KELOWNA, BC; A Kelowna woman is leading the charge against Kelowna City Hall for proclaiming ‘Protect Human Life Week’ next week on behalf of the Kelowna Right to Life Society.
Dianne Varga, an Okanagan abortion activist, is planning protests in front of the Water Street office, supported by the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada.
“From noon until 1 o’clock, noon hour rallies,” said Varga of the week long protests. “On Wednesday we’ll be running later than that. We’ll be starting at noon and going to 5pm that day.”
Varga is asking others to question why the city has waded into a Canadian legal debate. A private members bill will be in the House of Commons for debate next week, opposing a woman’s current right to abortion in Canada.
“In fact, by definition, proclamations aren’t neutral event announcements,” said Varga. “In the case of this particular proclamation, it undermines women’s rights and it flies in the face of Canadian law.”
Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray is no veteran to controversy when it comes to proclamations.
In 1997, Gray was sanctioned by the BC Human Rights Tribunal for refusing to use the word ‘pride’ to proclaim ‘Gay Pride Week’ in Kelowna.
Since the beginning of the year, during Gray’s recent tenure as Mayor, he resumed making proclamations for local organizations.
“We do about 60 proclamations a year,” said Gray, who is disappointed the latest one has become political.
“It would be a shame if this fight between the pro-lifers and the pro-choicers is going to… deny all of those other groups,” he adds.
Gray says the protests will not be stopped.
“If protesters want to stand outside city hall, and in peaceful assembly, that’s their right and that’s fine with us,” he said, adding council will review the decision to continue or not continue proclamations in the new year.
Varga is hoping the protests pressure the mayor into rescinding the Kelowna Right to Life proclamation.
“It’s not just us here in Kelowna who have asked him to rescind it, it is also the Abortions Rights Coalition of Canada and its people from across the country,” she said.
Varga is uncertain how many will join her in protest next week.
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