Thousands of Canadians gather on Parliament Hill for 29th annual National March for Life
OTTAWA – Thousands of Canadians gathered today on Parliament Hill to call for legal protection for all human beings from conception to natural death. Following the opening rally, participants peacefully took their message to the streets of Ottawa as part of the 29th annual National March for Life, Canada’s largest pro-life protest, organized by Campaign Life Coalition (CLC). May 14 is significant, as it marks the date 57 years ago when Canada legalized abortion in 1969.
“We are grateful to the thousands of Canadians who showed up today to proclaim the message that every life is sacred, from beginning to end,” said Jeff Gunnarson, CLC’s National President. “In Canada, we need to protect the vulnerable, whether that is children in the womb or people with severe illnesses. Our government should provide the care and support they need, not try to end lives pre-emptively.”
Attendees at the May 14, 2026, National March for Life on Parliament Hill. / CLC
The pre-event rally hosted several speakers, including Aleš Primc, president of the Movement for Children and Families, Campaign Life Coalition President Jeff Gunnarson, the Most Reverend Marcel Damphousse, who is the archbishop of Ottawa-Cornwall, attorney and pro-life activist Rebecca Kiessling, and Alex Schadenberg, the executive director of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition. Bruce Poulin, former Ontario State Deputy of the Knights of Columbus, also spoke, along with Christian Heritage Party leader Rod Taylor.
“The Canadian government rightfully spends millions of dollars to protect vulnerable children from harm, from combatting sexual exploitation and cyberbullying to requiring warning labels on cigarettes and alcohol,” added Gunnarson. “But no child is more vulnerable than the child in the womb. Canada must recognize the preborn child as a human person with a God-given right to life.”
Media Resources:
The event was live-streamed on EWTN at http://ewtn.com, with coverage that started at 11:30 a.m. EDT. For interview requests, photos, materials from Wednesday's press conference, and more, click here.
Watch the time-lapse video of the entire March for Life through the streets of Ottawa here.
For more information, visit marchforlife.ca.
About Campaign Life Coalition
Founded in 1978, Campaign Life Coalition is a national pro-life and pro-family organization based in Hamilton, Ont. It advocates for the protection of human life from conception to natural death through political, cultural, and spiritual efforts.