Humanist Canada (also known as the Humanist Association of Canada, or HAC or HC) is a national not-for-profit charitable organization promoting the separation of religion from public policy and fostering the development of reason, compassion and
critical thinking for all Canadians through
secular education
Secular education is a system of public education in countries with a secular government or separation between religion and state.
An example of a secular educational system would be the French public educational system, where conspicuous reli ...
and community support. Humanist Canada was founded in 1968 and has grown over the past five decades to become Canada’s national voice of Humanism. Humanist Canada is an associate member organization of
Humanists International. The official symbol of the organization is a modified
Happy Human
The Happy Human is an icon that has been adopted as an international symbol of secular humanism.
Created by Dennis Barrington, the figure was the winning design in a competition arranged by Humanists UK (formerly the British Humanist Associatio ...
in a red and blue maple leaf.
History
Humanist Canada has its roots in the former Humanist Fellowship of Montreal. This fellowship was an organization of humanists that was founded in 1954 by R. K. Mishra, Ernest Poser, and Maria Jutta Cahn.
Bertrand Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, (18 May 1872 – 2 February 1970) was a British mathematician, philosopher, logician, and public intellectual. He had a considerable influence on mathematics, logic, set theory, linguistics, ...
(Lord Russell) and
Brock Chisholm
George Brock Chisholm (18 May 1896 – 4 February 1971) was a Canadian psychiatrist, medical practitioner, World War I veteran, and the first director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO). He was the 13th Canadian Surgeon General and t ...
were its first patrons.
Humanist Canada's first president was
Henry Morgentaler
Henekh "Henry" Morgentaler, (March 19, 1923 – May 29, 2013), was a Polish-born Canadian physician and abortion rights advocate who fought numerous legal battles aimed at expanding abortion rights in Canada. As a Jewish youth during World War ...
, an activist for women's right to reproductive choice, in 1968. Humanist Canada continues to be involved in social justice issues including reproductive choice, the
right to die with dignity, and the preservation of human rights.
Authority to perform marriages
In 1996, the Marriage Office of the Registrar General of Ontario granted Humanist Canada the authority to certify Humanist Officiants to legally solemnize marriages in Ontario. This was a milestone achievement as Humanist Canada is the first secular organization in Canada to secure the right to have Officiants licensed to perform weddings in Canada. To this end, the organization runs an Officiant training and mentoring program. In addition to training qualified candidates to perform weddings, prospective Officiants are trained how to perform funerals, child namings, and other rites of passage for couples and families who do not want religious aspects in their ceremonies. As of 2021, Humanist Canada has over 75 licensed Oficiants.
Humanist of the Year
Prominent Canadian writers, professors, activists, philosophers, and other Canadians who have made a difference in people's lives, have been honoured with Humanist Canada's "Humanist of the Year" award including:
*
June Callwood
June Rose Callwood, (June 2, 1924 – April 14, 2007) was a Canadian journalist, author and social activist. She was known as "Canada's Conscience".
Callwood achieved acclaim and a loyal following for her articles and columns written for na ...
, founder of Casey House, the world's first hospice for people with HIV/AIDS (2007, posthumous).
* Christopher diCarlo, professor of bioethics and cognitive evolution and creator of the Critical Thinking Solutions consulting firm with school boards to introduce critical thinking skills and programs in high school curriculums.
*
Grace MacInnis, a social Canadian politician and the first woman from British Columbia elected to the House of Commons of Canada.
* Marian Sherman, a churchwoman turned atheist in postwar Victoria, BC. She promoted atheism and humanism throughout her community, province, and nation.
*
Margaret Atwood, notable Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, inventor, teacher, and environmental activist.
*
Sue Rodriguez
Sue Rodriguez (August 2, 1950 – February 12, 1994) was a Canadian right-to-die activist. In August 1991, she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) and was given two to five years to live. She ultimately ...
, a Canadian
right to die
The right to die is a concept based on the opinion that human beings are entitled to end their life or undergo voluntary euthanasia. Possession of this right is often understood that a person with a terminal illness, incurable pain, or without ...
activist.
*
Robert Buckman
Robert Alexander Amiel Buckman (22 August 1948 – 9 October 2011) was a British doctor of medicine, comedian and author, and president of the Humanist Association of Canada. He first appeared in a Cambridge University Footlights Revue in 1968, ...
, a doctor of medicine, comedian and author, and was president of Humanist Canada from 1999 to 2004.
*
John Ralston Saul
John Ralston Saul (born June 19, 1947) is a Canadian writer, political philosopher, and public intellectual. Saul is most widely known for his writings on the nature of individualism, citizenship and the Public good (economics), public good; t ...
, a Canadian writer, political philosopher, and public intellectual.
Claire Culhane an activist for prisoner's rights in Canada.
Joe and Blodwen Piercy who served the humanist cause faithfully.
Pat Duffy Hutcheon author who contributed to the clarification of the nature and origin of evolutionary naturalism necessary to modern humanism.
*
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American writer known for his satirical and darkly humorous novels. In a career spanning over 50 years, he published fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays, and ...
, author.
Evelyn Martens first person to be arrested and found not guilty of assisting others to die in Canada.
*
Homa Arjomand
Homa Arjomand (born 1952) is an Iranian political activist, resident in Canada, where she is a member of the International Campaign against the Sharia Court and the Director of Children First Now.
She has received the "Humanist of the Year" award ...
, an Iranian political activist, resident in Canada, against the Sharia Court and the Director of Children First Now.
*
Henry Morgentaler
Henekh "Henry" Morgentaler, (March 19, 1923 – May 29, 2013), was a Polish-born Canadian physician and abortion rights advocate who fought numerous legal battles aimed at expanding abortion rights in Canada. As a Jewish youth during World War ...
, pro-choice advocate and first president of Humanist Canada.
*
Sue Johansen
Susan Johanson (née Powell; born March 13, 1930) is a Canadian sex educator, public speaker, and registered nurse.
Biography
Early life and career
Johanson was born Susan Powell in Toronto, Ontario, to Wilfrid Powell, a decorated British war ...
, a Canadian writer, public speaker, registered nurse, sex educator, and media personality.
* As well as Lloyd Brereton, Larry Pinkus and Ralph Loomer.
Other awards:
Robert J. Sawyer
Robert James Sawyer (born April 29, 1960) is a Canadian science fiction writer. He has had 24 novels published and his short fiction has appeared in ''Analog Science Fiction and Fact'', ''Amazing Stories'', '' On Spec'', ''Nature'', and numerou ...
, Humanist in the Arts Award, Canadian science fiction writer.
Leanne Iskander, Humanist Canada Youth Award, gay-straight alliance crusader.
Stance and activities
Humanist Canada's stated vision is: "To promote the separation of religion from public policy and foster the development of reason, compassion and critical thinking for all Canadians through secular education and community support."
The organization's missions is "A fair and equal society guided by critical thinking and compassion."
Values promoted: "To uphold honesty, reason, critical thinking and cooperation, in every facet of human interdependence. To encourage the efforts of Humanists and Humanism-focused organizations in Canada. To support initiatives and programs that advance Humanism and secularism. To provide secular ceremonies for life events, such as weddings and funerals through our certified Humanist Officiants."
Outreach activities include donations to charitable organizations and causes that advance scientific, academic, medical, and human rights efforts to improve the human condition. Recipients include Casey House ($5,000 donation in 2007) and the Royal Ontario Museum's "Darwin: the Evolution Revolution" exhibit ($50,000 in 2008), and over $62,000 for th
Kasese Humanist Schoolin Uganda.
Governance and management
Board of Directors – as of June 2021
* President: Martin Frith (Ontario)
* Vice President: Ric Glowienka (Ontario)
* Secretary: Ruth Henrich (Ontario)
* Treasurer: Ruth Henrich (Ontario)
* Director: Donna Harris (Manitoba)
* Director: Kathleen Johnson (Alberta)
* Director: Sassan Sanei (Ontario)
* Director: Sonia Mallet (Nova Scotia)
Notable Humanists
*
Henry Morgentaler
Henekh "Henry" Morgentaler, (March 19, 1923 – May 29, 2013), was a Polish-born Canadian physician and abortion rights advocate who fought numerous legal battles aimed at expanding abortion rights in Canada. As a Jewish youth during World War ...
(president emeritus),
Holocaust
The Holocaust, also known as the Shoah, was the genocide of European Jews during World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, Nazi Germany and its collaborators systematically murdered some six million Jews across German-occupied Europe; ...
survivor, women's reproductive rights activist, humanitarian, and
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit.
To coincide with the cen ...
member.
*
Robert Buckman
Robert Alexander Amiel Buckman (22 August 1948 – 9 October 2011) was a British doctor of medicine, comedian and author, and president of the Humanist Association of Canada. He first appeared in a Cambridge University Footlights Revue in 1968, ...
(president emeritus), author of several books on improving patient care and morale; a media figure, his television programs included ''Magic or Medicine?'' and ''Human Wildlife'', and has acted with the
Monty Python comedy troupe.
*
Christopher Hitchens
Christopher Eric Hitchens (13 April 1949 – 15 December 2011) was a British-American author and journalist who wrote or edited over 30 books (including five essay collections) on culture, politics, and literature. Born and educated in England, ...
who argued for reason, political secularism, and humanist ethics to a worldwide audience.
*
Stephen Hawking, a very special humanist both for his contributions to the understanding of the universe and for his disability outreach.
*
Richard Dawkins, founder of the
Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science
The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS or RDF) is a division of Center for Inquiry (CFI) founded by British biologist Richard Dawkins in 2006 to promote scientific literacy and secularism.
Originally a non-profit based in ...
*
List of Humanists
This is a partial list of notable Secular humanism, secular humanists.
A
*Clark Adams (1969–2007): Former president of the Humanist Association of Las Vegas and Southern Nevada, and a life member of the A ...
Humanist Canada Alliances
Chapters:
Hamilton Humanists
Affiliations:
British Columbia Humanist AssociationGrey Bruce HumanistsHumanist Association of OttawaHumanist Association of TorontoSociety of Freethinkers (southern Ontario)Toronto OasisOntario Humanist Society
Collaborations:
Association humaniste du QuébecCentral Ontario Humanist AssociationComox Valley HumanistsHalton-Peel Humanist CommunityHumanists, Atheists and Agnostics of ManitobaHumanist Association of LondonSecular Humanists in CalgarySociety of Freethinkers (southern Ontario)Thunder Bay HumanistsVictoria Secular Humanist Association
Partners
Dying with DignitySecular Connexion SéculièreCanadian Secular AllianceCentre for Inquiry - Canada
International
*
Humanists International
*
Humanists UK
*
American Humanist Association
Humanist Association of Germany*
Humanist Association of Ireland
The Humanist Association of Ireland (HAI) is a Republic of Ireland secular humanist organisation that was founded in 1993 to promote Humanism, which they describe as:
an ethical philosophy of life, based on a concern for humanity in general, and ...
*
Humanist Society Scotland
Humanist Society Scotland is a Scottish registered charity that promotes humanist views and offers humanist wedding, funeral, and baby-naming ceremonies. It is a member of the European Humanist Federation and Humanists International.
In the ...
*
European Humanist Federation
The European Humanist Federation (EHF, french: Fédération Humaniste Européenne, FHE), officially abbreviated as EHF-FHE, is an umbrella of more than 60 humanist and secularist organisations from 25 European countries.
Founded in Prague in July ...
References
External links
Official websiteOfficial Facebook PageTwitter
{{International Humanist and Ethical Union
Atheist organizations
Humanist associations
Secularism in Canada
Secular humanism
Atheism in Canada