John Hof: A Life of Sacrifice

by Jonathon Van Maren

Several years ago while studying at Simon Fraser University, I had the privilege of meeting a man who is well known to virtually every pro-lifer in British Columbia and beyond.  He is someone I look up to. He is someone who inspires me to be a more dedicated pro-lifer. He is John Hof, the president of Campaign Life Coalition BC.

Throughout my next few years in Vancouver, John Hof made himself indispensable to every young person that wanted to get involved in the pro-life movement, just as he always has. If I wanted to do “Choice” Chain with a friend outside a pro-abortion event and needed someone to run security with a video camera, John would find someone. If we needed some money for new signs or equipment, John would help us with the funds. If we needed something picked up, John would get it done. And if we needed information, any information, John Hof would make sure that we had everything we needed.

John Hof as been an inspiration to pro-lifers since the 1980s. Since becoming the major drive behind the political arm of the movement, John never backed down even in the face of false accusations.

John has often been the target of those who seek to suppress the pro-life message—an MLA from the BC Legislature even slandered him in the 1990s—but John took it with his signature humour, and then launched a lawsuit to clear his good name. The courts decided in his favour-- John takes false accusations with a grain of salt, as long as they don’t cross the line. But he will not back down from a fight, not because it might smear his reputation, but because it might hamper his efforts for life.

John has been arrested and sent to prison for peacefully defending the pre-born, having been an active participant in the actions of Operation Rescue in the late 1980s and early 1990s. To John Hof, no sacrifice is too great to make for the lives of pre-born children.

Besides being a constant source of inspiration and sound advice to myself and others at the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform, John is legendary for enabling people in whatever they seek to accomplish. Mike Schouten of We Need A Law related that, “Not only does he willingly share the many nuggets of wisdom he possesses, but he is also open to new ideas and strategies on how to achieve legal protections for all children in the womb.”

Stephanie Gray, CCBR’s executive director, stated that, “John has been one of my mentors for more than a decade, and a constant source of support, encouragement, and wisdom. He is one of the most selfless and humble pro-lifers I know.”

As CCBR continues on towards Ottawa on the New Abortion Caravan, confident that we can win the abortion fight in Canada, we are so thankful for pro-lifers like John Hof who blazed the trails for us. Yes, we believe we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. But that’s because we’re standing on the shoulders of inspirational men like him.