2023 Speakers

Jared White – Master of Ceremonies

Jared White has been the Executive Director of Advokate, BC’s largest life-affirming charity, for over ten years. In that time he has overseen the creation of three pregnancy care centres and a thriving Province-wide sexual integrity program that has reached nearly 30,000 public school students to date.

He lives in Abbotsford with his wife and four children, and is passionate about all social justice issues, especially those that impact children and other vulnerable people groups. In his free time, Jared is active at his local parish, an avid weightlifter, and enjoys playing games with his wife and children. An accomplished public presenter to all ages, Jared is routinely a featured speaker at pro-life events including the BC March for Life.

Archbishop J. Michael Miller

Born in Ottawa, Canada, Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, became Archbishop of Vancouver in 2009.  He previously served as Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome, as President of the University of St. Thomas in Houston, and in the Secretariat of State of the Holy See.  He is currently a member of the Commission for Justice and Peace of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Editorial Committee of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, and the Canadian and International Boards of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association.  Archbishop Miller taught theology for many years in Houston, Mexico and Rome and is a prolific author, a specialist on the papacy and modern papal teaching, and a popular speaker at international conferences.  He has received seven honorary doctorates from universities and colleges in North America and Australia.

Angelina Ireland

Angelina was born and raised in Winnipeg. She attended the University of Winnipeg where she received a Bachelor’s degree and then went to Ottawa and received a Master’s Degree in political science from Carleton University.

Afterward, she went to live in London , England where she entered the world of credit and finance working for British Telecom. Upon returning to Canada she lived in Toronto and then moved to Vancouver and worked as an accountant. 15 years ago she started her own business  and now works with other small businesses.

After a diagnosis of cancer she became a client of the Delta Hospice Society. When she recovered to good health she joined the Board of Directors. After the last AGM she was elected the President of the Board of Directors.

Autumn (Lindsey) Higashi

Autumn first became involved in the pro-life movement when she joined her local Students for Life group in October of 2016. In February of 2017, she filmed a rebuttal video in response to a Teen Vogue article that was making light of and promoting abortion. The video went viral, and Autumn found a platform to voice her passion for the pro-life movement.

Autumn now works as the Spokesperson for Students for Life and travels the country speaking at various events. She is newly married and living in Washington state with her husband, Nate. She hosts a show called Unapologetic, which educates the pro-life generation to speak in truth and love. She wants everyone to know why they believe what they believe.

Jonathan Van Maren

Jonathon Van Maren is a public speaker, writer, and pro-life activist. His commentary has been translated into more than eight languages and published widely online as well as print newspapers such as the Jewish Independent, the National Post, the Hamilton Spectator and others. He has received an award for combating anti-Semitism in print from the Jewish organization B’nai Brith. His commentary has been featured on CTV Primetime, Global News, EWTN, and the CBC as well as dozens of radio stations and news outlets in Canada and the United States.

He speaks on a wide variety of cultural topics across North America at universities, high schools, churches, and other functions with a speciality in pro-life strategy, among other topics. Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history from Simon Fraser University, and is the communications director for the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform.

Rod Taylor

Rod Taylor is the National Leader of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada and Interim Leader of the Christian Heritage Party of BC. He and his wife Elaine live in the beautiful Bulkley Valley, in northern British Columbia.

Rod worked for 25 years in the lumber industry in B.C. He also worked 6 years for Canadian National Railways in Alberta.

He is a long-time director of the Smithers Pro Life Society.

Rod writes weekly commentary for CHP, and has authored a book entitled The Substance of Things Hoped For. He also hosts a weekly podcast called CHP Talks. 

Theo Lodden

Rev. Dr. Theo Lodder has pastored Reformed and Presbyterian churches in Alberta and BC since 1997 and is presently serving as Executive Director of Life Renewal. He and his wife Marina have been blessed with six children, and live in Surrey, BC.

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