Canadians March for Life

Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson delivers brief remarks during the pro-life rally that preceded the march. (Photos by Jake Wright)

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On a warm, summer-like day, thousands of Canadians gathered May 9 in the capital city of Ottawa for the 16th annual National March for Life. Coinciding with numerous local pro-life events, the march anticipated the anniversary of the omnibus bill that decriminalized abortion throughout the country on May 14, 1969.

Before marching through downtown Ottawa, led by a Fourth Degree honor guard, the massive crowd assembled for a rally on the lawn of Parliament Hill.

Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson and Deputy Supreme Knight Dennis A. Savoie joined K of C leaders and families from Ontario and nearby provinces. Addressing the crowd, the supreme knight thanked the participants for their presence and noted, “Today we are proud of our countries and what we have done to promote human rights. … But we ask, how can we secure human rights when the right to life is denied to our unborn children?”

He added, “Only a culture of life can build a true culture of human rights.”

Several senators and members of Parliament also stood in solidarity with the participants. Observers and journalists noted the overwhelming presence and ever-growing number of young people at the event.

Prior to the march, Masses were celebrated in Ottawa at St. Patrick’s Basilica by Cardinal Thomas Collins of Toronto; at the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica by Archbishop Terrence Prendergast; and at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in nearby Gatineau, Quebec, by Archbishop Gérald Cyprien Lacroix of Quebec City.

Other members of Canada’s hierarchy present at the national event included Archbishop Christian Lépine of Montreal and Bishop Noël Simard of Valleyfield, Ontario.

MARC NADEAU, a communications consultant, is a member of La Cathédrale Notre-Dame Council 13781 in Ottawa.