March 28, 2019
Greetings!
It has been ages since we have last been in touch with our humanist family throughout Canada. Since the beginning of the year, we have had a strategic planning board retreat in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to reassess Humanist Canada’s internal organization, principles, and targeted objectives for the next few years.
With our 50th anniversary behind us, we hope to make the next 50 more impactful than the first 50.
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Humanist Canada's 2019 Annual General
Meeting
Sunday May 5th from 1-4pm
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Our guest speaker is author Marc Schaus.
Marc is a Canadian research specialist focusing on the ongoing growth of secularism and humanism worldwide. His research analyzes how new scientific advancements are impacting spirituality, how humanist groups around the world are expanding and specifically focuses on current events regarding Canadian secular issues.
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The AGM with be held at the Art Gallery of Burlington. In addition to reporting to the membership on the past year's activities, we will celebrate the launch of Humanist Canada's new Chapter Program and to welcome our very first chapter Hamilton-Burlington Humanists.
Save-the-date and more details will be arriving in your inbox in the coming weeks. The AGM will be webcast for members across the country and we look to hosting the AGM in a different province next year.
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OTTAWA, March 27, 2019/Humanist Canada, the national voice for humanism in Canadian society, together with Association humaniste du Québec, is hosting an essay contest. The Humanist Canada Essay Contest (HCEC) will be a wonderful opportunity for high school students to write, think, and express thoughts on humanist values across the Anglophone and Francophone spheres of the country.
The essay contest provides an opportunity for students to think critically on humanism and humanist values in modern Canada. The first-place prize in each language will be $1,000. There will be a total of $8,000 in prize money, for students who compete in the contest and win. Deadline is May 15th, 2019. There are no predefined topics. However, the bounds of the content should be relevant to the humanist community and its values across Canada.
"We are proud to give Canadian students a forum to express humanist themes given the on-going attack on science and reason we have observed in society," Dr. Lloyd Robertson, Vice-President of Humanist Canada, stated, "Humanist Canada and Association humaniste du Québec are proud to be the hosts of the HCEC. We look forward to receiving many submissions from inspired and interested high school students."
The full information can be found at
Humanist Canada Essay Contest
. Share this link with teachers, educators and youth who may be interested.
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A new name...
It's the first refresh of the global humanist body in 67 years. Founded in 1952 and with over 160 members in 80 countries around the world, it is the democratic world union of non-religious people. Humanist Canada is a proud affiliate of Humanists International, often referred to as the “Mothership.”
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will take place on
Sunday 2 June 2019 in Reykjavik, Iceland, in conjunction with the General Assembly of the European Humanist Federation, and a conference organised by the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association over the same weekend.
Humanist Canada will be represented by Scott Jacobsen, Board Member from Fort Langley, BC. Scott is also the Vice-President of
Young Humanists International, the youth section (18-35) of Humanists International. They are the connecting link between Humanist organizations with young members around the world.
For Member Organizations of Humanists International (HI), the gathering will be electing a Board responsible for both governance and strategy with open nominations until the April 23, 2019, at 17:00 (BST).
Nominations will be received for the Distinguished Services to Humanism Award for 2019 as well. For those wishing to register for the HI 2019 AGM, register to attend here: humanists.international/ga2019.
There will be General Assembly training sessions too. These training sessions will be in humanist ceremonies and counselling for one, and then humanist campaigns and communications in another.
The purpose of the training sessions for humanists is to give solid advice to the Member Organizations (MO) for them to effectuate positive change to humanistic values within their societies.
It will be a friendly environment for the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and stories with fellow humanists from around the world. All participation is free. However, the registration is strictly limited to the registered participants of the HI General Assembly 2019.
The sessions will be recorded for distribution after the event. There is information on the training. If planning on attending, do not forget to register and attend as a representative of Humanist Canada.
See you in Reykjavik!
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More signatures are needed to help stop anti-choice harassment of patients!
Feminists for Action Windsor started this petition after Windsor Regional Hospital CEO David Musyj indicated that they would not be applying for the 150m Bubble-Zone protection under the
Safe Access to Abortion Services Act. He cited a lack of complaints or concerns voiced by patients or visitors despite the presence of anti-abortion activists.
Please
sign this petition
to compel Windsor Regional Hospital, Metropolitan Campus to apply for and enforce the 150 meter bubble-zone protection and to provide for the safety, dignity, and freedom of choice of the individuals seeking these services.
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Call for Researcher for the BCHA!
The British Columbia Humanist Association (BCHA), an Affiliate of Humanist Canada, needs local economics researchers who may be able to help with finding out the benefits afforded to religious groups (over non-religious groups).
It would be a wide-ranging economic investigative research initiative into property tax exemptions, faith school funding, the ability to perform marriages or even charitable status, and so on.
Please contact Ian Bushfield, Executive Director at
exdir@bchumanist.ca or call (604) 265-9298.
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A New Book...
Luck, Chance, and the Meaning of Everything
by Jeffrey S. Rosenthal
Professor
Jeffrey S. Rosenthal published a new book entitled
Knock on Wood
. Its premise is a gentler attempt to dissuade people from holding on to irrational and unsupported belief systems, including religion.
Rosenthal investigates the world of luck, bad and good, and the ways in which chance plays a role in all our lives.
The basis for the persuasion is some simple statistical reasoning or thinking. Rosenthal is also the author of the bestseller
Struck by Lightning: The Curious World of Probabilities.
He has received praise from Michael Adams, the President of Environics, Darrell Bricker, the CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, the Toronto Star, the Winnipeg Free Press, and Michael Adams, author of Fire and Ice, for Knock on Wood. (Book Review Upcoming)
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Why membership in Humanist Canada is important!
We simply can't do it without you. We are entirely funded through memberships and donations. Your involvement is incredibly significant and goes a long way to support lasting change for a better society and a tolerant world where rational thinking and kindness prevail.
Your membership status/expiry date is
on
Not Working
(M/D/Y). T
o renew, just click on your personal link below, confirm your information and make your payment today.
Click here: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/humanistcanada_join
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