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Humanist Happenings Keeping You Connected to Humanist Events
July 2025
Happy Canada Day!
As we gather to celebrate Canada Day, we are reminded not only of our country’s rich history but also of the values that continue to shape our shared future—compassion, reason, and the pursuit of a truly just society. At Humanist Canada, these principles are more than ideals; they are the foundation of our community and the driving force behind everything we do. This month, we invite you to discover inspiring events and new ways to connect with fellow humanists from coast to coast.
En cette fête du Canada, prenons aussi un moment pour reconnaître la diversité et la solidarité qui font la force de notre communauté. Humaniste Canada s’engage à promouvoir le respect, l’ouverture et l’égalité pour tous et toutes. Ce mois-ci, nous vous proposons des occasions de réflexion, de dialogue et d’engagement. Que vous soyez membre de longue date ou nouvel.le arrivant.e, votre participation enrichit notre réseau et contribue à bâtir un avenir plus inclusif et humaniste.
– The Humanist Canada Team
The 2026 World Humanist Congress Comes to Ottawa
On June 23, Humanist Canada, together with Humanists International, announced that the 2026 World Humanist Congress will now take place in Ottawa, Canada. Originally planned for Washington, D.C., the event was relocated in response to the increasingly hostile political and human rights climate in the United States. Concerns over rising religious nationalism, the erosion of secularism, and accessibility—especially for participants from the Global South— made it difficult, unsafe, and for many, literally impossible to travel to and enter the U.S.
In these uncertain times, the World Humanist Congress will provide a vital space for our global community to connect, collaborate, and reaffirm our shared commitment to humanist values. It will be a moment to learn, to strategize, and to inspire one another as we collectively advocate for a more just, secular, and humane world.
For more information, please visit worldhumanistcongress.org. Additional announcements and details about the 2026 World Humanist Congress will be shared in the coming weeks—stay tuned!
🎙️Choice Chat Podcast Has Launched!
We are thrilled to announce the launch of Choice Chat, a brand-new podcast produced by the Morgentaler Committee at Humanist Canada. This project has been months in the making—built with purpose, powered by volunteers, and driven by the belief that everyone deserves accurate information, compassionate support, and the freedom to make decisions about their own bodies.
Episode One is Live: Providing Care, Defending Choice – Dr. Renée Hall Speaks Out In this compelling first episode, we sit down with Dr. Renée Hall—family physician, abortion provider, and reproductive rights advocate—who speaks candidly about her journey, the gaps in medical training, and what it really means to provide care in a country where access is uneven and often misunderstood.
Join us for a discussion of Robin Wall Kimmerer’s “The Serviceberry,” a thought-provoking exploration of nature, sustainability, and our relationship with the world.
Mark your calendars for August 5th, when we’ll discuss “James” by Percival Everett and “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain. This will be our last book of the season, so send your suggestions to Bookclub@humanistcanada.ca by July 15th for our next round of voting!
Connect, Reflect, Belong: Weekly Conversations for English-Speaking Members
📅 Every Thursdays 🕖 6:00–7:00 PM ET | 3:00–4:00 PM PT
Our June New Members Orientation was a vibrant evening of connection and discovery. New members shared inspiring stories of how they found Humanist Canada—whether through meaningful ceremonies with our Officiants or by attending community events. The session featured lively discussions about our upcoming Circle platform, an online community hub for members to connect, share resources, and join interest groups. Everyone left excited for the official launch!Looking for a space to connect with fellow Humanist Canada members? Join our weekly virtual Members Connect Group, where members from across the country gather to share experiences, spark ideas, and engage in meaningful conversations.
We invite all members—new and returning—to join our next Member Connect session. These gatherings are a chance to meet fellow humanists, share ideas, and learn more about upcoming opportunities. Reserve your spot and help us build a stronger, more connected community.
Episode 24 of Voice of Canadian Humanism Podcast : An Interview with Daniel Dacombe & Daryl Van Tongeren—Part 2 is now available to stream.
Daniel Dacombe continues his conversation with Dr. Daryl Van Tongeren, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Frost Center for Social Science Research at Hope College. They discuss Van Tongeren’s new book, “Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religion,” and his research on religious disaffiliation and religious residue.
Catch the full conversation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or simply click the links below.
Don’t miss the Centre for Inquiry Canada’s upcoming event, “Energy, Prosperity, and Geopolitics.”
How much energy do we consume globally today? What are the primary sources of energy? Are we using enough energy? Can we migrate to primarily low emissions sources of energy? Which are the primary low emissions sources of energy and how do they compare to high emissions sources? Which electricity grids have met a Paris climate target (less than 100 grams of CO2 emitted per kilowatt-hour, averaged on an annual basis) and how did they do it? What are some misunderstandings of existing energy sources? All of these topics and more will be discussed and some “deep dives” of specific topics will also be included.
📢 Nouveau ! Séances d’information pour les nouveaux membres – en français
Rencontres mensuelle en français
📅 Tous les 3ième mardi du mois | 🕖 18h00 - 19h00 HNE
Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer le lancement des séances d’information pour les nouveaux membres en français chez Humaniste Canada ! Ces rencontres auront désormais lieu chaque troisième mardi du mois.
C’est une excellente occasion de :
Découvrir Humaniste Canada et ce que nous faisons;
Poser toutes vos questions sur l’adhésion, les activités et les avantages;
Explorer les opportunités de vous impliquer au sein de notre communauté;
Rencontrer d’autres membres et échanger dans une ambiance conviviale.
Que vous soyez tout juste arrivé(e) ou simplement curieux ou curieuse d’en savoir plus, inscrivez-vous dès maintenant et venez à notre prochaine séance !
Local member gatherings are informal meetings of humanists - a simple idea with big results.
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