University of Toronto Students for Life (UTSFL) is committed to proclaiming and defending the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death.
We seek to do this by educating the University of Toronto community on current life issues. We oppose abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research and all other acts which fail to protect and affirm the dignity of human life. We believe that human rights are for all human beings, and everyone has an inherent right to life.
UTSFL condemns all forms of abortion-related violence and will not collaborate with groups or individuals who fail to condemn such violence.
2016-2017 Executive Committee
President
Sarah Blake
Year and Program of Study: Fourth year; Philosophy major with a double minor in English and Christianity and Culture
How did you become involved with the Pro-Life Movement?: I’ve always been pro-life, but I only became actively involved in the movement when a family friend introduced me to Toronto Right to Life 3 years ago.
What makes UTSFL an important part of the Pro-Life Movement?: UTSFL interacts with a crucial demographic: young adults who might consider abortion themselves or see friends and partners go through crisis pregnancies. We want our fellow students to know the truth and know where to turn to for support.
What do you hope to accomplish through your involvement with UTSFL?: My hope is the same as always: to spread the pro-life message to as many people as possible and to open hearts and minds to recognize the humanity of the most vulnerable among us.
Vice-President
Matthew Battista
Year and Program of Study: Second Year of Kinesiology
How did you become involved in the pro-life movement?: For the most part I was already pro-life but my stronger opinion grew during grade 12 and after an apologetics session in my first year at UofT.
What makes UTSFL a significant part of the pro-life movement?: UTSFL focuses on making abortion unthinkable to students through a human rights belief system. This strategy is compatible with the many students who agree that life is a human right, allowing hearts and minds to be changed on abortion.
What do you hope to accomplish through your involvement with UTSFL?: I hope that every student at UofT can have the opportunity to think about abortion while knowing: unplanned pregnancies are difficult, that our right to life is central to our society and that science can distinguish what is individual human life.
Treasurer
Lucas Lisitsky
Education Coordinator
Blaise Alleyne
Year and Program of Study: Master of Theological Studies, Regis College (part time); completed B.Sc. in Computer Science, English, and Philosophy (OT9)
How did you become involved with the Pro-Life Movement?: I became involved because of UTSFL, through participating in the Genocide Awareness Project and then serving as Technology Officer during my undergrad.
What makes UTSFL an important part of the Pro-Life Movement?: UTSFL is not only at the biggest university in Canada, but we’re downtown in the biggest city in Canada. U of T students are vulnerable to choosing abortion today and will become our country’s leaders and influencers tomorrow. Changing the culture in Toronto is key to changing the culture in Canada. UTSFL has an important role to play in the fight against abortion and assisted suicide — not just in Toronto, but across Canada.
What do you hope to accomplish through your involvement with UTSFL?: As Education Coordinator, I plan to keep our Choice Chain campaign running frequently across campus to educate the university community, and to offer weekly seminars and monthly apologetics workshops to educate and equip pro-lifers. We’ll also continue to pilot a project on developing a pro-life apologetics against assisted suicide.
In the 11 years I’ve been with UTSFL, last year was by far our most successful. We made the injustice of abortion impossible to ignore on campus. This year, I think we can do even better!
Outreach Coordinator
Corinne Malan
Communications Officer
Joseph Marsilla
Technology Officer
Clare Timperley
Year and Program of Study: Fourth year; double major in English and Religious Education
How did you become involved with the Pro-Life Movement?: I originally became involved with the pro-life movement in high school when I attended the March for Life with my religion class. I became interested in the topic of abortion and other life issues and felt compelled to help in some way, so I sought out UTSFL when I came to study at university.
What makes UTSFL an important part of the Pro-Life Movement?: UTSFL is important to the pro-life movement in that it is run by students for students. UTSFL not only raises awareness about the truth behind the abortion industry, but also offers practical support for students or friends of students who may be experiencing crisis pregnancies themselves.
What do you hope to accomplish through your involvement with UTSFL?: I hope to raise awareness about abortion and other life issues such as euthanasia to a demographic of intellectual young people. In addition to this awareness and understanding, I hope to offer tangible support to those who find themselves in crisis pregnancies through our affiliate support groups, in this way caring for the child and family both before birth and after.
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