Youth Blog

This was my second year attending the National March for Life. It is inspiring to see so many fellow Canadians fighting for the unborn. It can sometimes feel hopeless that we will ever see a change happen in Canada, but every time I attend the NMFL, a fire is reignited inside of me. This year’s March for Life theme was “I AM” because existence is always enough. “I AM” means to me that I am going to fight for human rights for all human beings. I am pro life from conception to natural death. I am going to do whatever it takes to end abortion and euthanasia in Canada. That is why I marched this year. I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

 

                            CLCY handing out signs on Parliament Hill

 

The NMFL is an amazing way to meet people with the same values as you. Last year was my first time attending the NMFL. I am still relatively new to the pro-life movement and most of my friends are pro choice, so I went alone. The national and provincial borders were closed, so only people from Ontario could attend. We were in a stay-at-home order at the time so I didn’t know what to expect. It wasn’t the normal turnout, but it was powerful. Everyone there was dedicated to the movement. Within a few minutes, a group of young girls asked me to walk with them. 

 

I first encountered CLC youth at the march last year. I started to follow them on social media and signed up for the virtual pro-life club. I was a little nervous at my first meeting but everyone was so kind and welcoming. I was added to a group chat on WhatsApp where we regularly discuss what is happening in the pro-life movement. I have group chats with my friends, but this one was special because we all have the same passion for saving the preborn from being killed by abortion and can openly talk about it. From that group chat, Maeve, one of the CLC youth coordinators, mentioned how every year they send a group to the Washington DC March for Life. I immediately told her I wanted to go. The trip was so much fun. It was an experience I will never forget. Hundreds of thousands of pro-life Americans came out to their nation’s capital to march for the unborn. The day after the march was the youth conference. I learned so much and was inspired by the speakers. When I got home, I couldn’t wait for our march in Ottawa. I wanted to help with our NMFL so I joined the CLC Youth Planning Committee. Going from being an attendee to helping organize, I got to see first hand how much time and work goes into planning and setting up the NMFL. We planned the youth conference and helped with the candlelight vigil as well as helped on the Hill the day of the march. I was one of the MCs for the candlelight vigil. I was so nervous, but it was fun! I even shared my own testimony of how I went from being pro-choice to pro-life.

 

  

              Speaking at the Candlelight Vigil

 

In just one year, I went from knowing almost no one in the pro-life movement to interning for Canada’s oldest and largest pro-life and pro-family organization, all by staying in touch with CLC youth. CLC youth is so much more than a virtual pro-life club, it’s a community that wants to help you grow.  By joining CLC youth, you will build lifelong friendships.

 

 

        CLC's Youth Committee attend annual Rose Dinner

 

If you are pro-life but don’t know what you can do to help the movement, come to the march. Show parliament that the pro-life generation is young and we aren’t going to go away. As youth, it is our job to influence our peers to stand up for what is right. The leaders of our political parties need to know that there are people in Canada unhappy about our lack of protection for the unborn. We do the NMFL on Parliament Hill so that our legislators can see us and we need a change from within the house of commons.  We need to be a voice for the voiceless.That is why it is important to attend the march every year.

 

Here in Canada, we have the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Section 7 of the Charter specifically says “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person.” https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/how-rights-protected/guide-canadian-charter-rights-freedoms.html It’s very clear. Everyone has the right to life. So why are we still denying the most basic right to 300 innocent human beings in the womb every single day in Canada? I am tired of politicians, even the ones that claim to be pro-life, saying they are not going to reopen the abortion debate. It was never closed. We have never had a fair debate. At one of the conservative leadership debates, MP Leslyn Lewis was asked what she would say to the Canadians that don’t want to have a debate on abortion. She said, “I think it's very important that in a free and democratic society we are free to debate any issue, and I tell people I am pro-life.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRgqsNsB7Ig 23:16) What a refreshing and hopeful thing to hear from a Canadian politician who may become the next prime minister of Canada.

 

Whether you don’t know anyone else who is pro-life or you don’t have a group of friends to come with, come to the National March for Life regardless. It may change your life, as it has changed mine. You have an entire year to prepare for next year’s March. In the meantime, stay involved, vote for pro-life candidates, join CLCY’s virtual pro-life club, and pray for an end to abortion.  

 

 Together with my fellow MC, Christian, at the Candlelight Vigil

 

Sources:  

Heritage C. Guide to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Canada.ca. Canada.ca. Published 2022. Accessed May 25, 2022. https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/services/how-rights-protected/guide-canadian-charter-rights-freedoms.html

 

‌cpac. Conservative leadership debate at Canada Strong and Free Networking Conference – May 5, 2022. YouTube. Published online May 5, 2022. Accessed May 25, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRgqsNsB7Ig