Pro-life speaker & activist. I also write on disability, theology, literature, and more.
I was very thankful for the invite to be a guest on The Pro-Life Guys Podcast, as part of their "Humans of the Pro-Life Movement" series. It was a great discussion with Cam Côté, a friend and colleague in the movement. Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFAuBVnkXXs&ab_channel=ThePro-LifeGuysPodcast
Earlier this week, city councilors in London, ON advanced a dangerous motion to ban fetal imagery on public property. I was interviewed by LifeSiteNews on my deep concerns about this bylaw proposal, and the way it infringes on the Charter right to freedom of expression. You can read the full interview here. If you live … Continue reading Lobbying for Pro-life Free Speech
We enter this world helpless, vulnerable, and dependent. Most of us will also end life in a state of vulnerability and dependence. And between the beginning and the end, we will all experience periods, long or short, when we'll desperately need the help of others. Some of us go from a healthy high school athlete … Continue reading No Man is an Island (or, the myth of autonomy)
The apples we place in our grocery carts are all perfectly round. Each red rose in the bouquet from our local florist is the same size and the same shade as her companions. When we don't spend much time in uncultivated nature, we sometimes end up thinking that plants always look so similar to each … Continue reading You’re not a mistake.
Dear patient, Your prognosis is unclear. The treatment journey for your chronic illness will be complex. As a start, please add in iron supplements, to improve your energy levels. I am also prescribing some poetry, to fortify your spirit. These “prescriptions” are actually, in the main, descriptions. They are not curative; rather, they will anchor … Continue reading Poetry Rx
Retired Cpl. Christine Gauthier had been trying for 5 years to get Veterans Affairs Canada to install a wheelchair ramp at her house. The former Paralympian was speaking yet again with the VAC, describing the disability-related challenges she was facing. Eventually, an employee suggested that if life was becoming so difficult for her, perhaps she … Continue reading What is the duty of the living?
CW: Brief description of intimate partner violence “I don’t want to play God and decide who lives and who dies,” Helen said reluctantly. Nevertheless, she still thought that abortion was needed in many difficult circumstances. If a woman felt unready, or was battling poverty, how could she care for the child? She spoke at length … Continue reading Valued and Loved
I had an unexpected and beautiful encounter with my cab driver today in Toronto. He called me because he was having difficulty stopping at my location, and he asked if I could walk to another place nearby. I nervously replied that I couldn't because of my disability. (My hips and back were aching, making walking … Continue reading Taxi Rides, Disability, and Unexpected Grace
I recently gave a pro-life presentation on how to have effective conversations about abortion. The talk focused on discussing science and human rights with pro-choice people, to help them understand that abortion is a human rights violation against an innocent child. During the Q&A session, a participant asked me a question that I’ve heard often … Continue reading “Shouldn’t we talk more about adoption?”
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak briefly at a London City Council meeting. I talked about the challenges I have faced while using the London paratransit system, and shared some ideas for improvement. Paratransit has been in the local news frequently (e.g. here, here, and here) for posing problems to its users, and the … Continue reading Lobbying for Paratransit Reform
Maria McCann 