News

             Katie Somers in her flight attendant uniform on the left and her activism role on the right --Photos: Katie Somers

By Joanne of Arc for Quebec Life Coalition 

How does a flight attendant go from traveling across Canada to spending most of her time in the streets of Toronto talking about abortion?  

Katie Somers is the Outreach director at Toronto Right to Life, a pro-life organization that condemns all forms of abortion-related violence and works to make abortion “unthinkable.” However, before she dedicated herself to the pro-life cause, she was a flight attendant for 14 years working domestically across Canada, a job she told Quebec Life Coalition that she absolutely loved, but felt called by God to leave so that she could work for the pro-life movement.  

In 2015, Katie involved herself in activism on Toronto’s city streets and campuses. This is also the year that she saw an abortion video on social media that compelled her to make the move permanently into activism. 

In January 2023, Quebec Life Coalition held a conference titled Students for Life during which Katie shared about her experiences doing pro-life activism. She encouraged the students to be bold, because, she said, “ordinary people like you and me, with just a little bit of training and guidance can have powerful impacts on the pro-life cause.” 

Katie speaking at the "Students for Life" event held by Quebec Life Coalition January 14th - Photo: Joanne Of Arc

This Lenten season, I hope you can join us in person or through prayer at the 40 Days for Life Vigil, being held at the northeast corner of Sainte-Catherine and Berri Streets in Montreal. For 40 days in a row, 12 hours a day, until April 2, we will be outside the downtown abortion centers to pray and fast for an end to abortion. For more information, you can go here. Also, I encourage you to read the interview with our 40 Days organizer, Brian Jenkins.

Also, don't forget to put The National March for Life on your calendar. This event is held this year on Thursday, May 11. Watch the video to learn more!

For Life,

Georges Buscemi

P.S. The CLC and the Interim 2023 summer internship programme for pro-life students is now accepting candidates. These are paid internships in which students will learn about the philosophy of the pro-life movement, practical apologetics, various modes of action, from administrative tasks, to writing articles, to design or management of social networks, to participation in concrete events.

For more details, click here.

This Week's Quebec Pro-Life News

The 40 Days for Life vigil started in Quebec on Ash Wednesday
Montreal — The 40 Days for Life vigil started in Montreal, Quebec on Ash Wednesday.

Why go to the March for Life? Father Alain Vaillancourt, pastor of the Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral answers
Father Alain Vaillancourt, pastor of the Cathedral Marie-Reine-du-Monde in Montreal, agreed to speak with Quebec Life Coalition about March for Life.

This 18-year-old from Quebec started a pro-life organization called "Action Vitale"
Philippe, an 18-year-old student from Cégep du Vieux Montréal who is studying social science, founded a pro-life group called "Action Vitale". Philippe and his group meet weekly near a popular metro station in Montreal to engage with college and university students on the topic of abortion.

Brian Jenkins at the Archdiocese of Montreal about to distribute prayers for the 40 days for Life vigil -- Photo: Joanne Of Arc

By Joanne of Arc for Quebec Life Coalition 

Montreal -- The 40 Days for Life vigil started in Montreal, Quebec on Ash Wednesday.

On Tuesday, February 21st, I had the opportunity to spend half of my day with VP of Quebec Life Coalition, Brian Jenkins, as he prepared for the 40 days for life vigil to begin in Montreal, Quebec on Ash Wednesday. 

We started our morning with a quiet time in adoration of the blessed Sacrament who filled us with peace for the day to come. 

            Brian Jenkins distributing prayer cards at Marie-Reine-du-Monde for the 40 days for Life vigil --Photo: Joanne Of Arc

Then we attended a mass that was offered by Father Alain Vaillancourt for the 40 days vigil at the Cathedral, Marie-Reine du Monde. Before mass, I observed Brian cut out papers with prayers that he then distributed to parishioners at the church, asking to support him in his efforts. 

Brian Jenkins cutting out prayers to distribute to parishioners to pray for the vigil. --Photo: Joanne Of Arc

As we walked through the Archdiocese of Montreal, I noticed that Brian was well known by priests and warmly encouraged in his efforts. Parishioners seemed to be responsive to his request for prayer and agreed to take the prayers he was distributing. 

 Fr. Vaillancourt, the pastor of the Cathedral Marie-Reine-du-Monde in Montreal— Photo: Joanne Of Arc

By Joanne of Arc for Quebec Life Coalition 

Father Alain Vaillancourt, pastor of the Cathedral Marie-Reine-du-Monde in Montreal, agreed to speak with Quebec Life Coalition about March for Life.

Each year, the Cathedral encourages youth to participate in the March to promote a culture of life in Quebec.

Along with Brian Jenkins, Vice President of Quebec Life Coalition, the three of us sat down for a brief chat before attending mass at the Cathedral which was offered in support of the 40 Days for Life vigil beginning February 22, 2023.

Joanne for QLC: Brian told me that you are a frequent participant in the March for Life?

Father Alain Vaillancourt: Ah, yes, I've attended several times!

Joanne for QLC: Do you know how many Marches for Life have you participated in?

Father Alain Vaillancourt: I haven't counted them!  However, I have been going to them since I have been at the Cathedral... so for over 10 years, I must have done at least five. My goal is to go every two years.

Joanne for QLC: Why is it a priority for you to attend the March for Life? We know that priests are very busy...

Father Alain Vaillancourt: Thursday is my day off!

[We share a moment of laughter].

Joanne for QLC: Always?

Father Alain Vaillancourt: Yes!

[We continue to laugh together]  

Joanne for QLC: It's good timing then! What did you think of your last walk?

Philippe, the young founder of Action Vitale, a pro-life student organization in Montreal. --Photo : Joanne Of Arc

By Joanne of Arc for Quebec Life Coalition 

Philippe, an 18-year-old student from Cégep du Vieux Montréal who is studying social science, founded a pro-life group called "Action Vitale". Philippe and his group meet weekly near a popular metro station in Montreal to engage with college and university students on the topic of abortion. They hand out black and white flyers that they designed themselves and initiate conversations with by-passers who are open to doing so. They are not paid for their time nor their efforts, they simply do this willingly. 

I had the pleasure of attending one of their sessions earlier this year and watching these courageous young men testify about their pro-life stance. To my surprise, several conversations took place and people showed a clear interest in having a dialogue. Among the interactions I observed, one man complimented them on their politeness. These are not aggressive activists, but young, educated men who want to make a difference in Quebec for the pro-life cause.

Philippe agreed to speak with Quebec Life Coalition about his group in an interview. Here's what he shared with us.

Joanne for QLC : What inspired you to start your group “Action Vitale”?

Philippe : It's been a little over two years since I converted to the pro-life position. I have always had this desire to share or talk to people about it. I like to propose activities to others, and I have noticed that this activity has been very fruitful. If there was one specific moment that inspired me to found Vital Action, it was when I saw people in the metro who were socialists and were handing out flyers promoting their position. At that moment, I asked myself: "Why are they doing it and I'm not? I have as much conviction as they do". So that's how Action Vitale was born.

Joanne for QLC : I really like the name "Action Vitale", can you tell us a bit about how you came to choose this name to represent your organization?

Philippe: We were looking for a name for a while and it was dragging on, finally I proposed it to the other team members and it was accepted. I wanted the name to start with the word "Action", as many political organizations start with the same word. Then I was looking for a predicate for the name that would be related to life.

This week, I invite you to read the article “10 good reasons to participate in the March for Life 2023”; the National March for Life, an annual event in Ottawa for the protection of unborn children, will be held this year on Thursday, May 11. You can now consult the schedule of events that will take place throughout the week, as well as their precise location, by following this link,or by consulting the March for Life website. The March is held on a Thursday (so that we can be present during parliamentary proceedings), so plan ahead!

You may have heard the news that in Quebec there is a desire to extend euthanasia to people with Alzheimer's and neuromotor deficiencies. Let us not be fooled by this step-by-step tactic: we are coming to a regime of euthanasia on demand, as abortion is today. And more: forced euthanasia is on the horizon, with a researcher from Yale University suggesting that euthanasia should be forced on Japanese elders to help this country get through its demographic winter (too few children! ). Let us continue to denounce euthanasia as contrary to human dignity and the will of God: it is the only way to counteract these harmful tendencies in our largely dechristianized cultures.

However, let us be grateful for the efforts of Conservative Party MPs to stem this pro-death tsunami represented by the decriminalization of euthanasia. Ed Fast, for his part, is trying to reverse attempts to allow the euthanasia of people with mental disorders, and Leslyn Lewis made an impassioned speech in favor of compassion and not death for those suffering.

Finally, there is the good news that a baby has been saved from abortion thanks to a newly installed "Safe Haven" baby box in Kentucky. Something very curious, but very telling: the newspapers in Quebec announce this news as bad (French only link), because the reversal of Roe v. Wade, which allowed various states, including Kentucky, to legislate against abortion, now "forces" some women to "abandon" their children--- instead of putting them to death...

Also, don't forget: The 40 Days for Life have begun. Here are the details for Montreal.

For Life,

Georges Buscemi

P.S. The CLC and the Interim 2023 summer internship programme for pro-life students is now accepting candidates. These are paid internships in which students will learn about the philosophy of the pro-life movement, practical apologetics, various modes of action, from administrative tasks, to writing articles, to design or management of social networks, to participation in concrete events.

For more details, click here.

By Joanne of Arc for Quebec Life Coalition 

A young adults group from YTOL (Youth Teams of Our Lady) at March For Life in 2019 — Photo: YTOL Canada

This year will mark the 26th year that March For Life is being organized by Campaign Life Coalition in Canada during the month of May.  

Vice President of CLC, Matthew Wojciechowski released a special presentation joined by his team who are members of the organizing committee for the March which you can find on the March for Life website.  

Here at Quebec Life Coalition, we want to give you our top 10 reasons for attending the March for Life this coming May.  

1. You will be part of the largest yearly pro-life protest in Canada happening on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. March For Life will take place on Thursday, May 11th, 2023. As presented on their website, this year’s theme is : “STAND FIRM” which is elaborated through the following statement :  

“We stand firm for the pre-born, mothers in crisis pregnancies, those targeted due to disability, and the elderly in hospitals and care homes. We march in solidarity with the vulnerable and marginalized.”

2. You will get to experience that you are not alone in your fight for life. If you have ever felt alone in your convictions about life beginning at natural conception, the March For Life will prove you otherwise. You will get to march with thousands of other pro-life youth and families that stand firm in their fight for life.  

Young adults from the youth movement YTOL at the March in 2016 — Photo: YTOL Canada

3. You will be inspired by dynamic speakers that are part of the “Silent No More” awareness campaign who will share their powerful testimonies about abortion and why they regret it. Moreover, Isabel Brown from Turning Point USA will also share her story and encourage students to stand for life and make a difference in their homes, schools, and communities.  

4. By attending the pro-life summit you will strengthen your pro-life position. The day after the March you can attend a pro-life summit. According to Kim Headley from Campaign Life Coalition, “Approximately 500 students and young pro-lifers ages 13-29 will attend our six-hour structured summit intended to educate and inspire.” 

5. You could come home with new skills, experiences and friends. You will also get to meet different religious communities such as the Sisters of life or the Jesuits and fraternity groups like the SSPX or the FFSP.

I just discovered a new Quebec play entitled “Clandestines ” through a message sent to our Facebook page CQV. (The theatre-run of this play just ended in Montreal on February 11.) Through a dystopian story similar to Margaret Atwood’s “Handmaid’s Tale,” but set much earlier in the future (2025), the authors channel their fear that “anti-choice” groups (that’s us!) are becoming “younger” and “more political.” The purpose of the play is to show how “fragile” the “right to abortion” is in Canada (good news!) and how quickly things could change “for the worse” (read: for the better). I found it particularly interesting how they fear that we could be using 3rd trimester abortions as a way to further erode “abortion rights.”

Here’s the trailer (in French only): 

If you would like to know more about this play, and the “fragility” of “abortion rights,” you can read about it, from the pro-abortion point of view, here.

By the way, unlike the characters in the above-mentioned play, there is no need to twist oneself in intellectual pretzels to understand why abortion is wrong. Because it is really simple: if the unborn child is human and has rights, it must be defended like any other human being. A pregnant woman can always be supported financially or otherwise and even an adoptive couple can be found to take custody of her child. A world where abortion is illegal doesn’t have to be a dystopian world à la “Handmaid’s Tale” or like the one portrayed in the play “Clandestines”; it could be one that has a healthier relationship to sexuality and also that offers, for pregnant women in difficulty, solutions other than the killing of their child.

For Life,

Georges Buscemi

P.S. The CLC and the Interim 2023 summer internship programme for pro-life students is now accepting candidates. These are paid internships in which students will learn about the philosophy of the pro-life movement, practical apologetics, various modes of action, from administrative tasks, to writing articles, to design or management of social networks, to participation in concrete events.

For more details, click here.

This week's video

QLC's Bilingual Press Conference on the Baby Daniel (38-week abortion) story

Kim Headley at our Students for Life event in January 2023  — Photo: Joanne Of Arc

By Joanne of Arc for Quebec Life Coalition 

On Saturday, January 14th 2023, Quebec Life Coalition hosted a Students For Life Event in Montreal, Quebec.

The purpose of this event was to encourage all pro-life students to come together for an afternoon of discussion, training and networking.

Amongst the different speakers that were present at the event, we have invited Kim Headley from Campaign Life Coalition who is their Assistant Youth Coordinator to speak about her involvement in the culture of life.

Kim has agreed to speak with us after the event, so that you could get to know her better as well as learn more about why you should get involved in Students for life in Montreal. 

Quebec Life Coalition: Can you please present yourself, your age and your current job position?

Kim Headley from CLC: My name is Kim Headley. I'm 27 years old from Aurora, Ontario. I studied business at Seneca College in Toronto and accounting at Ensign College in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am now working as an Assistant Youth Coordinator and Administrative Assistant at Campaign Life Coalition. Some of my responsibilities are planning activities for youth such as pro-life movies nights, game nights, virtual pro-life club activities, planning the annual trip to Washington DC for their March for Life, as well as planning the national youth summit and banquet here in Canada. I also help to make social media content for our Instagram and TikTok and do a few different administrative and clerical tasks to help our accounting team.  

Quebec Life Coalition: How long have you been working for CLC? 

Kim Headley from CLC: Nine months! I started as an intern in May 2022 and was hired full time in September 2022.  

Quebec Life Coalition: What does a day to day look like for you?  

Kim Headley from CLC: It depends! Sometimes I am sending emails all day to different schools, sometimes I am in our accounting system keeping the books up to date, and sometimes I can be planning out next youth event. Every day I do a bit of both youth outreach and administrative tasks.   

Quebec Life Coalition: What is the most important aspect of your job?  

Kim Headley from CLC: The Biggest project CLC has every year is the March for Life. The most important part of my job is to help plan all of the youth activities such as the Candlelight vigil for the victims of abortion, the youth banquet, as well as the youth summit. 

Quebec Life Coalition: In January, we had the pleasure to host a Students for Life conference during which you shared your testimony about how you became pro-life. For those who didn’t have the chance to attend this event, can you share your journey in a nutshell?

Kim Headley from CLC: Growing up, I was pro-choice. It wasn’t until my first semester at College in my English class when everything changed, and it happened in a way I never would have expected. My teacher had everyone make a video about anything they wanted to. A girl in my class did her assignment on human rights violations. She started by showing pictures of victims from different injustices, saying they were horrible and evil to do, while still being completely legal at the time. Then she showed a picture of an aborted fetus… 

I still can’t forget that image. That was the first time I had ever seen abortion victim photography. My classmate said this was also horrible and evil, even though it’s currently allowed in Canada. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing – this was actually what an abortion looked like. Before that moment, I thought the preborn child was just a “clump of cells.” That’s the lie we’re all told, right? Well, that photograph forced me to start re-evaluating my opinion on abortion, but I didn’t become pro-life overnight.

For months, that picture kept creeping into my mind. I couldn’t forget it. That’s when I started looking into it more for myself, and doing my own research, which is how I slowly came around to becoming more and more pro-life. At some point later on, I saw a video of a first trimester abortion, and that was it. I was done being pro-choice. I was pro-life, right then and there, without exception, but if I was going to be “pro-life” now, how could I sit by and not do anything about it? It wasn’t enough for me to just be pro-life. I couldn’t just have this opinion and not do anything about these babies being killed.

I needed to be more involved in the pro-life movement, so I googled pro-life organizations in Toronto and found Toronto Right to Life where I was given apologetics training on how to have effective conversations about abortion and then I started doing “Choice? Chain" with Toronto against abortion, a project between Toronto Right to Life and CCBR. After a while of doing occasional activism, I decided that I still needed to do more for the movement. I wanted to do something more productive with my time. So, I decided to do a pro-life summer internship.

This past summer I had the privilege of interning for Campaign Life Coalition and was hired full time in September. Now I get to work full time in the pro-life movement, getting to use what I went to school for, as well as doing something I am passionate about. 

Kim Headley sharing her testimony at our Students for life event in January — Photo: Joanne Of Arc