Thousands gather in Ottawa and across Canada for March for Life events, advocating for protections for unborn life and opposing euthanasia.
Newsroom (15/05/2026 Gaudium Press ) Thousands of demonstrators converged on Canada’s capital as the annual National March for Life unfolded in Ottawa, bringing together participants from across the country to advocate for an end to abortion and euthanasia.
What organizers described as a crowd in the thousands took nearly 25 minutes to move from Parliament Hill along Wellington Street to Elgin Street, a slow procession marked by banners, prayers, and chants. Participants represented a wide cross-section of Canadian society, including families, clergy, youth groups, and elderly supporters, many carrying signs promoting the protection of life at all stages.
A Day Rooted in Faith and Advocacy
The day began with religious services at prominent Ottawa churches including Notre Dame Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Basilica, and St. Clement Parish. Ottawa-Cornwall Archbishop Marcel Damphousse presided at the cathedral liturgy, joined by papal nuncio Archbishop Ivan Jurkovič, Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Bryan Bayda, and dozens of clergy.
Following the liturgies, participants gathered for a midday rally ahead of the march. Organizer Debbie Duval explained the strategic timing of the event.
“We march on a Thursday, in Ottawa, because that’s when our legislators are sitting in the House of Commons. We want them to hear us. We want them to know we’re here.”
Matthew Wojciechoski of Campaign Life Coalition (CLC), the group organizing the march, framed the demonstration as a direct appeal to federal lawmakers.
“We are here to call upon the members of Parliament to enact legal protections for all human beings from conception up to natural death,” he said. “To remind Parliament of four simple words, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’”
The event is held annually in May to commemorate the passage of Canada’s 1969 omnibus bill, which decriminalized abortion. This year’s march coincided exactly with the anniversary of that vote and adopted the theme drawn from the Gospel: “Follow me.”
Personal Stories and International Perspectives
Speakers at the rally included activists from Canada and abroad, each offering personal testimonies and broader reflections on the movement.
Aleš Primc, a Slovenian political leader and co-founder of Voice for Children and Families, described his experience campaigning successfully for a referendum that overturned assisted suicide legislation in Slovenia. He led the crowd in a symbolic gesture, greeting people at every stage of life—from the unborn to the elderly.
“Saying ‘hello’ is the start of recognizing our shared humanity,” Primc said.
Rebecca Kiessling, an American lawyer and founder of Save the 1, delivered a deeply personal address. Conceived in rape, she recounted how she survived because abortion laws at the time provided legal protection.
“I did not deserve the death penalty for the crime of the man who raped my mother,” she said. “I wasn’t lucky: I was protected. The law matters.”
Kiessling has since dedicated her career to advocating against abortion, including cases involving rape or incest.
Community and Continuity
The rally also featured Canadian political representation. Conservative MP Arnold Viersen appeared on stage with his young children, providing a moment of levity as one toddler played energetically to the crowd’s amusement.
CLC national president Jeff Gunnarson used the occasion to acknowledge longtime movement leader Jim Hughes, who is currently hospitalized with pneumonia.
“Jim devoted decades of his life to the unborn and building this movement in Canada,” Gunnarson said. “Many of us are standing here today because of sacrifices he made long before we arrived.”
He also reflected on the enduring purpose of the march:
“Sometimes this work can feel difficult… but then we gather here and we remember that truth does not expire, love does not quit and courage inspires courage.”
The Ottawa march serves as the focal point of a broader four-day series of events, including a candlelight vigil honoring lives lost to abortion, an evening banquet, and a youth summit aimed at engaging younger generations.
Parallel Demonstrations Across Canada
Similar gatherings took place nationwide, including a significant turnout in Victoria, British Columbia, where hundreds marched through the downtown core before assembling at the provincial legislature.
Participants there echoed many of the same concerns, particularly regarding abortion and the expansion of euthanasia policies. Vancouver Archbishop Richard Smith addressed the issue directly in a homily at St. Andrew’s Cathedral.
He acknowledged that supporters may feel overwhelmed by societal trends but urged perseverance.
“God is at work, God is on the move, and God is an unstoppable force,” Smith said. “His saving will simply cannot be thwarted by human iniquity.”
Later speaking outside the legislature, he characterized the march as part of a wider cultural effort.
“Our march is a very peaceful event, and a great occasion for us to witness to the beauty of all life,” he said, adding that every human being is “willed, loved and necessary.”
He also called for a transformation of societal values toward relationships defined by self-giving love rather than individualism.
Ongoing National Mobilization
The March for Life movement continues beyond Ottawa and Victoria, with additional events scheduled throughout Canada in the coming weeks.
In Toronto, a march is planned for May 23 at Queen’s Park North, preceded by a prayer service and followed by educational activities. Halifax will host its event on May 30 at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, while Charlottetown will see Prince Edward Island’s march on June 6.
Together, these demonstrations form part of a coordinated national campaign advocating for changes to Canadian law and a broader cultural shift toward what organizers describe as a “culture of life.”
As participants dispersed from Parliament Hill, the annual gathering once again underscored the enduring presence—and ongoing debate—of pro-life advocacy in Canada’s public sphere.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from BC Catholic
Related Images:
