VICTORIA, British Columbia, May 10, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) — Thousands are expected to turn out Thursday for the 11th annual March for Life Victoria. The primary event runs from 1:45 to 3:15 p.m., beginning at Victoria’s Centennial Square and progressing to the British Columbia Legislature.
The theme for this year’s event is ‘Use Your Voice.’
March participants are welcome to begin the day with prayer, with a service starting at noon at Central Baptist Church on Pandora Ave, and noon Masses at St. Andrew Roman Catholic Cathedral on View St. and St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church on Haultain.
Organizers offered assistance with transportation to and from the March from Burnaby, Vancouver, Langley, Delta, and Surrey, including busses and ferry service.
Marchers should arrive at Centennial Square by 1:45 p.m., the March’s departure time.
After heading from Centennial Square beside City Hall down Government Street, the march is expected arrive at the B.C. Legislature around 2:15, where the Rally for Life will take place, including speakers and music until 3:15.
Speakers for the 2018 March include Jared White, executive director of Advokate Life & Education Services; Tamara Jansen, co-founder of Darvondra Nurseries and conservative community advocate; Brett Powell, Archbishop’s Delegate of Development and Ministries for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver; and Alissa Golob, co-founder of the pro-life group RightNow.
Several pro-life organizations are sponsoring the March, including BC & Yukon Knights of Columbus, United for Life BC, Columbus Charities Association, Burnaby Pro-Life Society, Nelson Right to Life Society, Elk Valley Pro Life and Right to Life, Rossland, B.C.
Participating organizations representing the Catholic Church are the Archdiocese of Vancouver and the Dioceses of Victoria, Prince George and Nelson.
Organizers invited March participants join the event’s Flicker group pool and upload March their photos (available HERE), and plan to make common signage available to present and unified message of pro-life solidarity.
The day concludes with the Victoria Pro-Life Gala Dinner at the St. Leopold Church Hall on Gordon Head Rd. in Victoria. The event hosted by Youth Protecting Youth with pre-paid admission benefits the group’s scholarship for single mothers attending post-secondary school and general pro-life support.
The March has added significance this year given the move by Canada’s stridently pro-abortion Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to force employers to support abortion and transgenderism in order to get student summer job funding, the latest in a series of anti-life and family acts by the Trudeau government. Trudeau’s requiring employers sign an “attestation” supporting abortion and transgender rights to receive summer job funding grants has drawn outcry and legal action from Christian and pro-life groups.