| Formation | 1968 |
|---|---|
| Type | Not-for-profit |
| Legal status | Charity |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, ON |
Region served | Canada |
President | Martin Frith |
| Affiliations | Humanist International, American Humanist Association |
| Website | www |
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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 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 in a red and blue maple leaf.
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 (Lord Russell) and Brock Chisholm were its first patrons.
Humanist Canada's first president was Henry Morgentaler, 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.
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.
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:
Other awards: Robert J. Sawyer, Humanist in the Arts Award, Canadian science fiction writer. Leanne Iskander, Humanist Canada Youth Award, gay-straight alliance crusader.[1]
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 the Kasese Humanist School in Uganda.
Board of Directors – as of June 2021
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