Humanist Association of Canada
Encyclopedia
Humanist Canada 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
and community support. Founded in 1968 as a small lobby group, Humanist Canada is an associate member organization of the International Humanist and Ethical Union
. The official symbol of the organization is a modified Happy Human
; a white Happy Human against a red maple leaf.
and Dr. Brock Chisholm
were its first patrons.
Humanist Canada's first president was Dr. Henry Morgentaler
, an active crusader for women's right to reproductive choice, in 1968.
In 1996, Humanist Canada was granted the authority by the Registrar General
to certify humanist officiants to solemnize marriages in Ontario
. The organization has several officiants who perform non-religious ceremonies including marriages, funerals, memorials and baby namings.
Humanist Canada's Humanist of the Year award has been received by prominent Canadians such as June Callwood
, founder of Casey House, the world's first hospice for people with HIV/AIDS (2007, posthumous), and professor of bioethics and cognitive evolution Dr. Christopher diCarlo (2008).
Outreach includes donations to charitable organizations and causes that advance scientific, academic, medical, and human rights efforts to improve the human condition. Recipients include Casey House ($5000 donation in 2007) and the Royal Ontario Museum's "Darwin: the Evolution Revolution" exhibit ($50,000 in 2008).
Critical thinking
Critical thinking is the process or method of thinking that questions assumptions. It is a way of deciding whether a claim is true, false, or sometimes true and sometimes false, or partly true and partly false. The origins of critical thinking can be traced in Western thought to the Socratic...
for all Canadians through secular education
Secular education
Secular education is the system of public education in countries with a secular government or separation between religion and state.An example of a highly secular educational system would be the French public educational system, going as far as to ban conspicuous religious symbols in schools.In...
and community support. Founded in 1968 as a small lobby group, Humanist Canada is an associate member organization of the International Humanist and Ethical Union
International Humanist and Ethical Union
The International Humanist and Ethical Union is an umbrella organisation embracing humanist, atheist, rationalist, secular, skeptic, freethought and Ethical Culture organisations worldwide. Founded in Amsterdam in 1952, the IHEU is a democratic union of more than 100 member organizations in 40...
. The official symbol of the organization is a modified Happy Human
Happy Human
The Happy Human is a secular icon and the official symbol of the International Humanist and Ethical Union , a world body for Humanism, and has been adopted by many Humanist organisations and individuals worldwide. Its origin was a competition organised in 1965 by the British Humanist Association...
; a white Happy Human against a red 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 Drs. R. K. Mishra, Ernest Poser, and Maria Jutta Cahn. Lord Bertrand RussellBertrand Russell
Bertrand Arthur William Russell, 3rd Earl Russell, OM, FRS was a British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, and social critic. At various points in his life he considered himself a liberal, a socialist, and a pacifist, but he also admitted that he had never been any of these things...
and Dr. Brock Chisholm
Brock Chisholm
George Brock Chisholm, CC, MC & Bar was a Canadian First World War veteran, medical practitioner, and the first Director-General of the World Health Organization...
were its first patrons.
Humanist Canada's first president was Dr. Henry Morgentaler
Henry Morgentaler
Henry Morgentaler, CM is a Canadian physician and prominent pro-choice advocate who has fought numerous legal battles for that cause.-Early life:...
, an active crusader for women's right to reproductive choice, in 1968.
In 1996, Humanist Canada was granted the authority by the Registrar General
Registrar General of Canada
The Registrar General of Canada is responsible for registering all letters patent, commissions, instruments, proclamations, and any other documents that may, from time to time, be issued under the Great Seal of Canada or the Privy Seal of Canada...
to certify humanist officiants to solemnize marriages in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. The organization has several officiants who perform non-religious ceremonies including marriages, funerals, memorials and baby namings.
Humanist Canada's Humanist of the Year award has been received by prominent Canadians such as June Callwood
June Callwood
June Rose Callwood, was a Canadian journalist, author and social activist. She was born in Chatham, Ontario and grew up in nearby Belle River.-Early life and career:...
, founder of Casey House, the world's first hospice for people with HIV/AIDS (2007, posthumous), and professor of bioethics and cognitive evolution Dr. Christopher diCarlo (2008).
Stance and activities
The organization's stated vision is: "A world where reason and compassion guide public policy and beliefs are respected provided that they are compatible with the rights of others", and its mission is: "To actively 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."Outreach includes donations to charitable organizations and causes that advance scientific, academic, medical, and human rights efforts to improve the human condition. Recipients include Casey House ($5000 donation in 2007) and the Royal Ontario Museum's "Darwin: the Evolution Revolution" exhibit ($50,000 in 2008).
Governance and management
Board of Directors- President: Simon Parcher
- Vice President: Laura-Lee Balkwill
- Secretary: Steve Zabarylo
- Treasurer: Bill Broderick
- Director Region 3: Kevin Saldanha
- Director Region 5: John Monroe
- Director Region 6: Dale Jackaman
- Directors-at-Large: Alan Levin
Notable members
- Dr. Henry Morgentaler (president emeritus), HolocaustThe HolocaustThe Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
survivor, women's reproductive rights activist, humanitarian, and Order of CanadaOrder of CanadaThe Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
member. - Dr. Robert BuckmanRob BuckmanRobert Alexander Amiel "Rob" Buckman was a British-Canadian doctor of medicine, comedian and author, and president of the Humanist Association of Canada...
(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 PythonMonty PythonMonty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
comedy troupe. - Dr Christopher diCarlo, Canadian professor of bioethics and critical thinking and an outspoken activist for freethoughtFreethoughtFreethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
, humanism, and secularism.