OTTAWA — A large crowd gathered on Parliament Hill on Thursday for the annual National March for Life, where speakers urged Canada to do better regarding medical assistance in dying (MAID) and abortion. Organized by the Campaign Life Coalition, the rally drew a throng of supporters under a grey sky.
Speakers Call for Action
Campaign Life Coalition vice president Matthew Wojciechowski hosted the event, calling on Parliament to enact legal protection for all human beings from conception until natural death. He reminded politicians of the principle: thou shall not kill.
Jeff Gunnarson, president of Campaign for Life, said the rally sent a message that Canada can and must do better. He emphasized that every human life has value, dignity, and purpose.
Political and Personal Voices
Arnold Viersen, MP for Peace River—Westlock in Alberta, expressed solidarity with citizens rallying across the country for a renewed commitment to uphold the dignity of human life from conception to natural death.
Several speakers shared personal experiences with abortion or MAID. Rebecca Kiessling, a Michigan attorney and president of Save the 1, revealed she was conceived in rape and owed her birth to the law that protected her. She advocated for a 100% pro-life policy with no exceptions.
Benjamin Turland, a missionary for Catholic Christian Outreach, shared that two of his grandmothers chose MAID or euthanasia. He encouraged attendees to defend life from beginning to natural death and to have difficult conversations.
Family Tradition
Marina Van Halteren of Richmond Hill attended with her two daughters, continuing a family tradition. Her parents frequently joined the event while alive, and she was proud to carry on their legacy.
