More than 15,000: that’s the official figure from Campaign Life Coalition president Jim Hughes for the number of people who thronged Parliament Hill and the streets of Ottawa for the 2011 March for Life. As it has been every year, the turnout this year was a record. And the number of young people made this “a youth movement,” in the words one of them in a video produced by young pro-lifers.

Pictured here: Top, Halton Pro-Life president Wendy Hofman (in yellow shirt) and office assistant Lynne Tiernay (left beside her) among the marchers. Middle, the crowd on the Hill - the sign in the centre says it all, “Abortion is killing Canada’s future.” Bottom, just a few of the 12,000 youth marchers.

“There were more than 15,000 people and 80 per cent of them were under the age of 25,” Jim Hughes said in an interview that you can view yourself by clicking here. That 80 per cent amounts to 12,000 young pro-lifers, among them students from all the eight Catholic high schools in Halton.

“The future looks very rosy here in terms of slow but steady growth,” Jim Hughes said. “The politicians are taking note, and as they take note more and more people who see this will decide they want to run for nomination for the various parties, and eventually we’ll have the majority we need in Parliament to pass pro-life legislation.”

The march also brings the pro-life movement into the living rooms of the nation via television news coverage, showing the general public that more and more people are willing to stand up for children in the womb, peacefully and, judging by the enthusiasm of the young people, joyfully.

“The debate, I believe, is being opened and once it’s open you can’t close the debate,” Mr Hughes said. “Every poll that’s been taken has shown that a majority of Canadians want some legislation to stop abortion.”

When asked what can we do to keep the momentum, Mr Hughes said: “Continue to become informed on the issues and as you become informed you decide there’s something you have to do about this.”