Search
-
May 5, 2021OTTAWA, Ontario (CNS) -- After canceling Ottawa's in-person March for Life last year, organizers of this year's event plan to rally on Parliament Hill, even though the province of Ontario and much of the rest of the country continues to enact strict rules against social gatherings because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Organizers of the march do not know how many people will actually show up May 13 considering the COVID-19 restrictions, but speakers have been lined up to address the marchers who do attend. For those who cannot attend the in-person rally, the event will once again this year be available to watch online.
In addition, organizers will offer a weeklong online pro-life film festival and other online events geared toward young people. All online aspects of the 2021 March For Life will be available via MarchForLife.ca and the Campaign Life Coalition's website and social media channels.
The theme of this year's march is "You are Not Alone."
"To the pregnant mother, fearing an unknown future, you are not alone," said a statement from Campaign Life Coalition. "To the beloved senior, who is feeling afraid and isolated, you are not alone, and to the child in the womb, who is dehumanized by our society today, you are not alone."
Debbie Duval of Campaign Life Coalition told Canadian Catholic News: "We haven't lined up any buses to bring people in like we have in past years, and the schools are closed so we won't have school trips tied into the event like we have most other years, but we will have speakers on the Hill and we will make sure that our pro-life message is delivered loud and clear. ... We are definitely going to be there on the 13th in person to exercise our rights."
Featured speakers will include Jeff Gunnarson, president of the Campaign Life Coalition, and Alex Schadenberg, executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. Duval said some hoped-for speakers could not attend because of the ongoing closure of the Canada-United States border.
