Thursday, May 8, 2008 - Amidst thousands of peaceful protestors gathered on Parliament Hill on Thursday, the familiar “Veritas Vos Liberabit” sweatshirts were sprinkled throughout the crowd as students and faculty representing each stage of the Academy’s eight-year existence participated in this year`s March for Life. Teachers, staff, alumni and returning students travel to Ottawa each spring to protest the legalization of abortion, and as a result, the event has become an informal Academy reunion over the years.

Although the March for Life occurs outside of the academic school year, students have faithfully returned from their home towns and provinces, accompanied by families and friends, and have informally promoted the school by their presence in the capital. This year’s event featured internationally-renowned Christian musician David McDonald, who energetically led pro-life music over loud-speakers on the hill, as well as keynote speaker Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Martin Luther King, Jr. To read the full story, see LifeSiteNews: http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/may/08050803.html. Academy students participated in the march along with 8,000 others who walked peacefully through several blocks of down-town Ottawa.

Many of the Academy students and their family members remained in Ottawa the same evening to attend the Rose Dinner, the pro-life fundraiser banquet sponsored by Campaign Life Coalition. Other alumni participated and formally represented the Academy at the Youth Conference the following day. This event began early with a Mass celebrated by Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, and afterwards students attended various workshops and pro-life talks throughout the remainder of the day.

Dean of Students, Patrick Craine with first-year graduates Maggie Dorris and Elizabeth Enright on Parliament Hill, May 2008