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Humanist Canada has been
busy this summer and
we've been going places!
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This month we have so much to tell you that we are just going to jump in and tell you all the news! So grab a beverage, sit back, and see what we have been up to!
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The first stop on our tour was the Netherlands!
A Humanist Chaplain Meets
Like-Minded Professionals in Europe
By Dr. Marty Shoemaker, AHC
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July 25-29, 2022, a stimulating event occurred in the Netherlands. No, it wasn't a soccer match, a bike ride to The Hague, or a boat ride on one of the canals that make Holland unique. Interestingly, close to 30 Humanist professionals came together just outside Amsterdam for a Summer School. This form of learning is quite popular with those professionals associated with the University of Humanistic Studies located on the Utrecht’s main campus.
So how did one of our Humanist Canada’s accredited chaplains find their way to this distant school? Read More .... |
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Our next stop was to Sarnia, Ontario for the
BAHACon Conference.
You are going to want to sign up for this conference next year!
by Ruth Henrich |
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It has been a while since there was a conference specifically geared to the Humanist, agnostic and atheist communities. The Bluewater Atheist, Humanists and Agnostics (BAHA) had tried to get the conference going but was unable to because of the COVID pandemic. Once things opened up, they put on a terrific conference. Congratulations to all the BAHA people involved in putting this conference together. Well done!
“BAHA's primary objective was the free and open dissemination of a positive and intelligent discourse about secularism, Humanism and its benefits to all concerned. BAHA created the conference to nurture a community that values secular Humanism and promotes and preserves free thought in an atmosphere of mutually supportive fellowship. The need for rational and objective thinking has never been greater than now. The clear presentation of logical, evidence-based thinking can and will lead us away from the mysticism that has mostly served to confound, confuse and divide.” Read more about the conference. |
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On the same weekend, we headed to Ottawa for the Capital Pride Parade!
by Martin Frith
Contributors Srishti Hukku and Richard Thain
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After two years of scrapped Capital Pride Parades in Ottawa, the 2022 parade made a record-breaking comeback on a sunny, hot, August, Ottawa afternoon. It took over 90 minutes for the 185 colourful floats and 7,500 participants to pass by.
Humanist Canada took the lead, organizing a joint, collaborative parade entry with the Centre for Inquiry Canada, Ontario Humanist Society, and Humanist Ottawa. Our banner, which included the four organizations' logos, proclaimed an important message: Human Rights = 2SLGBTQ S+ Rights. The crowds certainly loved it, judging by their applause and the energetic dance music blasting from the speakers on our shiny, red, Pride-flag-draped pickup truck, "float" driven by Ric Glowienka.
Srishti Hukku and Ric were brilliant with their "microphone work," rousing thousands of onlookers along the route with "Let's make some noise, Ottawa! Let's make some noise, for human rights!" and more.
Given our emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion as an organization, Humanist Canada intentionally chose to center the Quasar Pride Flag as part of the parade. Leveraging intersectionality as an analytical tool, we recognize the challenges that multiple identities create for folks. The Progress Pride Flag was designed in 2018. Quasar added the black and brown stripes to represent marginalised 2SLGBTQIA+ communities of colour, along with the colours pink, light blue and white, which are used on the transgender pride flag. The additional elements form an arrow shape that points to the right, to represent "forward movement" and are along the left edge of the flag to state that "progress still needs to be made."
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Member Profile
Jessica Doroschenko
Brantford, Ontario |
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Hi! I am Jess Doroshenko (she/her). I am a settler in south-western Ontario, on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Attawandaron peoples. I have a giant furry dog who takes me on regular walks, and I work at a Sexual Assault Centre, doing crisis intervention and community-building. In my free time I absolutely love exploring the outdoors. Some of my favourite activities are sailing, canoe-tripping and snowboarding. I am currently in school part-time, finishing up a Masters of Business Administration, and I love to learn! I also love working with young people, and I regularly return to the summer camp I attended as a child to support them with their leadership training programs, and join in all the fun that summer camp has to offer.
I found Humanism after a close friend of mine was married by a Humanist officiant. It was such a lovely ceremony and the way that humanism was described, it sounded like something I was already practicing. The more I learned about it, the more my values felt affirmed and it just made sense to me. I appreciate how rational humanism feels and I love the balance that is inherent in it. It makes sense that every human being deserves to live a dignified and happy life, and that we are all accountable to one another, and our planet. The more I learn about humanism, the more it fits! It feels wonderful to know there is such a vibrant community of folks with similar values and interests, and I am grateful that Humanist Canada offers so many opportunities for us to connect with one another while sharing knowledge about important topics in an open and compassionate way.
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Humanist Canada
Program Schedule |
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WEBINAR
Architecture of a Healthcare System for Canadians
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2022 12 PM EST
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Canada ranks comparatively low in healthcare effectiveness despite relatively high public and private spending. Access to primary care is problematic. Emergency department utilization is high, and those departments are crowded, providing care in hallways and waiting rooms. Patients remain gurney bound for hours and days if admitted to the hospital. 15-20% of acute care hospital beds are occupied by people no longer requiring acute care, awaiting home, transitional or long-term care. The wait times for specialty interventions remain long. Mental health and addiction care are complex, and opiate deaths remain in the thousands.
Canada needs a radical restructuring of all elements of care delivery and could benefit from the experience of other jurisdictions that spend less for better outcomes.
Our presenter is David Walker, MD FRCPC, a Professor in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine in the School of Medicine cross-appointed in the School of Policy Studies at Queen’s University. He is a member of the Consultant Staff at Kingston Health Sciences Centre. Read More
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Coffee Chat
Humanists for Reproductive Justice (BCHA)
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Canada has no law against abortion since Humanist Canada founder Dr. Henry Morgentaler’s victories. However, there are still many barriers to people in Canada seeking to exercise their full reproductive rights.
The BCHA has been investigating the state of abortion access and reproductive justice in BC. Religious hospitals are exempt from providing abortions, and secular hospitals that are required to provide abortions don’t advertise the service. Anti-choice crisis pregnancy centres push abstinence-only sex ed programs and often get to present in public schools. Many contraceptives are costly and difficult to access. And racism in the healthcare system results in the involuntary sterilization of Indigenous women to this day.
Ian Bushfield has been involved in the BC Humanist Association since 2009, and aside from two years in the UK, he has been the Executive Director of the BCHA since 2012. He has a physics and non-profit management background and grew up in Alberta. In 2017, he joined the BC Civil Liberties Association’s Board of Directors. |
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PETITION
TO END PRAYER
IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS |
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Humanist Canada has endorsed the
Petition to End Prayer in the House of Commons, launched by the British Columbia Humanist Association (BCHA). We invite Humanist Canada members, affiliates and partners, and like-minded humanist and secular organizations across the country to participate in this petition campaign.
The Speaker begins every day of the House of Commons sitting by reading a prayer to "Almighty God." This overtly religious and Christian tradition undermines the state's duty of neutrality by endorsing belief over non-belief.
In a recent debate, some MPs claimed to have never heard from any constituents who were concerned about this practice. Religious MPs are free to pray outside of the chambers or silently during a time of quiet reflection, and we believe that religion and government shouldn't mix.
So, we are asking you to email your MP and ask them to stop the prayers. The button below will take you directly to the petition webpage on the BCHA website that will email your MP. It could not be easier.
We encourage you to do so if you haven't signed the petition yet. We need to have our voices heard.
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Humanist Canada has received a grant through the Ottawa Community Foundation for the past several years. This grant comes from the Edward J. Bauer Fund. This grant provides us with much-needed funds to help us continue our work.
The Ottawa Community Foundation is a charity for charities. It leverages philanthropic resources to strengthen and empower the charitable sector in the National Capital Region and beyond. We create positive, systemic, and sustainable impact with engaged philanthropy, strategic granting, social infrastructure building, and community leadership. As an efficient, inclusive, and diverse giving platform, we support all charitable causes by helping philanthropic-minded citizens craft their legacies and make the community a better place for all.
We want to thank the Ottawa Community Foundation for providing us with this generous donation, and we thought you should know about it. |
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What are our
Affiliates doing?
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This is a new section in the newsletter this month. We recognize that we do not work in isolation. Our affiliate organizations are doing great things, and we think you would like to know about it. If you are an affiliate of Humanist Canada, we'd love to hear about what you are doing and encourage you to share it with us. Contact the Executive Director! |
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The Ontario Humanist Society is holding a webcast on Death Caring. If this is of interest to you, you can find out more information here. |
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Humanist International continues to work with people persecuted for their non-belief and speaking out in areas around the world. Find out more here. |
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We wouldn't be anywhere if it weren't for our volunteers! Currently, we are looking for a few specialized people.
Can you help? |
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Newsletter: Do you like to write? Do you like to talk to people? Our volunteer for the newsletter has gone back to school and has a heavy workload this year so he is unable to continue helping with this work. With the increase in content in the last few months, we believe we need two or three people to help. Your time commitment would be a few hours a month. We'd love to hear from you!
Legal: Are you a lawyer or know of a lawyer who can provide us with some pro-bono work? We know how expensive it is to hire legal professionals and we need to save some money in this area. And, from time to time, we have a question that needs to be answered.
Marketing: We are looking for help with online digital marketing, specifically FaceBook Ads, Google Ads and LinkedIn Ads. If you have some expertise, we'd love to talk to you.
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If you have an item of interest in the realm of Humanism, get in touch. We are always on the lookout for new content.
1-877-486-2671
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