“This year, our movement is going viral—pun intended.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Social distancing rules have not stopped this year’s National March for Life. The annual protest, which drew 18,500 people in 2019, aims to have even more participation this year with a whole week of online pro-life activities that organizers say finally allow them to “truly be national”.

Rather than postpone the event, “we decided to go online so that all of the people who wanted to come march, from across Canada, can join in,” explains Debbie Duval, the national capital organizer for Campaign Life Coalition (CLC)—the organization behind the March. “The theme of the March is: Be Not Afraid.”

This year has even more events planned around the March than ever before, starting with a pro-life film festival.

“On Mother’s Day, May 10, we have the movie Strings Attached. Before the movie, we have an interview with Obianuju Ekeocha (Uju), founder of Culture of Life Africa. On the Tuesday, we are playing Fatal Flaws, plus a conversation with Alex Schadenberg [executive director for the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition].”

“We are trying to engage everyone, from all denominations.”

At press time, CLC was finalizing the details for Monday’s movie and had not released the title. Each film will stream “simulated live” (anyone tuning in late will miss the beginning) on the March for Life website, starting at 8 p.m. (EDT).

The Wednesday before the March, CLC always arranges a “candlelight vigil”. This year’s vigil will be streamed, including worship, testimonies, and interviews with surprise guests.

“We are trying to engage everyone, from all denominations. We have a lot of people across the country sending us videos about why they are pro-life. Then, on the day of the March, we will have live pro-life services and masses people can watch.”

From 12:30 to 2 p.m., (the usual time of the March) on May 14, CLC will host a roundtable discussion with international pro-life speakers, including Kevin Dunn, Stephanie Gray, Alex Schadenberg, representatives of Silent No More, and others. On Friday, CLC will host a pro-life webinar with education and training in pro-life apologetics and ways to get more involved in the movement.

While some may say the effects of this year’s March will be less visible, pro-life advocate Sophie Gryz believes the combination of events will have a profound effect.

“It may seem quiet, at first, but the events will educate Canadians on the horrors of abortion and, most importantly, how to fight against it.”

“This year, our movement is going viral—pun intended,” she says. “It may seem quiet, at first, but the events will educate Canadians on the horrors of abortion and, most importantly, how to fight against it. They will equip Canadians with information and tools that they can use in their daily lives to spread the pro-life message. This will make us stronger and better equipped to fight for life when the doors finally open.”

During the March roundtable, CLC will interview activists in regions across Canada and offer practical and timely steps Canadians can take to influence the national landscape.

“In Nova Scotia, they are pushing bubble-zone legislation,” says Duval, referring to laws prohibiting any action that is not in favour of abortion within 150 metres of an abortuary. “We will ask people to write to MPPs to stop the bubble zone. May 14 (1969) is the day Pierre Elliot Trudeau decriminalized abortion. So we are planning that the 14th of every month we will have more action items for people to do.”

The March for Life is Canada’s largest annual protest and has met for 22 years without fail. Although this year’s rally on Parliament Hill is not possible, activists and organizers are adamant that the pro-life message will be heard.

“There is no way to ignore the pro-life movement.”

“There is no way to ignore the pro-life movement,” Gryz states. “Our determination to march proudly, in defiance of the blatant disregard for human life, has always made a bold statement. We march to show Canadians that the debate on abortion is not over, because abortion continues today. This year, we will be standing up for life.”