by Emma Cowman and Pauline Tennent
June 20, 2025
At the University of Manitoba (UM), springtime brings warmer weather, the return of the geese, final exam stress, and the inevitable return of anti-abortion groups on campus. With their volunteer base temporarily bolstered by high school students participating in “Pro-Life Bootcamps,” representatives from the Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform (CCBR) (this link contains graphic imagery) appear in front of UM’s central student building holding five-foot-tall posters plastered with misleading and graphic images of allegedly aborted fetuses. A variation of this scene is repeated on campuses across Canada, including at the University of Toronto.
The CCBR frequents university campuses seeking to “inform” students of the supposed harms of this essential form of healthcare. These activities occur under the watchful eye of CCBR leaders, who discreetly film interactions with students, faculty, and staff.