of Alberta Life Issues Education Society (ALIES), gave the opening remarks.
Then 20 Knights of Columbus led the marchers from the Alberta Legislature to Churchill Square downtown, where many speeches were delivered, then back to the Legislature for more speeches.
Speakers included John Carpay, president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms in Calgary, Brian Rushfeldt of Canada Family Action, Rosey Resenke from The Wilberforce Project of Alberta Pro-Life, and Gary Johnson, State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus.
“Two women from Canada Silent No More gave their testimonies,” organizers said, “and Carl Fakeley, a religion teacher from Notre Dame High School in Red Deer did not mince his words to bring the message of how abortion hurts the whole family and how the young people are misinformed of what abortion is all about.”
The Edmonton March for Life ended with a brief prayer service for the dead (called a “panakida”) offered for aborted children by a group of the Ukranian Orthodox Church Community of Alberta.
In Regina, Saskatchewan, Knights of Columbus organized the 2013 March for Life at the grounds of the Saskatchewan Legislature this year.
K of C Pro-Life Chair Louis Roth was emcee for the program before the march down Albert Street.
Speakers included Marcy Millette, President of Saskatchewan Pro Life Association, Nancy Garez with Silent No More Awareness Campaign, Pastor Harrison from Harvest City Church, and Pastor Charles Cougar, Regina Evangelical Ministerial Association.
Denise Hounjet-Roth, president of Campaign Life Coalition Saskatchewan, spoke about defunding abortion, conscience rights, and right to know legislation.
Fr. Vladimir Mudri, Pastor at St. Basil's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Regina, spoke about life being a gift before it is a right, and reminded the government that it is their job to defend and promote justice.
At the Saskatchewan March for Life pro-lifers also heard about the “Reverence for Life Campaign” of the Archdiocese of Regina, the goal of which is “to change the conscience of the people in the pew.”
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, the number of marchers this year doubled last year's turnout.
In 2012, the Knights of Columbus who along with Campaign Life Coalition and Life's Vision help organize the March said 433 pro-life activists gathered at The Forks to defend life.
“The 2013 Winnipeg March for Life was a huge success, with 850 people attending, a dramatic increase from last year,” reported James Bowman of St. Charles Parish.
A report from Holy Eucharist Parish put the number closer to 900.
“Some 900 people gathered at The Forks and, following a prayer and blessing by the Manitoba State Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus Monsignor Louis McCloskey, the crowd slowly moved out toward Broadway Avenue. Knights of Columbus State Deputy Merlyn Onyschuk served as the director of the march and the master of ceremonies at the concluding rally,” a spokesperson from the Ukrainian Catholic parish said.
“It appeared to be a mixed crowd of Manitobans of all backgrounds, denominations that came from across the province.”
Click “like” if you are PRO-LIFE!
“Two things were noticeable that seem to be a trend in the marches around the country… the vast majority were young people and the clergy, albeit only a sprinkling, were increased from past years,” the spokesperson said. “This intelligent generation of youth was waking up to the bizarre deception of the abortion industry and clergy were not only preaching the truth about life, but were also joining their Faithful in the streets.”
Archbishop Albert LeGatt of St. Boniface closed the rally with a reflection on gender-focused abortions taking place, not only in China, but in Canada. He led the crowd in a prayer and a blessing.
The Halifax, Nova Scotia March for Life drew about 100 people to Province House on Granville Street, again an increase over2012.
Presenters this year were Ellen Chesal, Executive Director Campaign Life Coalition NS, and Julie Culshaw, Executive Director 40Days for Life, while Fr. Rob Arsenault, c.c., Pastor of the Holy Trinity Pastoral Unit, Halifax, gave the keynote address.
Audio recordings of the speakers’ comments are available here, here, and here.
Ellen Chesal told LifeSiteNews.com that the candlelight vigil held the evening before the March to coincide with the Ottawa vigil was attended by 40 pro-lifers.
In St. John’s, Pro-Life Newfoundland reported that 15 people gathered at Confederation Building, the provincial legislature, on May 9th to witness to life in solidarity with the tens of thousands gathered throughout the nation.
Patrick Hanlon of Pro-Life Newfoundland pointed out that the March for Life generally gets a low turnout because the main annual pro-life demonstration in the province, the Good Friday Vigil at the St. John’s hospital (ongoing for 35 years), gets hundreds of people.
“However, we feel compelled to participate in the March for Life to ensure that every province across Canada, especially the most eastern one, is represented on that day,” Hanlon told LifeSiteNews. “Along those lines, we hope to see PEI and Quebec host one next year.”
The Newfoundland pro-lifers noted that, as has been the case in past years, the March for Life attracted a handful of abortion advocates.
“There were about 10 anti-life agitators present with their bull horn to drown ours out,” said Hanlon.
“They have been coming to our vigils/demonstrations (except the daily one in front of the abortion mill) for the last few years,” he said. “When asked by the media, our response was that we are winning the hearts and minds of Canadians and it is encouraging to see that they feel as if they can no longer ignore us.”
LifeSiteNews will highlight the Marches for Life held in other regions on different dates as reports become available.