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May 1, 2026
Humanist Happenings: News, Views & Events
Dear fellow Humanists,
A few days are separating us from our Annual General Meeting!
This would be a time to pause and meditate on the past achievements, assess the progress and think about the future.
We are happy to prepare you some food for [free] thought during these first two weeks of May.
You will find webinars, podcasts, volunteering opportunities and material of both national and international scopes.
The Humanist Canada Team.
Inspiring progress. Advancing Humanism.
Actualités humanistes: Actualités, opinions et événements
Chères et chers humanistes,
Il ne reste plus que quelques jours avant notre assemblée générale annuelle !
C'est le moment de marquer un temps d’arrêt pour réfléchir à nos réalisations passées, d'évaluer nos progrès et d'envisager l'avenir.
Nous sommes heureux de vous proposer de quoi nourrir votre [libre] pensée tout au long de ces deux premières semaines de mai.
Vous y trouverez des webinaires, des podcasts, des opportunités de bénévolat et des ressources d’envergure tant nationale qu’internationale.
L’équipe d’Humaniste Canada
Inspirer le progrès. Faire avancer l’humanisme.
Message from the Executive Director: Reflecting on a Landmark Year for Humanist Canada - 2025 Annual Report Highlights
By Janalee Morris
As Executive Director, I am incredibly proud to share the results of our 2025 Annual Report. This past year wasn’t just about stability; it was about intentional growth, record-breaking community support, and expanding our reach across Canada.
From our strongest fundraising campaign in history to a record number of members, the momentum is palpable. Here is a look at what we achieved together:
In 2025, we continued to build our financial stability, resulting in a surplus that we will reinvest to ensure a sustainable future for Humanist Canada. Our year-end campaign “Why Humanism Now?” resulted in our strongest campaign result to date, fueled by donors who value reason, ethics, and secularism.
Our membership numbers continue to grow, with members across every province and territory. In 2025, our ~160 Humanist Officiants performed 1,719 meaningful, secular celebrations for weddings, memorials, and more. And, through our Humanist Chaplain training program, we continued to professionalize Humanist support in Canada for both civilian and military chaplains.
Also in 2025, The Morgentaler Committee: Launched "Choice Chat," a podcast dedicated to reproductive justice and evidence-based public education. Our signature podcast, Voice of Humanist Canada, saw over 2,150 downloads this year, featuring global thinkers like Cory Doctorow and Dr. Phil Zuckerman. And our social media community grew to over 6,600 followers on Facebook and 4,000 on Instagram, reaching hundreds of thousands with humanist philosophy.
As we look ahead to 2026, we turn our attention to hosting the World Humanist Congress. In partnership with Humanist International, we will be hosting ~500 national and international delegates in Ottawa. We are focused on growing our existing programs, including our educational offerings, our officiant program, and the chaplaincy.
Thank you to our Board, volunteers, staff, and donors. This success belongs to all of us.
On Sunday, May 3, 2026, Humanist Canada will host our AGM on Zoom. We'll be using a meeting format so we can see and connect face-to-face. As in previous years, we’ve included a Town Hall segment to allow more time for open dialogue and meaningful interaction.
If you’re unable to attend virtually, we encourage you to complete the Proxy Form to ensure your voice is represented and to help us meet quorum requirements.
The 2025 Annual Report, along with the AGM Package and Financial Statements, have been sent to all members for review.
May Webinar: An Introduction to Secular Humanism:
History, Practice, and Values
📅 May 13 | 🕖 7:00 PM EDT |📍Zoom
In this month's webinar, Daniel Dacombe will give a brief overview of the Humanist movement past, present, and future. The presentation will include some of the history of Secular Humanism and describe what it means to have a life stance as a Humanist. Attendees will learn about the values and practices of Humanism in our pluralistic society and how Humanism can contribute to a positive shared future for all humanity. Some might even discover that they are a Humanist, too!
Please join us for this first-ever in a recurring series of Officiant Information Evenings.
The Coordinator of the Officiant Program, Paul Belyea and the Chair of the HCCOP (Humanist Canada Ceremonies and Officiant Program) Committee, Ruth McGregor, will present a range of information related to the process and program. Here’s what to expect:
An understanding of how to become eligible for application;
A breakdown of the application process;
A discussion of the Intake process;
An overview of the training process, and further steps;
And specific timelines for the entire process.
We will finish with a comprehensive Q&A.
At this time, Humanist Canada officiants are legally allowed to solemnize weddings only in the province of Ontario. However, we encourage all Humanist Canada members in every province and territory to consider applying to the training program. We can and do perform every other type of secular ceremony, such as end of life celebrations and funerals, vow renewals, baby namings, transgender celebrations and renamings, among a multitude of others. The HCCOP proudly counts members from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia as fully endorsed officiants.
We invite you to join the program and help spread the light and the love.
A Global Gathering for Reason: Join Us at the 2026 World Humanist Congress!
📅 Aug 7-9 | 📍Ottawa
The momentum is building, and the stars are aligning—literally. We are thrilled to share a first look at the speaker lineup for the upcoming World Humanist Congress, and it is shaping up to be a historic gathering of minds.
As a member of Humanist Canada, you are part of a movement that values evidence, empathy, and the power of human connection. This Congress is our chance to take those values to the global stage.
We are bringing together a powerhouse of world leaders in Humanism, ethics, and social change. Attendees will have the chance to hear from and engage with:
Maggie Ardiente & Andrew Copson
Greg Epstein & Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme
Rebecca Goldstein & James Croft
Evan Clark, Roslyn Mould, and Heidi Nordby Lunde
Adrian Nunez, Daniel Dacombe, Louis O-Reilly, and Janalee Morris
...with many more speakers yet to be announced!
Exclusive Humanist Canada members discount - check your members portal!
This isn’t just a series of lectures; it’s the "vibrant heart" of our global community. By joining us, you will:
Gain Fresh Perspectives: Dive deep into the most pressing ethical and social issues of our time with world-class experts.
Build Global Connections: Meet fellow activists and thinkers from every corner of the globe to share ideas that spark real-world change.
Celebrate Our Shared Values: Reaffirm your commitment to reason, compassion, and secularism in an environment that is as inspiring as it is inclusive.
Showcase Your Work: Exhibitor Opportunities
Is your organization or local group doing work that the world needs to see? We are offering dedicated spaces in our networking and exhibition area. This is the perfect venue to showcase your projects and engage directly with the international secular community.
We look forward to standing with you in 2026 as we shape the future of Humanism together. Don’t wait—secure your spot today and let’s make this Congress an unforgettable success!
Podcasts
New episode of the Freedom of Thought by Humanist Canada: Humanism Has Answers - Inside Humanist Canada with Janalee Morris
Gary joins from Guatemala, where he has been meeting with Humanistas Guatemala and learning about the growing influence of American evangelical Christianity and the fascinating tradition of Catholic-Mayan syncretism. Leon meanwhile shares updates including cautious optimism around the Hungarian election result, ongoing tensions in Iran and the Middle East, the worrying composition of the newly elected UN Committee on NGOs, and welcome news that the UN High Commissioner has endorsed the codification of gender apartheid as an international crime.
This week's guest is Janalee Morris, Executive Director of Humanist Canada, which is co-hosting the 2026 World Humanist Congress in Ottawa this August. Janalee gives a wide-ranging overview of Humanist Canada's work — from training officiants and chaplains to advocacy on the census religion question, publicly funded Catholic schools, and Alberta's restrictions on gender-affirming care and medical assistance in dying. She also shares her excitement about the Congress and what it means to bring the global humanist movement together at this critical moment.
This episode covers:
Evangelical Christian growth in Guatemala and Catholic-Mayan syncretism;
Cautious optimism on Hungary's election result;
Endorsements for codification of gender apartheid as an international crime;
Humanist Canada Campaigns, Advocacy and Activities;
Humanist ceremonies, officiants and the provincial licensing challenge;
Opportunity: Humanist Canada is seeking a volunteer to fill the role of Treasurer on our Board of Directors
The Treasurer is a key member of the Board of Directors and plays a critical role in overseeing the financial health of Humanist Canada. This position includes chairing the Finance Committee, ensuring financial compliance, and leading the development of finance and investment policies. The Treasurer will work closely with the bookkeeper and accountant, ensuring the accuracy of financial reports and providing strategic guidance on financial matters. The Treasurer will report directly to the Board, providing updates on Humanist Canada's financial status and ensuring financial decisions align with organizational goals.
Your membership, volunteer efforts, and financial support help us advance reason, compassion, and secular values across Canada. Every contribution strengthens our work in advocacy, education, and community building.
Keep track of all our upcoming events and meeting times in one convenient place. There’s always something exciting happening—be sure to stay in the loop!
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