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May 5
Formation of Humanist Canada |
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May 5, 1968 – It was 54 years ago when the Humanist Association of Canada was founded by members of the former Humanist Fellowship of Montreal, including R. K. Mishra, Ernest Poser, Maria Jutta Cahn, and Dr. Henry Morgentaler, Humanist Canada's first president.
Each year, organizations look back at different metrics from previous years to measure success and decide what to focus on next. We just had such an opportunity days ago at our Members General Meeting, held annually on the first Sunday in May. However, it's just as valuable to take the time to recall the meaningful history of an organization. If properly taken advantage of, this anniversary can provide a space for members to pause and reflect on Humanist Canada's journey to date, the role of countless individuals, and the collective contributions that have shaped it and continue to make Humanist Canada such a vital Canadian Institution.
While a lot has changed over the years at Humanist Canada, much has stayed the same! We were founded by an activist for women's right to reproductive choice. Sadly, in 2022 we continue to see women's reproductive choices being challenged in Canada and the United States with the potential of the Supreme Court overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion.
Humanist Canada continues to champion social justice issues. We need to continue our mission of promoting the separation of religion from public policy and foster the development of reason, compassion, and critical thinking for all Canadians.
I invite you to support Humanist Canada's work by becoming a monthly donor. If we all contributed monthly, even $5, it would make a massive difference to our future and increase our ability to make a difference.
Happy Anniversary!
Martin Frith,
President
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Introducing our Profile of the Month:
Bettianne M. Hedges
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I was born into a Catholic family with an always-questioning father, so I knew early on that the labels I was born into didn’t have to last. I was always curious about the intent of religion and pursued a degree in Philosophy through St. Jerome’s College at the University of Waterloo. It left me no more convinced. I’ve always felt that faith required us to put aside our own rational thought. I believe that the answer to many of the problems we face can be better solved if we step into and take ownership of our innate ability to cooperate and strategize solutions together. Most Canadians are humanists and we can make changes for the betterment of our country and our planet if we celebrate our own good sense first. |
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Breaking News:
Women's Rights in Danger - Again!
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The leaked Supreme Court papers to overturn Roe v Wade in the US is troublesome for women’s reproductive rights, and a women’s right to choose. Abortion is a human right. These developments are troublesome not only in the US but here in Canada because we have seen and heard federal and provincial political candidates use these same talking points. Morgentaler, our first President, fought for the right to access abortion as essential health care. We will address this situation further in our next newsletter, so stay tuned. In the meantime, consider donating to the Dr. Henry Morgentaler Scholarship Fund, which helps medical professionals train in surgical abortion.
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We can build community by designing better public spaces! This talk introduces listeners to placemaking, and then provides detailed examples of how two forms of placemaking – little free libraries and road murals – can be used to build safe, connected, and resilient communities. It explores ways in which individuals, community groups, and municipal governments can support placemaking, and the role that visualization and data can play in promoting placemaking. |
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Dr. Teale Phelps Bondaroff is a researcher and community organizer with a Ph.D. in politics and international studies from the University of Cambridge, and BAs in political science and international relations from the University of Calgary.
Teale is the Research Coordinator for the BC Humanist Association, the Director of Research for OceansAsia, a marine conservation organization based out of Hong Kong, and the Chair and Co-founder of the AccessBC Campaign for free prescription contraception, and a volunteer member of the board of the Greater Victoria Placemaking Network. To learn more, Click Here.
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Coffee Chat: The Journey Out Beyond Religion |
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Have you ever transitioned beyond religion? What was this journey like for you? Join us for a conversation about the journey beyond religion with
Michelle Edmunds and
Paul Kaplan from the Humanist Association of Toronto (HAT), and share your experience.
Michelle Edmunds has been an atheist since birth. The "coming out" as an atheist means she reclaimed her original non-belief status. It wasn't easy undoing all the lies she was forced to believe through repeated institutional messaging, punishment, gender abuse, fear, influence of authorities (e.g. school, church, parents and society). After decades of undoing the dogma, Michelle is happy to be part of the global atheist/humanist community. She is the program coordinator at the Humanist Association of Toronto (HAT). Michelle works as a job search coach and DEI workshop facilitator. She studied counseling, journalism, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and has worked in the non-profit sector for 20 years.
Paul Kaplan had a long journey to atheism. Born and raised in New York City and raised in Reformed Judaism, he converted to Evangelical Christianity during his first year of university. When he graduated, he continued his studies in the Chicago area and was active in his church for 28 years. Finally, at age 49, he broke free from religion and became an atheist. He then moved to the UK for two years, and then to Canada in 2012 where he is active in the secular community.
This event is for current Humanist Canada members.
Log into your account to register.
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We are excited to announce our first-ever photography contest!
If you are a semi-professional, amateur, or aspiring photographer, this is a perfect opportunity to explore your interest, get professional feedback, and share your ideas with the community.
The contest will be adjudicated by professional photographers, and a selection of winning images will be used in our 2023 calendar, which will be available for sale on Humanist Canada's online store. The winning images will also be exhibited on our website.
Our theme this year is EMPATHY.
To participate in the contest please submit your photo
by May 30 in the following format:
* Theme: empathy.
* Image needs to be shot at high resolution, so that it is in focus.
* Image needs to be shot in landscape format.
* Image needs to be cropped at 1280px on the long side.
* Please name your file: Last name, First name, Title of photo.
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May 5 is also National Day of Reason |
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When I think of May the 4th, my mind immediately goes to
Star Wars — it’s the day every Jedi and Sith celebrates their love for their favourite space opera. But this year, in the United States at least, force wielders will be accompanied in their revelry with the country’s (largely Christian) religious community as it celebrates the National Day of Prayer. Since it was legally formalized in 1952, the American President is required to proclaim a day asking people to “turn to god in prayer and meditation” on the first Thursday of every May. You can see how humanists and other secular-minded people might take issue with that.
In response, the American Humanist Association began a campaign in 2003 for the creation of a National Day of Reason, aimed to take place the day before or after the National Day of Prayer. The day was primarily created tit-for-tat against the National Day of Prayer and advertised secondarily as a day of action for humanists and other people who “respect reason”. The AHA and its sisters use the day to highlight their position that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional (though courts have so far ruled the opposite).
This year, the AHA’s National Day of Reason is on May 5. North of the border, we are fortunate enough to have no formally sanctioned federal day of prayer — but that doesn’t mean that a day of reflection on reason and secularism in our political institutions wouldn’t do us some good. There remain numerous state-sanctioned religious elements to Canadian life, from things like the national anthem to our school systems and tax regulations. While we may not advocate for a National Day of Reason, using the occasion as a personal reminder to engage with our politicians on these issues and educate one another about where things could be more secular and fair could be useful.
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ABOUT HUMANIST CANADA
Humanist Canada endorses Humanism as a life stance. We promote the separation of religion from public policy and foster the development of reason, compassion, and critical thinking through education and community support. We are funded entirely through memberships and donations. Your involvement is incredibly significant and goes a long way to contribute to lasting change for a better society.
If you are not a member of HC, join Humanist Canada to continue your journey with us! You can also support our educational programs, including our webinar series and Public Humanities courses here: Donations
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